Philipp Lahm Official Facebook Page
Is there anyone in the world playing the game of soccer more versatile than Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lahm? Lahm is a coach’s dream and currently in the dreams of manager Pep Guardiola, who has relished the opportunity to use Lahm’s versatility wherever it best suits the team.
At age 29, Lahm has already had an illustrious soccer career. He is the undisputed captain for both club and country. The German international can literally play almost anywhere on a soccer pitch; he has quality, awareness and unbelievable technique. The diminutive leader has heart, courage and most importantly, the cerebral makeup to play in all three areas of the pitch.
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Lahm has been most known to the world as a fullback, playing both the left and right sides effortlessly, marauding up and down the sidelines sending in precision crosses during his overlapping runs.
The versatile German possesses the pace and trickery to be an out-and-out winger as well. With the injuries to Javi Martinez and Thiago Alcantara, as well as the departure of Luis Gustavo, Bayern Munich has been short of options in the defensive midfield role. Insert Lahm, who has been playing in that role for Guardiola, the same role that made Yaya Toure and Sergio Busquets stars during the manager’s time at Barcelona.
Guardiola has said Lahm may be the best that he has ever coached to play in that position for him. With Rafinha and David Alaba playing tremendously well at the fullback positions, it looks like Lahm may be playing in that role for a lot of the season. Lahm has over 240 appearances for Bayern Munich as well as 105 caps for Germany. Still in his prime, Lahm slows no signs of slowing down. It will be interesting to see where he plays during the Champions League as well as the World Cup next summer in Brazil.
It will be fun to watch where Lahm is deployed this season in every game, as his versatility allows Guardiola to change formations and tactics seamlessly without substituting as long as German is on the pitch.
Tyronne Pruitt is a Soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TPruitt_454846, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
