Thomas Muller Chases MLS Cup Glory with Vancouver Whitecaps Despite Having 'Knees of a 15-Year-Old'
If there were any questions, Thomas Müller knows how to operate a vacuum cleaner.
For the first time ever, the 35-year-old will venture outside the comfortable boundaries of Bavaria, embracing a fresh opportunity with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer, where he was formally presented on Thursday.
"I'm fully mature now, I can manage on my own, and I understand how to navigate life quite well. I can vacuum and tidy up an apartment," he laughed while speaking in German, after spending the previous 25 years with FC Bayern Munich. "However, I realize that the most crucial moments occur on the field or during training sessions."
The 13-time German league winner, who joined the traditionally conservative Whitecaps rather than choosing more typical MLS destinations for European talents, was greeted by supporters at the airport on Wednesday.
He also experienced a ceremonial welcome and received an eagle feather from Wayne Sparrow and Wilson Williams, Chiefs of the Musqueam and Squamish First Nations, two of the three Indigenous communities in Vancouver, while the club arranged German specialties for his formal presentation.
"The community members are kind-hearted, they're joyful, and they gave me a very warm reception. I can relate to it; I was once a football enthusiast myself," he continued. "But ultimately, I'm here to compete in soccer. I was accustomed to playing football. Now I'm participating in soccer, and I will embrace it."
Statement of Purpose
For the Whitecaps, Müller represents far more than simply a celebrity acquisition.
Indeed, he stands as the most distinguished athletic personality ever to play for a Vancouver franchise, but his arrival brings MLS Cup aspirations for 2025 and 2026 as the Whitecaps hold second place in the Western Conference with nine matches left in the regular campaign.
It serves as a declaration of ambition for an organization pursuing new ownership, and one that has achieved remarkable success in MLS and Concacaf Champions Cup competition this season. It also represents the most significant gamble in sporting director and CEO Axel Schuster's professional journey.
"I have consistently discussed the vision of creating something lasting here, developing an exciting squad, one that remains competitive, and strives for victory in every single match," Schuster explained. "Simultaneously, we're only at the midpoint. For me, this isn't the conclusion; this is merely somewhere in the center of our path, there's much more ahead from this organization, and we will continue expanding."
Since the announcement, tickets for the remaining season and his expected debut on Aug. 17 against Houston Dynamo FC have sold rapidly, the club has experienced unprecedented jersey sales, and its Instagram account has attracted over 30,000 new followers.
Nevertheless, despite all the excitement surrounding Vancouver in a summer that has also witnessed Son-Heung min and Rodrigo De Paul join MLS, Müller's objective remained completely concentrated.
"It's not about capturing championships in the past, it's about securing titles in the future," he stated.
"That's what drives me. And it's about the challenge—your battle against yourself and your colleagues to secure your position. I was always a competitive person. My passion is playing soccer, and my body feels, even at this point in my career, too strong to step away."
Adjusting to MLS
Müller won't have extensive time before stepping onto the field for his inaugural appearance. He is scheduled to participate with his new teammates for one training session, prior to his anticipated MLS debut on Sunday.
Nevertheless, he has "no clue" about how he will adjust to the new competition for the first time since joining the FC Bayern senior squad in 2007.
The Whitecaps, however, have been an attacking-minded team, and one that Müller has grown familiar with since participating in a detailed tactical discussion about his potential role with head coach Jesper Sørensen as the club pursued him.
"We play aggressively and that's what I cherished throughout my career, to play dynamic soccer. To keep the pressure on and to dictate the match," Müller added, noting that he can modify his space-reading approach as the "Chameleon Raumdeuter."
"In every phase of the match, you must discover different answers... I viewed the cup match while I was traveling, and when I spoke with Jesper, I felt we were in agreement."
The 2014 World Cup winner also verified that there is no concern regarding BC Place's synthetic turf field, which has created issues for players like David Beckham, Lionel Messi and other superstars.
"My knees are like those of a 15-year-old, the physician told me," he proclaimed. "So the knees aren't an issue. I don't believe I'll struggle with adaptation. And typically on artificial surfaces, it's beneficial for passing. You can distribute the ball swiftly."
While there is consistently excitement around high-profile new acquisitions in MLS, only CF Montréal's 2012 acquisition of Didier Drogba can match how Müller measures up in Vancouver among the Canadian franchises.
But now, Müller's attention will be on the field, where the Whitecaps hope he can guide them further than ever before, and to an extended campaign in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
"We want to capitalize on the excitement wave as long as we can. We want to accomplish something extraordinary," he said. "Visit the stadium, beloved supporters. I also watched the Vancouver 1979 Soccer Bowl Championship documentary. I hope we can recreate something comparable."