In 2007, VfB Stuttgart won the German championship. Captain at the time: Fernando Meira. Things could have turned out differently.
It’s been almost 17 years since VfB Stuttgart’s last championship in the Bundesliga. With a 2-1 home game against Energie Cottbus on matchday 34, the Swabians secured the title.
Captain of the Swabians at the time: Fernando Meira. The Portuguese was an absolute anchor in VfB’s defense. The only time the defensive ace left room for improvement was when he raised the bowl. Meira held up the object of desire upside down.
The fact that this moment even came about was also due to a decision the Portuguese made for himself in 2004. “Bayern actually wanted to sign me, but I didn’t want to leave Stuttgart. I had the feeling I wasn’t finished here yet. My family also felt extremely comfortable in Stuttgart,” says the now 45-year-old in an interview with the portal ” transfermarkt.de”.
In contrast to his neighbor Marcelo Bordon, who moved to FC Schalke, Meira remained loyal to VfB – and three years later celebrated the German championship with coach Armin Veh, while Bordon and Kevin Kuranyi (also moved from VfB to Gelsenkirchen) only came second stayed.
In the summer of 2008, the central defender, who had moved to VfB in the winter of 2002, left the Swabians – and joined Galatasaray Istanbul. However, the 54-time Portuguese international was no longer able to build on his success in the Bundesliga.
After two further positions at Zenit St. Petersburg and Real Zaragoza, he finally ended his career in February 2012.