By Mike Woitalla
After languishing for 18 months at Manchester United,German World Cup champion Bastian Schweinsteiger has joined the Chicago Fire on a reported $4.5 million, one-year contract. That’s a good move, according to the German press,whose reaction doesn’t always flatter MLS.
Bildcolumnist Walter M. Straten, writing for Germany’s largest circulation daily, asks whether Schweinsteiger could still hack it in the Bundesliga at age 32.
“Maybehe could!” writes Straten. “Certainly not at a Bayern Munich level. And that’s how he would be measured if he joined a mediocre club. No one wants to see our World Cup hero from Riostruggle in a relegation battle. … America is from his perspective the right decision.”
Schweinsteiger is one of Germany’s most decorated players. In addition winning the2014 World Cup, at which he had his face stitched up on the sidelines without anesthesia during the final, in 13 years with Bayern Munich he won eight Bundesliga titles, the UEFA Champions League, theFIFA Club World Cup, and seven German Cups.
Straten offers that MLS isn’tcomparable to the top European leagues, but good enough so “he won’t be bored.”
“There he can have a swansong. And even if it doesn’t go well, there’ll be nojeers, mocking — or even worse – pity in the little-noticed U.S. league.”
Thomas Hummel of the
The USA suits Schweinsteiger better, than say China, writes Hummel: “America has a certain aura: the vast, wideworld, land of freedom and longing. Something even the nasty Trump has not yet managed to change.”
The German media is well aware that the Chicago Fire has been MLS’s worst teamfor the last two seasons — but, notes Straten, it’s an “attractive city.”
Schweinsteiger’s rough time at Manchester United is seen by many German fans, media — and Germany coach Joachim Loew — as an injustice. After injuries limited him to 18games in his first season under Coach Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho did not put him on the field for a single Premier League game this season.
Schweinsteigerturns 33 in August, but perhaps more concerning is his history of injuries. He was sidelined for more than four months during the 2015-16 season and barely got fit in time for the 2016 EuropeanChampionship, during which he struggled in the semifinal finish.
Before he left Bayern Munich after an injury-plagued 2014-15 season for Man United, Beckenbauer advised him to go straight toMLS: “Adapting to a different European league is difficult at his age. He has played with great force and put a lot of pressure on his body for many years. That saps energy.”
One thing’s for sure, German soccer fanswill be following MLS this season, because Schweinsteiger is one of the most admired players in German soccer history.
Inury-plagued player goes to a league with massive amounts of travel (on a scale he’s literally never experienced before) and a playing style that is trying to evolve from rough, foul-prone hacking to a more technical game.Sure, this will go well.
How is Schweinsteiger going to fit in a midfield that already has McCarty and Juninho. He is a guy I used to like to watch when he was in his prime. He will probably have the impact the other Germans who came to MLS had, not much. In fact Matthaeus was a disaster for the MetroStars. Torsten Frings just brought back memories of the uncalled hand ball in the 2002 World Cup Quarterfinal with Germany.
The MLS is certainly not at the level of many European clubs but still has its place. The arrogance of saying “little noticed U.S. League” is totally unnecessary and boorish. I prefer the EPL and Bundesliga as well but the MLS is certainly getting better every year and has attracted several significant international players not looking at the end of their careers. At 31, Schweinsteiger still has a lot to provide and Manchester United (Mourinho) has passed on using experienced and quality players opting to use younger and often less effective players. I am a Man U fan but Mourinho’s player decisions leaves me totally confused at times. Herrera and Fellaini over Schweinsteiger and Rooney is puzzling. I expect he will bring stability to a Fire team that needs the leadership he can bring. I doubt, however, that he alone can rescue this team.
He does say “little noticed” meaning it is getting noticed. In the past he would have said something along the lines of the “unknown League”.
Actually there will be jeers and mocking from opposing supporters if he doesn’t play well. And possibly his own supporters as well. Just ask “fat Frank” Lampard.
This guy was my 47 yr old son’s favorite player. So I guess he will find some excuse to go to Chicago to see him play. If I recall he scores everything with headers even low balls. I hope the kids don’t try to copy him. You know heading is no longer allowed here for kids. You can’t even control a high bounce with your head anymore. Why is that?
My mind went to the same place. His speed and quickness would be the only qualities on the decline. His game intelligence, vision, and technique is still as good as ever.So then you make a move to a league where speed and athleticism trump technique and decision-making? As a Pirlo summed up the MLS, “Too much running and not enough play.” Hard to understand rational of this move.
Please excuse excessive typos
This is the problem with no pro/rel. No accountability. Certainly few clubs deserve to be relegated more than the Fire. This move along with many others just don’t make sense and if you add the fact that they have not developed any proven player in their Academy, how can this club be considered 1st division level?
$4.5 M for one year, that is crazy. I would have gotten two good players from abroad for 2.5million each for 2years. What does Chicago want for a player for one year. For me to take a player like that it is to help the younger players develop and learn the ropes and finer details of the game. Next ,German players other than Beckenbauer have not made a mark on US soccer here. If I were the USSF I would think a step ahead. Hire Lahm who is retiring and Bastian after retirement together to run the US National Team as well as allow them to teach a class for soccer coaches that go in to the deeper aspects of the game, which is currently not offered. The would be another input the American development so sorely needs.
I could be wrong on this but after a while the player owns his own rights. So Chicago did not have to pay his old club anything for his rights. They just have to pay the player a salary for his services. Maybe that is why they paid him 4.5 mill.
Nick, I don’t know. Maybe they let him out his contract because of his Age, and they really don’t need his services and he hasn’t played so for a long time.
This is simply butts in seats for Chicago….. id buy a ticket to watch him play.
When Roberto donadoni first came here to the metrostars he owned his own rights.
I worry about if he is injury prone. But he is definitely an asset as far as experience, game savvy and intelligence which is totally missing in the American game where running and fighting is more of a salient feature…This is why the old players from Europe can look good employing their game knowledge without having to run so much
“Owning your own rights” just means you are out of contract. I don’t think Schweinsteiger was out of contract but Man U probably just released him from his contract because they didn’t want him any more.Also, he was probably making more than $4.5m at United.
It actually means the club that wants you if there is a club that wants you has to pay for the rights to have you because he owns his rights. That is how the metros got donodoni they paid him the 4 million to get him for two years. He only stayed for one year. Plus they paid him another 200 grand as a salary to stay under the Salary cap plus the paid for house rental for him to stay in. I know that for a fact.
Better–‘How Chicagoans view Schweinsteiger’s move to MLS:’ Indifferently. The Fire has not played in Chicago (apart from a few lucrative friendlies) for over a decade. Those in the dank, southwestern-suburban reaches of Bridgeview might give a darn.