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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One is an elegant assists master who can carve open defences with a single pass. The other is an efficient, clever and rugged goal machine. Both gave soccer lovers around the world a plethora of magical memories at the peak of their powers.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kevin De Bruyne and Thomas Müller are set to depart Manchester City and Bayern Munich, their long-time clubs, at the end of the 2024/25 season. The two greats of the game made their names at those teams, spending a number of trophy-laden years and cementing their legacies among the all-stars of soccer.</span>\r\n<h4><b>King De Bruyne</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When midfield maestro De Bruyne put his teammates through on goal with his sumptuous passes, it sometimes seemed as though the Belgian had hypnotised the ball.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In his prime, De Bruyne’s vision on the pitch was second to none. He is right up there with the likes of Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Andrea Pirlo and Luka Modrić when it comes to playmaking. Besides his impeccable passing, De Bruyne also chipped in with a healthy number of goals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With City, which he joined in 2015 from German side Wolfsburg, the Belgian truly tapped into his powers. Throughout his time with the Manchester side he was a pivotal member of the team. He mesmerised even supporters of rival teams with his consistent brilliance.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even over the last couple of seasons, when his playing time was significantly reduced because of recurring injuries, his experience has been invaluable.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his time in the blue side of Manchester he has made more than 400 appearances. In those outings, the former Chelsea player boasts 174 assists and 106 goals to date. Of course, with a few matches still remaining in the 2024/25 campaign, De Bruyne can increase his tally.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Lasting legacy</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 33-year-old sits second on the Premier League’s all-time assist-makers’ table, having provided an impressive 118 assists. Only Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs (162) has assisted more goals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to this milestone, the midfielder jointly holds the record for the most assists in a single Premier League season. De Bruyne is tied on 20 apiece with Frenchman Thierry Henry after his heroics during the 2019/20 season. Ironically, that season City failed to win the league title, with Liverpool finishing ahead of De Bruyne and his teammates.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, the midfield magician has still managed to claim 16 major trophies during his decade in Manchester. This includes six Premier League titles, as well as a historic continental treble in 2023. The latter included City’s maiden European Champions League triumph.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“One of the greatest midfielders ever to have played in this country and for Manchester City, there is no doubt,” City manager Pep Guardiola said of De Bruyne.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guardiola said City’s upward trajectory and their dominance of English soccer in recent years is “impossible to imagine” without the influence of De Bruyne. These words were echoed by City’s Portuguese defender, Rúben Dias.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Kevin’s legacy is truly one of a kind,” said Dias. “He’s been such a crucial part of everything we’ve achieved, and more than that, he’s become a close friend during this time.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“He’s not just an exceptional player, but an even better person. We owe it to him to give everything we’ve got to make his final season with us as special as possible,” Dias added.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the first time in many seasons, City are not in the Premier League title race, so that accolade is out of reach for the Belgian. As is the Champions League, after the Manchester outfit was ousted by Real Madrid in the playoffs.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are, however, in the FA Cup semifinals, where they are set to meet Nottingham Forest. Victory in that competition would provide De Bruyne with the farewell his teammates envision for him.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2672262\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2148520654-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Thomas Müller Bayern Munich\" width=\"1707\" height=\"2560\" /> <em>Thomas Müller of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring a goal during a match against 1. FC Köln at the Allianz Arena in Munich on 13 April 2024. (Photo: Adam Pretty / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Bavarian boy</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although one last league title with City is out of reach for De Bruyne, Müller has a great opportunity to win one more with Bayern, 15 years after he clinched his first. Bayern lead the Bundesliga standings with just a handful of matches remaining.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike De Bruyne, who spent time at a handful of teams before finally settling at City, all Müller has ever known is Munich. The attacker joined the German giants in 2000, as a 10-year-old. He made his full senior debut eight years later, coming on as a substitute for striker Miroslav Klose. Müller has since joined Klose on the list of German soccer greats.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although he had already caught the eye in his homeland, it wasn’t until the 2010 World Cup in South Africa that Müller announced himself on the global stage. His unique style of play, which he used to find space where there seemed to be none, was there for all to see.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the way to helping his country claim a bronze medal, Müller scored five times and assisted thrice to walk away with the golden boot for the tournament. He was also named the best young player at the quadrennial tournament.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Four years later, Müller won the World Cup with Germany in Brazil as they ended a 24-year drought for the trophy.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his time in Bayern, Müller has made more than 700 appearances and sits third on the club’s all-time scorers list, with 248 goals.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Decorated dominator</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Thomas Müller is the definition of a Bavarian fairy-tale career; he grew in Bavaria and with Bayern. From Ammersee to the Allianz Arena, as far as Asia and America. Nobody has won more Bundesliga titles, and 33 trophies in total so far speak volumes. He ranks among the most outstanding personalities in Bayern history,” said Bayern president Herbert Hainer.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of those 33, 12 are German league titles and two Champions League crowns, making Müller one of the most decorated players in history. The only tournament he has failed to win in his stellar career is the European Championship. Nevertheless, his legacy is forged with tungsten, the strongest metal on Earth.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Thomas Müller: no tricks, no show. Just an incredible amount of instinct and extraordinary reading of the game – a pure footballer. There’ll never be another one like him, that’s for sure,” added Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">De Bruyne and Müller have not said anything about retiring from soccer, which means they will carry on playing elsewhere when they leave City and Bayern. Saudi Arabia wouldn’t mind paying for their services and profile. The same is true for the US’s Major League Soccer, where Lionel Messi is currently easing into retirement. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>This story first appeared in our weekly </i>Daily Maverick 168<i> newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.