10 Star Names of the Bundesliga Who Are Fading Away
Like any league around the world, the German Bundesliga is a smorgasbord of talent from across the globe with players of all shapes and sizes.
Yet with every great, new talent on the block comes the corresponding demise of a top division talent that has to come to terms with the fact that he’ll never be the player he once was, ever again.
As such, during this busy end to the season, we’ve compiled a list of players who of late haven’t exactly looked like the stars they once were.
Here are 10 players who can no longer demand the attention of the Bundesliga limelight.
Claudio Pizarro
1 of 10
At 36 years of age, Claudio Pizarro is no spring chicken. Despite still holding the favour of Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola, this former Peruvian international is undoubtedly approaching the curtain call of an incredible year.
Pizarro did, of course, still hold an impressive goal tally with the Munich side—11 goals in 26 games last season according to Transfermarkt—but this year we've seen just one from a whole string of performances from the striker.
An undoubted star in the Bundesliga hall of fame, but not the player he once was.
Ivica Olic
2 of 10
As one of the great journeymen of Bundesliga football, it seems odd to suggest that Ivica Olic may one day hang up his boots and leave the German top flight for good.
Yet at 35 years of age, the Croatian striker has been far from his best this season, as we have regularly seen at Hamburg throughout this current campaign.
Olic was never a truly prolific goalscorer, yet just five goals in 23 games this season suggests we may be approaching the conclusion to this outstanding player's career.
Dante
3 of 10
For at least two or three seasons between 2011 and 2014, Brazilian international Dante was the best defender in the German Bundesliga and, therefore, one of the best in the world.
Under Jupp Heynckes, the central defender oozed class and was a cornerstone of the success the German coach managed to bring to Munich in his final season at the club.
Unfortunately, Dante looks like a different player these days. Despite only being 31, it looks as though he's lost a yard or two of his pace and almost all his confidence. His days at the Allianz Arena are definitely numbered.
Sebastian Kehl
4 of 10
Although this may not be the best time to bring up Sebastian Kehl's imminent demise at Borussia Dortmund, following his emphatic winner against Hoffenheim in the DFB Pokal Cup earlier this week, few fans would argue that the club legend has long passed his best days on the pitch.
The 35-year-old former German international was never the most technically gifted player on the pitch but he captained the team throughout the most successful period in their recent history and will always be remembered as the living embodiment of that ethos Jurgen Klopp brought to the club.
Kehl has given up the captain's armband and may also hang up his boots for good this summer, but he'll always be a true hero to the Dortmund fans.
Stefan Kiessling
5 of 10
With 16 goals and five assists already this season according to Transfermarkt, Stefan Kiessling is perhaps the hardest sell on this current list of ageing or diminishing players.
Yet, when it comes down to it, the Bayer Leverkusen forward has notably slowed down in the past two years. Despite keeping up his goalscoring for the club, he looks much more limited in his play.
Fortunately, he and Roger Schmidt have a whole host of young, energetic players, such as Heung-Min Son, Karim Bellarabi and Hakan Calhanoglu, to bounce off the towering striker, but for how long?
Roman Weidenfeller
6 of 10
At just 34 years of age, Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller is far from any point in his career that would begin to dictate when he can't play football.
Yet the German shot-stopper may not have any choice in the matter when it comes to guarding the Westfalenstadion goals, following at least 18 months of unchecked poor form for the club.
In truth, the long-serving goalkeeper hasn't really been himself since the 2012-13 season, with a number of performances during the campaign leading many fans to question his future at the club.
Come the summer, Weidenfeller may need to find a new club.
Lewis Holtby
7 of 10
OK, Lewis Holtby may only be 24 years old and could well rekindle the form that made him such a hot prospect within German football, but the smart money at the moment is on the former Schalke star stumbling into obscurity in the coming years.
Despite making over 21 appearances for Hamburg this season, the attacking midfielder has failed to score a single goal and, according to Transfermarkt, has only contributed one assist this entire campaign.
The former boy wonder may still be inside Holtby, but it certainly isn't the player we watch these days.
Rafael van der Vaart
8 of 10
Rafael van der Vaart is, for all intents and purposes, the embodiment of a former great player lounging about the Bundesliga looking to pick up a quick pay-package before hanging up their boots.
The Dutchman may look as though he cares, at times, but in truth, the 32-year-old attacking midfielder has been near enough terrible since returning to Hamburg in summer of 2012.
Like Hamburg as a whole, Van der Vaart is long past his best yet still manages to rack up a fortune in terms of money spent and troubled caused.
Simon Rolfes
9 of 10
In a similar sense to Kehl’s position at Dortmund—although not quite as extreme—Simon Rolfes is still a prominent member of Leverkusen’s squad despite now reaching an age that’s beginning to show his limitations.
Long gone are the days of regular call ups for the national team as well as dominating the Leverkusen midfield.
At 32 years of age, this favourite of the Factory Squad still has mileage in him yet, but long gone are the days of his prime.
Rene Adler
10 of 10
There once was a time when Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler was quite comfortably considered the best shot-stopper in Germany and a shoo-in for the national team position.
Then Manuel Neuer popped up at Schalke. From then on in, it was always going to be one goalkeeper in Germany who always had the backing of Die Mannschaft.
Despite only being 30 years of age, Adler is now nowhere near the national team debate and has a long road ahead of him to regain the trust and loyalty of the Hamburg fans following a string of poor performances this season and the year before.
There’s certainly time to turn it around, but Adler looks a shadow of his former self these days.
