Power Ranking Every Bayern Munich Player from the 2013/14 Bundesliga Season
The all-time leading German champions wrapped up a 24th title in the quickest time ever with an away win in Berlin on 25 March, completing a record run of 19 consecutive league wins under new coach Pep Guardiola in the process.
Saturday's last-gasp 1-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart was the Reds’ 29th win in 34 games—equalling their best-ever total from last season.
Interaction is welcome via the comments section below, so read on as we rank every Bayern Munich player's impact—in reverse order— from the record-breaking 2013/14 Bundesliga season.
25. Ylli Sallahi
1 of 25
Twenty-year-old Austrian wing-back Ylli Sallahi made an ill-fated debut as Bayern relinquished their proud 53-game unbeaten run in the Bavarian derby away to Augsburg. He hasn't played since.
24. Jan Kirchhoff
2 of 25
German U21 international Jan Kirchhoff made seven early season substitute appearances before being farmed out on loan to Schalke 04, where he suffered an unfortunate injury in the winter break. He hasn't been missed.
23. Lukas Rader
3 of 25
Third-choice 'keeper. Will be best remembered for an ill-fated substitute appearance as the Reds slipped to their only home league defeat of the season against bitter rivals Borussia Dortmund.
22. Tom Starke
4 of 25
Second-choice 'keeper. Conceded three goals against former side Hoffenheim before an untimely elbow injury in training ended his season prematurely.
21. Mitchell Weiser
5 of 25
The 20-year-old made his first start of the season in the defeat to Augsburg. Weiser also suffered the ignominy of being substituted at home against Bremen with Bayern trailing at half-time.
20. Diego Contento
6 of 25
A bit-part player once again under new coach Pep Guardiola with just six starts in the league. Having made just 49 appearances in the past few seasons, Contento needs to move away to further his stuttering career.
19. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
7 of 25
Nineteen-year-old Danish youngster—another who made a first Bundesliga start in the woeful defeat in Augsburg. The talented Hojbjerg has shown enough to hint that there is plenty more to come.
18. Daniel Van Buyten
8 of 25
Mr. Reliable. The Belgian defender has never let Bayern down in his eight years at the club.
The 36-year-old’s outing in the final game of the season against Stuttgart is likely to be his last for the club.
17. Rafinha
9 of 25
Rafinha is an experienced defender who blossomed initially under Pep. His hopes of making the Brazilian World Cup squad were dashed by Luiz Felipe Scolari last week.
The right-back has let himself down on the pitch of late, with a particularly petulant sending off in the 0-3 home defeat against Dortmund.
16. Javi Martinez
10 of 25
Bayern's record €40m signing has fallen down the pecking order under Pep, with only 17 league appearances in an injury-riddled campaign. Rumoured to want away, the Spaniard has been linked with Arsenal by The Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson.
15. Xherdan Shaqiri
11 of 25
Swiss international midfielder Xhaqiri notched six goals in 17 appearances. Impressive at times—whether a player of his calibre is satisfied with a paltry ten Bundesliga starts is highly doubtful.
14. Jerome Boateng
12 of 25
Consistency of performance has undoubtedly improved under Pep Guardiola's tutelage. Critics continue to highlight the 25-year-old ex-Manchester City defender's odd stupid mistake and rash moment, his red card against Hamburg, for example.
13. Mario Goetze
13 of 25
Arguably, more was expected from the €37 million acquisition from bitter rivals Dortmund, but 10 goals in 27 appearances is a best-ever Bundesliga goal return for the supremely talented 21-year-old dubbed "the German Messi."
12. Claudio Pizarro
14 of 25
''Pizza'' always delivers. Ten goals were scored by Germany's all-time record foreign scorer—176 goals in 370 Bundesliga appearances—despite a mere 684 minutes on the pitch. The 35-year-old Peruvian striker would arguably be a regular starter at most other clubs in the league.
11. Thomas Mueller
15 of 25
Along with Neuer, the lanky attacker made the most league appearances (31) for the Reds. Mueller was in devastating form, particularly early on in the season, hitting a total of 13 goals in domestic competition.
He played a lesser role towards the end of the season under Pep, which sparked transfer speculation. According to Express' Ben Jefferson, clubs of the calibre of Barcelona, Liverpool and Manchester United are all rumoured to be taking an interest in the Bavarian.
10. Bastian Schweinsteiger
16 of 25
A "Football God" according to most of the Munich faithful, apart perhaps from the man that really matters: Pep Guardiola. Niggling injuries restricted the now seven-time Bundesliga winner to 23 appearances in the league. If Guardiola stays, "Schweini" may have to get used to not playing a lead role with the Reds in the future.
9. Mario Mandzukic
17 of 25
The Croatian hit man enjoyed another solid season and finished the campaign second top scorer in the Bundesliga with 18 goals in 30 appearances. He has many admirers at the club, but with the league's leading scorer, Robert Lewandowski, joining in the summer Mandzukic's days could be numbered in Bavaria.
8. Toni Kroos
18 of 25
Supremely talented German international midfielder with a stunning range of passing and a hefty shot. Kroos was an almost ever-present under Pep before rumoured interest from Manchester United led to a less-than-harmonious spell and a few patchy end-of-season performances. Nevertheless, his agent told Bild (h/t Telegraph) that he would play for Bayern "until at least 2015."
7. Franck Ribery
19 of 25
Ribery was in the running for World Footballer of the Year, but eventually finished third behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The French winger was fantastic at the start of the season, but he suffered an alarming dip in form after a buttock operation.
6. Dante
20 of 25
The charming Brazilian centre-half has not been as consistent as he was under Jupp Heynckes but the 30-year-old remains Bayern's rock at the back.
5. Thiago
21 of 25
The 23-year-old Spanish international's untimely injury was a cruel blow at the business end of the season and Bayern were never quite the same without their influential summer signing from Barcelona. Thiago is the crucial pivot in Bayern's build-up, often dropping deep to increase the options and spread the play.
4. David Alaba
22 of 25
A bright 21-year-old Austrian with a delightful left peg. Ran the roost with Ribery on Bayern's left-side earlier in the season but did not fade like the Frenchman. He is set to be one of the stars of European football over the next decade.
3. Philipp Lahm
23 of 25
Captain of club and country, "Mr. Versatile" would probably play in goal too were he was a bit taller. Pep Guardiola waxed lyrical in an interview with Spiegel's Rafael Buschmann and Detlef Hacke, calling his 30-year-old skipper "the most intelligent player he had ever worked with." High praise indeed.
2. Arjen Robben
24 of 25
The 30-year-old Dutchman has completely turned around his Bayern career since that 2012 Champions League catastrophe against Chelsea. The wing wizard starred with 11 goals in 28 games as the Reds once again romped to the Bundesliga title.
1. Manuel Neuer
25 of 25
The imposing ex-Schalke goalkeeper recorded 15 clean sheets in 31 league starts. Quite simply, the 28-year-old is best 'keeper in Germany and probably the world.
Follow Mark Lovell on @LovellLowdown
.png?w=600 "NBA Fans Rip Pistons After Magic Go Up 3-1")
.jpg?w=600 "Ranking Best FAs Still Available")
.jpg?w=600 "Raw Results and Grades 🔠")
.png?w=600 "2027 NFL Mock Draft 🔮")
.jpg?w=600 "Downs: I Was Bored in CFB")
