"I never imagined I would actually win"

Original article from France Football, published in 2022.

He almost passes unnoticed. Wearing a beanie to brave the cold, Matthias Sammer arrives exactly on time for our meeting at the Gasthof zum Wildpark restaurant in Grünwald, a chic suburb of Munich. His complexion is still pale, but looking fit at 54, the 1996 Ballon d'Or winner seems to be in an excellent mood. Toni Roiderer, the manager, welcomes him before joking in a Bavarian dialect: "As long as it's just us guys, we’re the bosses, but if my wife shows up, you have to say she’s the boss—it’ll make her happy."

Sammer, who no longer struggles to decipher Bavarian, nods. "With time, I still don't speak it, but I understand it." Moving to the region in 2006, just a ten-minute walk from the home of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Ballon d'Or 1980 and 1981), helped him. "No need to hide in Munich," he says. "There’s a lot of politeness and respect here; it’s very pleasant. I don't need to disguise myself to avoid being approached at every corner. It’s a luxury."

The Only German to Win Without Playing for Bayern

As he enters this tavern—where several episodes of the 1980s detective series Inspector Derrick were filmed—he comes face to face with Markus Hörwick, the legendary former press officer for Bayern Munich. Hörwick spent thirty-three years there, four of which were spent working daily with Sammer between 2012 and 2016 during Sammer's grueling tenure as sporting director.

The two men reminisce briefly before Sammer takes his leave, mentioning he has an appointment with France Football to discuss his 1996 Ballon d'Or. "I remember when Gerd (Müller), Franz (Beckenbauer), or Karl-Heinz were crowned, the whole club was buzzing," Hörwick confides. "It was always a great moment in the club's history. As for Matthias, not only did he win it as a defender, but above all as the only German winner to never have played for Bayern."

Learning the News While Leaving a Steakhouse

Right away, Sammer clarifies that he won't be eating lunch. The Dresden native settles for a large glass of still water. He then dives into the memories that led to his somewhat surprise Ballon d'Or victory over a quarter-century ago. "In the days preceding the vote, I was aware of the importance of the Ballon d'Or, but not the consequences or the resonance it would have in the months and years to follow. I never imagined I would actually win it..."

It was almost by chance that he learned the news. "I remember it was during the Christmas market season; I was returning from a steakhouse in Stuttgart with my wife when a friend called to ask if I knew I had won. It was incredible. What a surprise! I was, of course, happy as a clam. I’m not the type to externalize my joy, but internally, I was jubilant. A few days later, Borussia Dortmund organized a small ceremony at the stadium. I invited the whole team to a restaurant to celebrate the award, even though I’ve never been a party animal. The first to congratulate me was Berti Vogts, my national coach in 1996. At the following home match, the editor-in-chief of France Football wanted to present me with the Ballon d'Or a few minutes before kickoff. I didn't see that move in a positive light because I didn't want the focus on me and feared losing focus for the start of the match, but they explained it was tradition. So, I made an exception (laughs). Looking back, it was a great moment."

Where is his Ballon d'Or now? It’s not even at his house! "The government wanted to gather all the greatest trophies in German history, and for sports, I was chosen with my Ballon d'Or alongside Katarina Witt, the double Olympic figure skating champion (1984, 1988). So, for the past two years, it has been at the Haus der Geschichte (House of History) in Bonn. The government wanted the Ballon d'Or for five years, as per their regulations, but I refused because I don't want to be without it for that long. We reached a three-year agreement. I’ll get it back at the end of the year."

It has been a recurring journey; over the last twenty-five years, his prestigious trophy has moved three times. "Until 2005, it was in Dortmund, then in Stuttgart when I was coaching VfB, and since 2006, it has taken up residence in Grünwald, south of Munich. It sat in a place of honor in my living room, above the TV, among my medals. Our visitors gazed at it more than I did, considering I know it quite well now (laughs). When it’s at my house, it draws the eye. I must admit that as time went by, I looked at it more and more, and each time, a specific memory would resurface. It’s an important period of my life. It’s time for it to come home (laughs)."

