Mario Götze

At 31 years old, Mario Götze has this physical status:

Mario Götze (born 3 June 1992) is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Borussia Dortmund and the Germany national team.

Although his favoured position is that of a playmaker, Götze also possesses speed, technique and dribbling skills.

In 2010, German Football Association's then technical director Matthias Sammer described Götze as "one of the best talents Germany has ever had."He played for Borussia Dortmund between 2009 and 2013, winning the Bundesliga title in 2010–11 and the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2011–12, and was a member of the team which reached the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final.

In April 2013, a €37 million bid from Bayern Munich triggered a release clause in Götze's contract, making him the second-most expensive German player to date, behind Mesut Özil.

He spent three seasons with the club where he won a further three league titles, two DFB-Pokal trophies and a winners' medal in each of the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

He then returned to Dortmund in 2016 where he has since added another DFB-Pokal title to his name.

Götze was first selected for the Germany national football team in 2010, at the age of 18.

He was included in the squad for UEFA Euro 2012 and, two years later, scored the winning goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final.

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Club career

Götze is a product of Dortmund's youth academy, first joining the club as an eight-year-old. In the 88th minute, he made his Bundesliga debut against Mainz 05, drawing a scoreless draw against Mainz 05 as a replacement. Jürgen Klopp, Dortmund's manager, promoted Götze to the first team during the 2009-2010 Bundesliga season. He made five appearances in the 2009–10 season. Götze came into play and was a key player in Dortmund's 2010–11 season's Bundesliga-winning squad. With eight goals in 41 appearances, he ended the 2010-11 season. Götze was described as "one of the best talents Germany has ever had" by German Football Association's then technical director Matthias Sammer in 2010.

He was involved in the 2011 German Super Cup losing to Schalke 04 at 4. Götze was diagnosed with a hip injury in January 2012, and cartilage in Götze's hip had erupted under strain.

Götze signed a new deal with Borussia Dortmund on March 27, 2012, extending his stay at Dortmund until 2016. His deal, on the other hand, contained a release provision from the club that was triggered by a set transfer fee of at least €37 million. Götze spoke about his job extension, "Everyone knows how good I feel in Dortmund." With their recent revival, the club is far from finished. I want to be involved in this growth."

Götze made the squad for the first time since his hip injury in April 2012, but he was a late replacement against Schalke 04, which was an unused substitute. He was playing his first game since suffering from a hip injury against Borussia Mönchengladbach as a replacement.

Götze won the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund in 2012, a record set by Bayern Munich in 2012–13 as Dortmund set a Bundesliga record by winning the most points in a season with 81, a record set later by Borussia Dortmund. Götze also won the DFB-Pokal with Dortmund (5–2) over Bayern Munich in 2012. Götze scored seven goals in all competitions last season.

Götze started his season by losing the 2012 German Super Cup. He appeared as a substitute and scored the winner over Werder Bremen in a 2–1 victory over Dortmund on the first day of the 2012–13 season. In the third round of the DFB-Pokal, on December 19th, he netted a hat-trick, leading Dortmund to a 5–1 win over Hannover 96.

Götze scored a goal and aided in Dortmund's 3–0 second leg loss to Shakhtar Donetsk on March 5th, 2013 a 5–2 aggregate victory over the Ukrainian champions as Dortmund advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Dortmund reached the quarter-finals for the first time in 15 years thanks to the success. Götze was disqualified from the final against Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium, London, after suffering a thigh injury against Real Madrid in the second leg of the semi-finals, which he lost 2–0 but his team nonetheless advanced to the final with a combined score of 4–3. After a late Arjen Robben goal that sealed Bayern's victory, his Dortmund team lost the final 2–1.

Götze formed a strong alliance with German teammate Marco Reus in his final season in Dortmund. In both leagues, Götze has scored 16 goals.