</i></span></p>\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2672029\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DM-11042025-001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1417\" height=\"1864\" />",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One is an elegant assists master who can carve open defences with a single pass. The other is an efficient, clever and rugged goal machine. Both gave soccer lovers around the world a plethora of magical memories at the peak of their powers.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kevin De Bruyne and Thomas Müller are set to depart Manchester City and Bayern Munich, their long-time clubs, at the end of the 2024/25 season. The two greats of the game made their names at those teams, spending a number of trophy-laden years and cementing their legacies among the all-stars of soccer.</span>\r\n<h4><b>King De Bruyne</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When midfield maestro De Bruyne put his teammates through on goal with his sumptuous passes, it sometimes seemed as though the Belgian had hypnotised the ball.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In his prime, De Bruyne’s vision on the pitch was second to none. He is right up there with the likes of Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Andrea Pirlo and Luka Modrić when it comes to playmaking. Besides his impeccable passing, De Bruyne also chipped in with a healthy number of goals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With City, which he joined in 2015 from German side Wolfsburg, the Belgian truly tapped into his powers. Throughout his time with the Manchester side he was a pivotal member of the team. He mesmerised even supporters of rival teams with his consistent brilliance.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even over the last couple of seasons, when his playing time was significantly reduced because of recurring injuries, his experience has been invaluable.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his time in the blue side of Manchester he has made more than 400 appearances. In those outings, the former Chelsea player boasts 174 assists and 106 goals to date. Of course, with a few matches still remaining in the 2024/25 campaign, De Bruyne can increase his tally.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Lasting legacy</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 33-year-old sits second on the Premier League’s all-time assist-makers’ table, having provided an impressive 118 assists. Only Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs (162) has assisted more goals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to this milestone, the midfielder jointly holds the record for the most assists in a single Premier League season. De Bruyne is tied on 20 apiece with Frenchman Thierry Henry after his heroics during the 2019/20 season. Ironically, that season City failed to win the league title, with Liverpool finishing ahead of De Bruyne and his teammates.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, the midfield magician has still managed to claim 16 major trophies during his decade in Manchester. This includes six Premier League titles, as well as a historic continental treble in 2023. The latter included City’s maiden European Champions League triumph.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“One of the greatest midfielders ever to have played in this country and for Manchester City, there is no doubt,” City manager Pep Guardiola said of De Bruyne.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guardiola said City’s upward trajectory and their dominance of English soccer in recent years is “impossible to imagine” without the influence of De Bruyne. These words were echoed by City’s Portuguese defender, Rúben Dias.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Kevin’s legacy is truly one of a kind,” said Dias. “He’s been such a crucial part of everything we’ve achieved, and more than that, he’s become a close friend during this time.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“He’s not just an exceptional player, but an even better person. We owe it to him to give everything we’ve got to make his final season with us as special as possible,” Dias added.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the first time in many seasons, City are not in the Premier League title race, so that accolade is out of reach for the Belgian. As is the Champions League, after the Manchester outfit was ousted by Real Madrid in the playoffs.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are, however, in the FA Cup semifinals, where they are set to meet Nottingham Forest. Victory in that competition would provide De Bruyne with the farewell his teammates envision for him.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2672262\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1707\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2672262\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2148520654-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Thomas Müller Bayern Munich\" width=\"1707\" height=\"2560\" /> <em>Thomas Müller of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring a goal during a match against 1. FC Köln at the Allianz Arena in Munich on 13 April 2024. (Photo: Adam Pretty / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Bavarian boy</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although one last league title with City is out of reach for De Bruyne, Müller has a great opportunity to win one more with Bayern, 15 years after he clinched his first. Bayern lead the Bundesliga standings with just a handful of matches remaining.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike De Bruyne, who spent time at a handful of teams before finally settling at City, all Müller has ever known is Munich. The attacker joined the German giants in 2000, as a 10-year-old. He made his full senior debut eight years later, coming on as a substitute for striker Miroslav Klose. Müller has since joined Klose on the list of German soccer greats.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although he had already caught the eye in his homeland, it wasn’t until the 2010 World Cup in South Africa that Müller announced himself on the global stage. His unique style of play, which he used to find space where there seemed to be none, was there for all to see.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the way to helping his country claim a bronze medal, Müller scored five times and assisted thrice to walk away with the golden boot for the tournament. He was also named the best young player at the quadrennial tournament.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Four years later, Müller won the World Cup with Germany in Brazil as they ended a 24-year drought for the trophy.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his time in Bayern, Müller has made more than 700 appearances and sits third on the club’s all-time scorers list, with 248 goals.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Decorated dominator</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Thomas Müller is the definition of a Bavarian fairy-tale career; he grew in Bavaria and with Bayern. From Ammersee to the Allianz Arena, as far as Asia and America. Nobody has won more Bundesliga titles, and 33 trophies in total so far speak volumes. He ranks among the most outstanding personalities in Bayern history,” said Bayern president Herbert Hainer.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of those 33, 12 are German league titles and two Champions League crowns, making Müller one of the most decorated players in history. The only tournament he has failed to win in his stellar career is the European Championship. Nevertheless, his legacy is forged with tungsten, the strongest metal on Earth.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Thomas Müller: no tricks, no show. Just an incredible amount of instinct and extraordinary reading of the game – a pure footballer. 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Thomas Müller of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring a goal during a match against 1. FC Köln at the Allianz Arena in Munich on 13 April 2024. (Photo: Adam Pretty / Getty Images)