The world champion playing for the American MLS Chicago Fire, on Twitter thanked the teams for which he played, as well as his family: “Dear fans, it’s time to announce that at the end of this season I will end my active career as an athlete. Thanks to Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Chicago Fire and the German national team, as well as my wife Ana Ivanovic and other family members for their support. “
1. Shvaini – Football God
Schweinsteiger’s unchanging nickname in the football world is Fussballgott, literally meaning Football God. For 15 years in the main team of “Bavaria” the second name of the German has taken root so much that even after moving to “Manchester United” he heard the cherished words from the English fans, although he did not appear on the field so often. Bayern fans had reasons to call the midfielder that way. In his debut for the Munich club in 2002, Basti entered the field against Stuttgart, replacing current Bayern coach Niko Novac. Since then, he has played 342 matches for Munich in the Bundesliga, scoring 45 goals and 70 assists.
2. Schweinsteiger has great friends
What other environment can a great player have? The best friend of a football player from early childhood was and remains the alpine skier Felix Neureuther. It was he who was invited by the German TV channel as a commentator on the last match of Schweinsteiger. Racer Nico Rosberg, basketball player Dirk Nowitzki and actor Til Schweiger are also sent to the collection of Basti’s friends. And no, this is not fan fiction with the participation of all eminent Germans, but an ordinary feast in Bastian’s house. Do not forget that Angela Merkel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier are considered fans of the Bavarian.
3. Bastian’s wife – Ana Ivanovich
Almost all players marry girls whose main profession is the spouse of a football player. Schweinsteiger married Serbian tennis star Ana Ivanovic in 2016. The couple celebrated their wedding in Venice, invited a bunch of eminent guests, and then moved away from sports. Now they are much more common in a coffee shop in downtown Chicago, but not on the field or court. According to media reports, Ana Ivanovich became the reason for the unexpected separation of Schweini and the German model Sarah Brandner. The German clearly has excellent taste.
4. He loves other sports too.
If he had not become a symbol of German football, then with great probability he would have become famous thanks to another sport. Bastian’s father owned a sporting goods store and was a big cross-country skiing fan. In early childhood, the future Bayern legend did not even think about football, but conquered the snow-capped mountains. Another German passion is basketball. He can be constantly seen at games both in Germany and in the USA. Sometimes it even seems that basketball has long attracted Schweinsteiger much more than football.
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5. Basti has a cupboard with titles
In the last match for Bayern, all the cups won by the German team with Schweinsteiger were brought from the club’s museum to the Allianz Arena. Champions League Cup, eight silver plates, seven German Cups, two German Super Cups and one UEFA Super Cup. This does not include the coveted 2014 World Cup and the FA Cup. Bastian never boasted of his awards, although he won more of them than the average football club.
6. Schweinsteiger – a symbol of stability
For the past four years, Basti hasn’t played as often as in his early youth, but one thing about him has always remained the same. When he is on the field, the team has character. This applied to both Bayern and the national team. When Schweini appeared half-lame in a match against even the strongest opponent, his partners got a second wind and fought to the last. He is the heart of Bayern Munich and the German national team, without which both the one and the other frankly began to fever due to the lack of an obvious leader on the field, able to fight back in any game.
7. Shweini is a good and interesting person
How many cases were there when an excellent player turned out to be rude and stupid outside the field, could not connect a couple of words, and there was no question of good deeds. Interviews with Bastian are valued by German journalists worth their weight in gold – this interlocutor can fascinatingly tell stories from his life and at the same time be thoughtful enough. Schweini, after joining Manchester United, sent autographed T-shirts to fans who bought a uniform with the player’s old number. In addition, the most revealing case is an encouraging letter to Judge Babak Rafati, who was trying to commit suicide.
8. Bastian is always “in style”
Classical Germans are not distinguished by a special sense of taste: what are the “beautiful” images of Thomas Müller. Schweinsteiger is a completely different story. The German has never been famous for his outstanding appearance, but his style of dress and gentlemanly habits are something that cannot be taken away from him. Every now and then, photos of Schweini strolling around Chicago in a classic suit with Ana Ivanovich on the arm are popping up on the Internet. Definitely working with Hugo Boss under the contract with the national team went to Bastian’s advantage.
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9. The word of the family for Schweini is law
The Schweinsteiger family has never been behind the dark curtain. It’s very difficult to do when your older brother also plays for Bayern and is like you like two peas. Tobias Schweinsteiger – Bastian’s older brother – has always had influence over the youngest member of the family, but at the same time protected him from emerging critics. In 2015, it was rumored that Tobias was the initiator of his brother’s move to Manchester. Later, Basti himself confirmed that Toby is a fan of Manchester United. After signing the contract, they both went to test the lawn at Old Trafford and take a couple of photos in front of the red stands. The big brother’s dream has come true.
10. Schweinsteiger – the face of the Bundesliga
Even those who hate Bayern will admit that Schweini is the player worthy of representing the German championship in the eyes of the world. “I gave myself 100%, my heart and soul belong to Bavaria, – Basti is not even dissembling. Cheerful, moderately rude, ready to fight to the very end, getting along well with both veterans and young people – it’s all about Schweini and the Bundesliga. Schweinsteiger ceased to be just a player, but became a household name for all German football and made all non-football representatives of Germany pay attention to the sport with the ball.