Sammer reveals: These former BVB stars he’d love to see in today’s squad | OneFootball

German champion as a player and as a coach. European champion. European Footballer of the Year. Matthias Sammer (58) has undoubtedly achieved a lot in his career. Now he reveals which player from his successful 2002 team he would like to see in today’s Borussia Dortmund squad.

The 2001/02 Bundesliga season offered excitement right up to the last minute. For a long time, Bayer Leverkusen looked like the new titleholder. But on the penultimate matchday, BVB took the lead and didn’t give it up in the final round. At just 34 years old, Sammer became the championship-winning coach—a record that still stands today.

In a conversation with Prime Video, the Dresden native recalls the season that was to bring the Black and Yellows their sixth championship trophy. One of the professionals he would still love to see actively on the pitch today is midfield maestro Tomáš Rosický. The now 45-year-old Czech is currently employed as an advisor at Sparta Prague.

“In terms of football, Tomáš Rosický was an absolute delight to watch,” Sammer enthuses, “the way he anticipated, his technique, and his movements.” In the championship year 2002, the Czech played 30 Bundesliga matches. He scored five goals and provided eleven assists. The attacking trio of Márcio Amoroso (now 51), Jan Koller (now 52), and Ewerthon (now 44) especially benefited from his pinpoint passes.

Amoroso: “I was a real diva”

About Amoroso, who was the top scorer at the time with 18 goals, Sammer says: “I always enjoyed working with Márcio Amoroso.” But he immediately adds: “I just don’t think he enjoyed working with me as much, because there was a lot of hard work involved.” Years later, the Brazilian said about himself in Kicker: “I was a real diva.” For example, he extended his winter vacation in his home country on his own authority. The club imposed a fine of 20,000 euros.

Sammer’s then team captain Stefan Reuter (now 59) receives special praise. “We had fantastic players!” the championship coach enthuses, “but what was a bit underestimated at the time: Stefan Reuter was a true captain.” The long-time sporting director of FC Augsburg “tried to be the extended arm and to influence the team.” And then today’s BVB advisor sums up: “It was a pleasure to work with these players.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.