Bayern Munich history features some of the most brilliant and successful tactical position switches in football, transforming elite wide players and fullbacks into world-class central operators.
Philipp Lahm (Right-Back to d
Defensive Midfield): When Pep Guardiola arrived in 2013, he shocked German football by moving Philipp Lahm from arguably the world’s best right-back into a central or defensive midfield role. Devoid of extreme physical height, Lahm relied on unmatched spatial intelligence, press resistance, and precise distribution to dictate the tempo, becoming a quintessential midfield orchestrator.
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Winger to Defensive Midfield):
Early in his career, Bastian Schweinsteiger was an agile, tricky wide midfielder. Under Louis van Gaal, he was permanently shifted into central midfield. This masterstroke allowed his engine, tactical vision, and leadership to flourish, turning him into the heartbeat and “fussballgott” of Bayern’s 2013 treble-winning side.
David Alaba (Left-Back to Centre-Back / Midfield):
David Alaba rose to prominence as an explosive, overlapping left-back. Under Guardiola and later Hansi Flick, his exceptional ball-playing skills saw him move inside to left centre-back—and occasionally central midfield—where his composure and progressive passing helped launch attacks from deep, eventually anchoring a second treble in 2020.
Joshua Kimmich (Right-Back to Defensive Midfield):
Initially signed as a young prospect and deployed mostly at right-back, Joshua Kimmich transitioned permanently into central midfield under Hansi Flick in 2020. Dubbed a “mentality monster” for his aggressive ball-recovery and high-volume creativity, he evolved into the tactical engine of Bayern’s midfield.
