Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, the two biggest clubs in German football also sport one of the greatest rivalries in club football in the world. Der Klassiker or the German Clasico is the name given to any match between these two football clubs.
Their rivalry grew in the 1990's, and since that period only four other clubs have lifted the Bundesliga other than them. During this time Dortmund have won 5 titles, and Bayern have won 12, giving them the justified right to supremacy in German football.
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Here's a look at five personalities who represented both Dortmund and Bayern:
#1 Ottmar Hitzfeld
One of the most successful coaches in German and international football, Ottmar Hitzfeld has had managerial tenures at both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
A trained mathematician and sports teacher, Hitzfeld coached Dortmund from 1991-1997 and Bayern from 1998-2004 and another term which lasted a season in 2007-08. During his stint at the two clubs, Dortmund won the coveted Champions League in 1997 and Bayern Munich in 2001 thus making him one of the five coaches alongside Ernst Happel, Jupp Heynckes, Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti to have won the Champions League with two different clubs.
His tenure at Dortmund included 272 games in which he won 148, drew 60 and lost 64 matches at an average of 1.85 points per game. His stint at Bayern was statistically better with 319 games, 198 victories, 64 draws and 57 losses at 2.06 points per game. His second stint at Sabener Street lasted 76 matches during which he won 46, drew 19 and lost 11 at 2.07 points per game.
#2 Matthias Sammer
A gem of a defensive midfielder during his era, who also later played the role of a sweeper, Matthias Sammer is one of the greatest footballers to have adorned the jersey of the German national team.
He played for Borussia Dortmund from 1993-1999 where he made 153 appearances scoring 23 goals and assisting another 23 in the process. During this period he won personal accolades and was named German Footballer of the Year in 1995 and1996. He was also awarded the Player of the Tournament award for his performance in EURO 1996, which Germany went on to win.
On 2nd July 2012, he took over as the sporting director at Bayern Munich. In his debut season, Bayern won their first ever treble, and he continued his work until spring 2016 when he suffered from health issues and asked the club to release him which was granted.
#3 Robert Lewandowski
A full Polish international since 2008, Robert Lewandowski is the 3rd highest scorer in Polish football of all times. He joined Borussia Dortmund in 2010 from Lech Poznan for €4.5 million. There he made 131 appearances over four seasons scoring 74 goals for the yellow-blacks.
His next destination was Bayern Munich where he signed a pre-season deal to join the club on a free transfer from Dortmund in the summer of 2014. He penned a 5-year deal which was a steal given the shortage of strikers in the market coupled with his qualities.
He has made 75 appearances so far scoring 54 times in the process and is rumoured to be extending his contract at Sabener Street till 2021 very soon.
The Polish hitman has won the top scorer award in the Bundesliga twice. The first with Borussia Dortmund with 20 goals in 2013-14 season. The second, last season with Bayern Munich with 30 league goals.
#4 Mario Gotze
Someone whose name will remain in the history books of German football, Mario Gotze's winner at the 2014 World Cup final gave Germany their 4th ever World Cup title. A youth product at Dortmund, he started shining at very young and developed by leaps and bounds under Jurgen Klopp.
He made his first team debut at the Signal Iduna Park in 2009 and went on to be a regular at the club making 83 appearances by 2013, scoring 22 times in the process before joining Bayern Munich on a four-year deal worth €37.2 million
His stint at Bayern under Pep Guardiola was one to forget where he was marred by injuries as he struggled to keep a place in the starting line-up. He still managed to score 22 goals in his three seasons with 73 appearances under his belt for Bayern.
However, his confidence fell as days passed and he finally moved back to Dortmund in this year summer transfer to kickstart his career back to tracks again.
#5 Mats Hummels
A product of Bayern youth academy, Hummels as a youngster never got many opportunities to be a regular starter at Bayern and moved to Dortmund at a very early age in 2008 on an initial loan deal which was converted into a permanent transfer for €4 million
He spent 8 and a half seasons at the club in which he played a significant role in bringing back stability to the club where he went on to become the captain. He made 225 appearances for the yellow-blacks scoring 19 times in the process.
However, to pursue higher ambitions he moved back to Bayern in 2016 summer transfer window on a five-year contract till 2021 where he is now a regular starter and has made 20 appearances already scoring twice in the process.
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