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Germans dominate the list of the best midfielders in Bundesliga history
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The majority of players featured below represented Bayern Munich
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Who’s the best Bundesliga midfielder of all-time?
The list of the best midfielders in Bundesliga history is heavily German leaning as you might expect.
Other European countries contribute too, however, with a former England manager earning a spot and a Brazilian international slotting in for his contributions in Leverkusen and Munich.
Where the strength of the teams appearing in Bundesliga betting has fluctuated since the league was founded in 1963, there has been a steady pipeline of special midfield talents.
Ranging from fleet-footed wingers to midfield stoppers and box-to-box generals, the greatest Bundesliga midfielders cover a wide variety of roles. While they have plenty of differences, they all shared a knack for impacting matches.
10) Andreas Möller
Andreas Möller debuted for his hometown club Eintracht Frankfurt in 1985. He spent the vast majority of his career featuring in Bundesliga predictions, albeit with a lot of transfers along the way.
He left Frankfurt in 1988 for two years with Borussia Dortmund before returning to Eintracht in 1990.
A short run with Juventus followed and then he settled with Dortmund between 1994 and 2000, enjoying success on the domestic and European stages.
Möller stopped off at Schalke for three years and ultimately retired back home in Frankfurt. He had every desired attribute for an attacking midfielder, as well as superb set-piece ability.
9) Guenter Netzer
Guenter Netzer pipped Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller to German Footballer of the Year during their respective peaks. That alone is enough to get him into this top 10, but Netzer was so much more than a two-season wonder.
Viewed as one of the greatest passers in the history of the sport, Netzer was a unique talent, a gifted playmaker who stood out alongside the typically industrious Bundesliga midfielders.
His work rate was suspect, which limited him to just 37 caps for West Germany, but Netzer was a superstar in his era.
While not the most recognisable name in Bundesliga history, Netzer is unquestionably among the best midfielders, starring as Monchengladbach won back-to-back titles at the start of the 1970s.
8) Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan arrived at Hamburger SV in 1977 for a fee that nearly doubled the German transfer record.
Despite enduring a rocky start at the club, and not being welcomed by his teammates, Keegan didn’t take long to adapt on the pitch.
Hamburg hadn’t been competitive pre-Keegan, but they went on to win the 1978-79 Bundesliga title with the former Liverpool man starring throughout. Keegan won the Ballon d’Or in 1978 and 1979 and led Hamburg to the 1980 European Cup final.
He might have only spent three years in Germany, but Keegan had a league-altering impact, and scored 44 times in 111 appearances for HSV.
7) Wolfgang Overath
A one-club man, representing Koln from 1962 through to his retirement in 1977, Wolfgang Overath didn’t get the fame that many of his peers at bigger clubs did.
Overath was a creator first and foremost. Owner of a magic left-foot, he could pick defences apart with a combination of vision and talent.
Limited to just one Bundesliga title – which came in the inaugural campaign – Overath collected more medals with West Germany, winning the World Cup in 1974 and finishing as runners-up eight years previous.
6) Michael Ballack
Initially playing at the back for Kaiserslautern, Michael Ballack became a midfielder at Bayer Leverkusen in 1999. It was a decision that began the career of one of Germany’s greatest ever players.
A broad 6’2, Ballack had the look of an all-purpose midfield player. He lived up to that appearance, with a strong engine, good defensive instincts and an eye for goal. The Görlitz native made good use of his height at set pieces, too.
Part of the Bayer Leverkusen team that made an improbable run to the Champions League final, Ballack also won three league titles in four seasons with Bayern. He was named German Footballer of the Year on three occasions, too.
While prolific for Germany, Ballack was rarely among the Bundesliga top scorers, though his tally of 77 is bettered by only a handful of midfielders.
5) Paul Breitner
Bavaria-born Paul Breitner started his career at Bayern Munich, transitioning from centre forward to left-back.
He won three Bundesliga titles in that first stint in Germany, but it was a move to Real Madrid that changed his career.
Breitner became a central midfielder for Los Blancos, a role he continued in upon his return to Germany.
He signed for Eintracht Braunschweig in 1977, and rejoined Bayern the following year. Breitner made over 180 appearances in his second Bayern stint, winning back-to-back league titles and German Football of the Year.
4) Arjen Robben
Coming off spells at Chelsea and Real Madrid, Bayern were taking a chance on Arjen Robben.
He reportedly didn’t want to leave Real when he signed with the Bavarian megaclub in 2009, but it didn’t take long to accept his new home.
Electrically quick and with great dribbling skills, Robben was a nuisance from the right flank. He was so good that even with a predictable trademark move of cutting onto his left to shoot, defenders were unable to stop him.
Robben won eight Bundesliga titles, and was named in the UEFA Team of the Year in 2011 and 2014. The Dutchman was a must-have in any Bundesliga XI.
3) Franck Ribery
Like Robben, including Franck Ribery requires a broad interpretation of ‘midfielder’. Ribery and Robben were wingers, not exactly famed for their defensive contributions. Still, it’s not unreasonable to class them as wide midfielders.
Ribery arrived at Bayern from Marseille in 2007 for a then-club record €25 million.
It’s safe to say that turned out to be good value, with the Frenchman winning nine Bundesliga titles and the Champions League. He also made it into Kicker’s Bundesliga Team of the Season on five occasions.
While not universally adored by those who bet football online, it was impossible not to admire Ribery’s talent.
2) Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bastian Schweinsteiger had it all. He started out wide at Bayern, breaking into the team as a teenager, but he’s best remembered for his years in the heart of the midfield.
Managers came and went. So did midfield partners. Schweinsteiger adapted, exhibiting a complete skillset to operate in any role required, and to work seamlessly alongside a range of teammates.
We should give a nod to his stellar work rate and high fitness levels, but it would be unfair to focus on Schweinsteiger as a workhorse.
He was a superb passer, an intelligent and fearless defender and a strong distance shooter.
1) Lothar Matthäus
Diego Maradona thought Lothar Matthäus was ‘the best rival he’d ever had’. That says a great deal about Matthäus’ legacy, yet it does not sum up just what he meant to German football.
Matthäus captained Germany to the 1990 World Cup, and he remains the all-time appearances leader for Die Mannschaft.
Among the best players in the world throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Matthäus is one of the best box-to-box midfielders ever.
Matthäus went on to enjoy immense success across two spells with Bayern Munich after beginning his career at Borussia Monchengladbach.
The 1990 Ballon d’Or winner won seven Bundesliga titles and was twice named German Footballer of the Year.