Popular Abroad, Envied at Home

Sammer is regularly asked about his trophy, especially abroad. "In the street, whether in Italy or Spain, it’s rare not to be questioned about the Ballon d'Or. Recently, I was in Barcelona for the Barca vs. Bayern match (0-3) in the Champions League group stage, and several Catalan socios asked me for a photo in the city and said: 'You are one of the few defenders to have won the Ballon d'Or (Editor's note: along with Franz Beckenbauer in 1972 and 1976, and Fabio Cannavaro in 2006). Congratulations again, Mr. Sammer.' I am obviously delighted and proud to be part of the few defenders to have had it, even if I wasn't a classic defender but rather a sort of playmaker in defense—the libero of that era. I loved moving into the opponent's half with the ball at my feet. It’s a matter of interpretation." Conversely, in Germany, Sammer admits to being surprised by the weak echo of his prestigious distinction. "It’s almost never referred to there. It’s as if there’s a kind of jealousy and that merit isn't recognized at its true value. Germans are complicated, especially in the perception and feeling of certain things. There’s like a sort of blockage..."

Yet his victory remains the last for a German. Despite Bayern's Champions League triumphs in 2001, 2013, and 2020, or the national team's World Cup title in Brazil in 2014, no player from across the Rhine has succeeded him—which doesn't seem to bother him. "It’s a point of pride. At 54, I have my ego. One day, a compatriot will win it again, but I’m in no rush (laughs). If no German has won it since, it’s not just because of the dominance of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo or the lack of results in certain periods for the national team or German clubs in European competitions. It’s because it was Germany as a whole that won the 2014 World Cup, and Bayern that won the Champions League in 2013 or 2020. Each time, it was primarily a collective that stood out. When we think of the Bayern team that won in 2013, we think of Ribéry, Robben, Neuer, or Müller, but not one particular player who crushed all the others, as was the case with Cristiano at Real Madrid or Messi at Barca."

He Could Have Died from an Infection

Every year, Sammer follows the Ballon d'Or ceremony and always reaches the same conclusion. "I am reassured that every Ballon d'Or always crowns a true champion. Nowadays, if a player loses a match, they generally exchange jerseys and find their smile again very quickly. Some even dare to swap shirts at halftime. It’s absurd. It’s something I don't understand. For my part, I went straight to the dressing room. I could never have imagined swapping my jersey with anyone, let alone after a defeat. It didn't interest me. Only victory was beautiful."

A guardian of values and principles, Sammer takes the opportunity to pay tribute to a former double Ballon d'Or winner: "Franz (Beckenbauer) was my idol as a player and as a personality," he notes. "At home, I have a winter garden with an XXL portrait (1.50m by 2.50m) of the Kaiser in black and white during Bayern’s first Champions League triumph in 1974 against Atlético Madrid (4-0, a replay two days after a 1-1 draw after extra time). He is a model of humility and simplicity."

Amidst these memories, his face tenses when he recalls the end of his career due to a knee infection caused by bacteria. "They even told me I could have died or had a leg amputated. In the end, I pulled through." While he hasn't been able to run for many years, he can still enjoy long walks with his dog or bike rides in the Bavarian forest or along the banks of the Isar, where he occasionally runs into Franck Ribéry during international breaks.

His schedule remains full. As a consultant for Borussia Dortmund, where he attends every home match and sometimes away games, he shines as a star consultant for Amazon Prime Germany, which broadcasts a Champions League match every Tuesday. He even analyzes BVB's performances. "In those cases, I have to be careful not to overdo it, but I have no trouble being objective."

Our meeting ends. Before a twenty-minute photo shoot, Sammer leaves the restaurant, greeted by the servers, while customers steal a quick glance at the "Motzki" (the grumbler). Before returning home, he wishes to show us a symbolic place: the spot where Gerd Müller was cremated on September 11, 2021, two kilometers away in the middle of the countryside. There, he pays his respects at the place where the Bomber der Nation (the nation's bomber) rests. A form of communion between greats.