Why Thomas Muller's New Contract Was Most Critical for Bayern Munich This Season

Last month, Bayern Munich issued a press release announcing that Pep Guardiola would not extend his contract as head coach of the German club. The statement put to rest months of speculation over the trainer's future and was huge news at the time, confirming his departure at season's end.

International media have since jumped on the attractive story of Guardiola's possible suitors, and it still remains uncertain as to where he will go next. He's since dropped hints, and (via the BBC) revealed his intent to coach in England. The media circus will probably continue for quite some time.

Yet for Bayern, as much as they may have wanted to extend Guardiola's contract, a bigger story may have been in the case of Thomas Muller, who put pen to paper on an extension that will keep him at the Allianz Arena until 2021. 

Bayern have long been a club that have valued their Bavarian identity. Yet their current squad is running short of native Bavarians. Bastian Schweinsteiger has left, and Philipp Lahm is now 32 years of age. Holger Badstuber was once thought to be the future of the Bayern central defense, but continuous injuries over the last three years and counting have put his long-term career in doubt. That leaves Muller as the only native Bavarian who can be foreseeably a big part of the club's future heading into the next decade.

The contract until 2021 ensures that Muller will spend his best years at Bayern, with its expiration set to come shortly before his 32nd birthday. Speaking to Bild in a Monday interview, Muller described his extension as a "statement," a decision in favor of the intangible benefits of playing for one's hometown club rather than taking a huge offer from one of England's ultra-rich sides.

Muller of course will be paid handsomely, with SportBild reporting he will earn a club record €15 million annual salary. Yet he may well have been paid more in England, with the Premier League's new TV rights deal set to make mega-contracts affordable even for mid-table clubs.

Looking around the Bayern squad, it's not certain who would follow in Muller's footsteps and turn down more money to stay in Munich. Some, like Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben have a loyalty to the club for helping them through difficult times in their respective careers.

But would Robert Lewandowski? Born in Warsaw and having played for five clubs in the last decade, it's hard to see any reason for him to be particularly loyal to Bayern. The Independent's Miguel Delaney reported over the weekend that the striker is considering pursuing a summer transfer, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea all potential destinations in England.

How about Thiago Alcantara? He followed Guardiola from Barcelona to Munich and might join him at the trainer's next destination sooner or later. Even academy graduate David Alaba, whose contract expires in two-and-a-half years, may eventually try his hand at another club.

Thus, it is important to Bayern that they managed to secure Muller not only for the next few years, but essentially for the rest of his prime and perhaps beyond. The money he'll earn is proof that the club value their home-grown stars and are prepared to handsomely reward those who perform. And as an international identity builds in Munich, Muller's acceptance of his new contract is evidence that the concept of community and loyalty is still strong at the Allianz Arena.

Even if he had extended, Guardiola was never going to be at Bayern what Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger managed to become at Manchester United and Arsenal, respectively. But Muller's new contract puts him one step closer to becoming to Bayern what Javier Zanetti, Ryan Giggs and Paolo Maldini were to Inter, United, and Milan. Symbolically, that's priceless.

@Mr_Bundesliga