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Goal.com 50: Mats Hummels (42)
Goal.com's countdown of world football's top 50 players continues with the Dortmund defender, who makes his debut in 42nd place
30-Jul-2011 2:39:00 PM
By Clark Whitney
Bongarts
Welcome to the Goal.com 50! In this special series, Goal.com editors worldwide vote for the top 50 players of 2010-11. We count down to the announcement of the winner on August 21 with profiles of each and every player who made it into the top 50...
There are a few fundamental principles upon which Jurgen Klopp has built his formula for success at Dortmund. On the pitch, solidity in defence and swift transitioning from the back to the attacking third are the hallmarks of his strategy. The plan requires very specific, uncommonly versatile players; among them, at least one centre-back capable of doubling as a defender and as a deep playmaker. And it was in 2010-11 that such a player emerged.
In this role, Klopp placed his faith in young Mats Hummels, and the ex-Bayern man did not disappoint: alongside Neven Subotic, he formed one of Europe’s finest defensive partnerships. By season’s end, Bundesliga champions Dortmund had conceded just 22 goals in 34 games, one shy of a league record.
Statistically, Hummels was Europe’s cleanest defender in 2011-12: he committed fewer fouls per game than any of the game's elite centre-backs, including Thiago Silva, Gerard Pique, and Nemanja Vidic. In Bundesliga play, the young German was carded just twice. So pristine was his defending in 2010-11 that the division's top three strikers went scoreless against Dortmund.
In terms of playing style, Hummels reads the game with instincts that border on the prophetic, and has a reputation for rendering strikers useless with his close man-marking. In many regards, the 22-year-old defends in a style similar to that of Thiago Silva: he rarely ever is forced to do the spectacular, because he is almost always positioned properly to intervene in a simple - but decisive - manner.
While his most important and most applicable assets are in defence, Hummels’ play without the ball describes only half of his expansive skill set. Much like Pique, he is extremely comfortable in possession, an attribute that Klopp exploited to great effect.
After intercepting the ball, the young defender would often be the first man to begin a counterattack. Rather than hoof the ball aimlessly, he would look up and, much like a defensive midfielder, pick out a target. In situations where a fast break was not a possibility, Hummels would often dribble to the midfield line, then pick out a 20 or 30-yard pass into the attacking third. Essentially, he would adopt many of the properties of a No. 6, allowing the 'real' sixes - Sven Bender and in particular, Nuri Sahin - to drift into more dangerous areas.
For his immense displays at club level, the Dortmund star appears to have won the support of Germany coach Joachim Low. He has only earned seven caps for his country, and has yet to replicate his club form, but a string of appearances in recent games indicates that his stock is high in the trainer’s eyes.
As the new campaign begins, Hummels has two great challenges: to bring his superb form to the Champions League, and to adapt himself to be a starter in Low’s squad at Euro 2012. It will be a struggle, but having skyrocketed to elite status last year, he carries a strong headwind into the new season.
There are a few fundamental principles upon which Jurgen Klopp has built his formula for success at Dortmund. On the pitch, solidity in defence and swift transitioning from the back to the attacking third are the hallmarks of his strategy. The plan requires very specific, uncommonly versatile players; among them, at least one centre-back capable of doubling as a defender and as a deep playmaker. And it was in 2010-11 that such a player emerged.
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"Hummels has convinced me more and more. He has made a big step over the last four or five months." - Joachim Low
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In this role, Klopp placed his faith in young Mats Hummels, and the ex-Bayern man did not disappoint: alongside Neven Subotic, he formed one of Europe’s finest defensive partnerships. By season’s end, Bundesliga champions Dortmund had conceded just 22 goals in 34 games, one shy of a league record.
| MOMENT OF THE SEASON |
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| BUNDESLIGA: BAYERN MUNICH 1-3 DORTMUND |
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| Hummels shackled Mario Gomez in a virtuoso defensive performance against his former club. In the second half, his towering headed goal put the game out of reach. |
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In terms of playing style, Hummels reads the game with instincts that border on the prophetic, and has a reputation for rendering strikers useless with his close man-marking. In many regards, the 22-year-old defends in a style similar to that of Thiago Silva: he rarely ever is forced to do the spectacular, because he is almost always positioned properly to intervene in a simple - but decisive - manner.
While his most important and most applicable assets are in defence, Hummels’ play without the ball describes only half of his expansive skill set. Much like Pique, he is extremely comfortable in possession, an attribute that Klopp exploited to great effect.
After intercepting the ball, the young defender would often be the first man to begin a counterattack. Rather than hoof the ball aimlessly, he would look up and, much like a defensive midfielder, pick out a target. In situations where a fast break was not a possibility, Hummels would often dribble to the midfield line, then pick out a 20 or 30-yard pass into the attacking third. Essentially, he would adopt many of the properties of a No. 6, allowing the 'real' sixes - Sven Bender and in particular, Nuri Sahin - to drift into more dangerous areas.
For his immense displays at club level, the Dortmund star appears to have won the support of Germany coach Joachim Low. He has only earned seven caps for his country, and has yet to replicate his club form, but a string of appearances in recent games indicates that his stock is high in the trainer’s eyes.
| "Statistically, Hummels was Europe’s cleanest defender in 2011-12: he committed fewer fouls per game than any of the game's elite centre-backs, including Thiago Silva, Pique, and Vidic." |
As the new campaign begins, Hummels has two great challenges: to bring his superb form to the Champions League, and to adapt himself to be a starter in Low’s squad at Euro 2012. It will be a struggle, but having skyrocketed to elite status last year, he carries a strong headwind into the new season.
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