National player goes to the record champion
Rudi Völler: FC Bayern fetches a “world class” player
May 29, 2025 – 3:43 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
Jonathan Tah changes free from Bayer Leverkusen to FC Bayern. DFB sports director Rudi Völler congratulates the record champion.
National player Jonathan Tah receives prominent recognition: DFB sports director Rudi Völler described the central defender of Bayer Leverkusen in the “Spiegel” interview as “best central defender in the Bundesliga”. Tah was “great before”, but developed on a new level under coach Xabi Alonso “. Völler was particularly impressed by how brave Tah now defends, but was also traveling with the ball. His assessment: “Now he’s world class.”
FC Bayern announced the commitment of Tahs on Thursday. At the record champions, he should stabilize the recently shaky defensive. At the DFB, too, it is becoming increasingly important, especially in the upcoming Nation League games, in which Antonio Rüdiger is missing. “He is an integral part of the national team, and actually not at Bayer 04,” Völler is convinced.
The DFB sports director himself worked in Leverkusen for a long time and once got the 1.95-meter central defender from Hamburg. During his time at the “Werkelf”, Tah stayed more fluctuating in his performance, Völler recalls: “In the past, he used to play less courageously, not so determined, too often fit the ball to the goalkeeper. He was more cumbersome, not as lively and athletic as today.”
He also owes Xabi Alonso, who has been his coach in Leverkusen for the past two and a half years. “I have rarely experienced a development like him, football and mentally,” praised Völler.