Famous 21st Century German Football Players

Jürgen Klinsmann is a German football manager who guided the German national team throughout the 2006 FIFA World Cup, helping them finish third. A former player, Klinsmann helped the West German team win the 1990 World Cup. One of Germany's main strikers during the 1990s, Jürgen Klinsmann was named in Pele's FIFA 100 list in 2004.

Thomas Müller, who is a prominent member of the Germany national football team, is a versatile footballer; he can play at various positions, such as centre forward, left wing, and right wing. He played key roles in Germany's performance in the 2010 World Cup, Euro Cup 2012, 2014 World Cup, and 2018 World Cup.

German midfielder Toni Kroos has won two La Ligas and three UEFA Champions Leagues with his current team Real Madrid. He has previously helped Bayern Munich win three Bundesliga titles and one FIFA Cup World Cup. He also led Germany to a FIFA World Cup win in 2014.

Considered one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, Manuel Neuer is a German football player. He is the captain of German national team as well as his club Bayern Munich. Described as a sweeper-keeper due to his unique playing style, Neuer was part of the German team that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was adjudged the best goalkeeper of the decade from 2011 to 2020 by IFFHS.

Timo Werner is a German football player who plays for the German national team and Chelsea Football Club. A prolific goalscorer, Werner was the second-highest goalscorer in the Bundesliga in the 2019–20 season. An intelligent player, Timo Werner is also known for his pace and determination. He represented his national team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is a German former football player. Considered one of the greatest midfielders ever, Schweinsteiger was renowned for his tackling ability. Schweinsteiger represented Germany in three World Cups, playing a major role in his team's victory in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. One of the greatest German footballers of all time, Schweinsteiger is the fourth most-capped player for Germany.

Leroy Sané is a German professional football player who played a prominent role in helping Manchester City win the EFL Cup and the Premier League for which he was named PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2017–18 season. Also an important member of the German national team, Sané can also represent France as he also holds French citizenship.

Marco Reus is a German football player who plays for the Germany national team and the popular Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. Known for his speed, versatility, technical skills, and shooting ability, Reus was named the Footballer of the Year (Germany) in 2012. In 2013, 2014, and 2019, Marco Reus helped Borussia Dortmund win the prestigious DFL-Supercup.

German footballer Serge Gnabry was scouted by VfB at age 12. Though he also excelled in track and field, too, he later chose football. At the 2016 Olympics, he helped Germany win the silver and was also the joint top-scorer. He is part of the philanthropic initiative Common Goal.

Starting his career with the club Tennis Borussia Berlin, German footballer Jérôme Boateng later had a decade-long association with Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga 9 times and the UEFA Champions League twice with Bayern. The talented center-back was also part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup-winning German squad.

Lukas Podolski is a German football player renowned for his powerful and accurate kicks, technique, and explosive style of play. The third most-capped player in the history of German football, Podolski helped the German national team win the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He is also the third-highest goalscorer in the history of German soccer.

Mario Gómez is a German former footballer who played for the Germany national football team between 2007 and 2018, during which he represented Germany in two FIFA World Cups and three UEFA European Championships. He was also an important member of the popular club Bayern Munich as he helped the team secure several trophies, such as the UEFA Champions League.

After a short-lived playing career, which ended with a knee injury, German former footballer Thomas Tuchel joined a business administration course and also worked as a waiter in a bar. However, his love for football made him take up coaching, and he ended up managing teams such as Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

Cédric Soares is a Portuguese football player who plays as a defender for the Portugal national team. He was part of the team that won the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship and also represented Portugal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Apart from his national team, Cédric Soares is also currently a part of the Arsenal Football Club.

German footballer Loris Karius was initially encouraged to become a motocross rider by his father, but he chose football instead. A promising goalkeeper, he has played for Liverpool, and was part of the club squad that managed to reach the runner-up spot at the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League.

Known as an energetic midfielder, German footballer İlkay Gündoğan began his youth career with teams such as Schalke 04. He has had a successful stint with Borussia Dortmund, winning a Bundesliga with them, and now plays for Manchester City, with which he has won 4 Premier Leagues and 4 EFL Cups.

Jürgen Klopp is a German football manager and former player. He is the manager of the Liverpool football club and is considered as one of the best managers in the world. He has also been the manager of Borussia Dortmund. Liverpool won their first FIFA Club World Cup and first Premier League title under him. He is famous for his enthusiastic celebrations.

Retired Borussia footballer and manager Jupp Heynckes is known as the man who turned Bayern Munich’s fortunes around, with his combination of discipline and tactics, winning four Bundesliga titles with them as a coach. He has also won two UEFA Champion Leagues, one with Bayern and another with Real Madrid.