In his testimonial match on Tuesday at the Allianz Arena, Bastian Schweinsteiger scored for the Bundesliga's Bayern Munich, the team that he played for 13 seasons, against Major League Soccer's (MLS) Chicago Fire, the team he currently plays for.
Schweinsteiger played for Chicago in the first half and then in the second half joined his old teammates who all put on No.31 jerseys to honor him. As the game went to the 82nd minute, Schweinsteiger scored the fourth goal for Bayern Munich with a pass from David Alaba, taking a 4-0 win for the "Star of the South".
Every Bayern Munich player wore a No.31 jersey in the second half of the testimonial match for Bastian Schweinsteiger. /VCG Photo
Every Bayern Munich player wore a No.31 jersey in the second half of the testimonial match for Bastian Schweinsteiger. /VCG Photo
After the goal, he was tossed up in the air by Bayern Munich's players before delivering a speech in tears. "I am one of you, and I always will be one of you. My past belongs only to Bayern and nobody else," said the Bavarian native.
Some 75,000 fans were in the stadium to wave goodbyes to their former hero, including Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, President Uli Hoeness, former manager Josef "Jupp" Heynckes, "the Emperor" Franz Beckenbauer and his friend, German World Cup alpine ski racer Felix Neureuther.
Fans cheer "Basti is back" for Schweinsteiger. /VCG Photo
Fans cheer "Basti is back" for Schweinsteiger. /VCG Photo
"We're all happy for him. He is a player that deserves respect. He is our model," said Bayern Munich's captain and first choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. "It feels like he has never left. That's how magical this night is," said David Alaba.
When Schweinsteiger left the Allianz Arena after the game, fans started to cheer "God of Football", "Basti is back" and "Thank you Basti" as a three-years-late goodbye to the man who has played 501 games and won 22 major titles for Bayern Munich.
The Allianz Arena is in red with a shining "31" for the match. /VCG Photo
The Allianz Arena is in red with a shining "31" for the match. /VCG Photo
The day before, Schweinsteiger became the 18th member of the FC Bayern Munich Hall of Fame. He was also awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit in Munich for his contributions to the region and its people.
(Top picture: Bastian Schweinsteiger /VCG Photo)