Götze was announced on April 23, 2013 that the team had transferred to Bayern Munich on July 1, 2013 after the team had triggered Götze's release clause of €37 million. Götze became the most expensive German player of all time after the move. Mesut zl eventually broke records in the summer, moving to Arsenal for €50 million. Jürgen Klopp, a Dortmund coach, said the playmaker's desire to play under Pep Guardiola, a former Barcelona coach. Klopp admitted to being annoyed with Götze's move timing, just 36 hours before Dortmund's Champions League semi-finals with Real Madrid. "He [Götze] is a Pep Guardiola favorite," Klopp said later, and Dortmund had no chance of persuading Götze to stay with Dortmund.

Götze made his Bayern Munich debut on August 11, 2013 when he was brought on as a replacement for Mitchell Weiser in the 60th minute. Bayern beat Hungarian champions Gyri ETO 4-1 in a friendly match, with Götze scoring two goals to help Bayern beat them 4–1. In a Bundesliga home match against 1, he made his team debut against 1. On August 24, FC Nürnberg defeated Bayern 2–0. Götze came back as a replacement and had two assists to help Bayern bounce back from a one-goal deficit to a 4–1 victory over 1. 05 FSV Mainz 05.

Götze scored his first competitive goal for Bayern in a 5–0 Champions League group stage victory over Viktoria Plze at the Allianz Arena on October 23. Bastian Schweinsteiger was also assisting in the game. Götze came on as a replacement for Toni Kroos in the 25th minute and scored his first Bundesliga goal for Bayern Munich against Hertha BSC on October 26, 2013. In a 2–1 away victory for Bayern over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on November 2, he returned to the starting line-up. Götze came off the bench and scored the first goal of a 3–0 away win over former Borussia Dortmund on Sunday. He did not celebrate the goal out of respect to Dortmund. Götze scored his second goal of 3–1 away victory in the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League group stage in the team's next match against CSKA Moscow. Götze helped Bayern win by scoring a goal in the last minute, as well as supporting Thomas Müller in a tense 7–0 away victory over Werder Bremen on December 7th. Götze scored a long-range goal against AFC champion Guangzhou Evergrande in the 47th minute, assisting Bayern in their 3–0 victory and advance to the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup Final, where he appeared as an 80th-minute replacement. Bayern won the game 2–0.

Götze opened as a "false 9" in the second half of the season against Borussia Mönchengladbach, a 2–0 victory. Bayern were announced as Bundesliga champions on Friday, with a 3–1 win over Hertha BSC. In their 4–1 away victory over Hamburger SV on May 3, 2014, he scored a brace and assisted two. He appeared in the 2014 DFB-Pokal Final for the full 120 minutes against former club Borussia Dortmund on May 17th. Bayern won their second major title of the season after being 2–0 in extra time. Götze's debut season with Bayern has been a mixture of triumph and apprehension, scoring 15 goals.

Götze began the 2014–15 season on August 13, 2014, after helping Germany win the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and finished as a replacement in a 2–0 loss against Borussia Dortmund in the 2014 DFL-Supercup. In their first 2014–15 DFB-Pokal victory over SC Preußen Münster, he opened his scoring account. In their 2–1 home season opener victory over Wolfsburg on August 22, he got off and played for 62 minutes. In Bayern's 4–0 home win over SC Paderborn on September 23, he scored twice twice.

Götze defeated Werder Bremen 6–0 home win on October 18th, with another brace. Götze has been selected in the 23-man shortlist for 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or, according to FIFA, who revealed it on October 28. In their 4–0 victory over Hoffenheim on Sunday, he scored a stylistic long range goal, earning the week's top Bundesliga goal. Götze scored his third brace of the season on Tuesday and aided one in the 2-1 victory over Hamburger SV on February 14th.

Götze was one of four Bayern players to lose in a 2–0 penalty shootout loss to Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals on Sunday. Franz Beckenbauer chastised Götze for weak results and a lack of enthusiasm in playing in May 2015. After a few weeks, Götze's colleague, Arjen Robben, backed him up for all the pessimistic remarks. "You have to have such experiences as a player," the Netherlands international said. "How you cope with such situations also makes you more effective as a player." Criticism can also be helpful to your growth. To survive, you have to go through the situation." He had scored in 48 games during the season, finishing with 15 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions.

In the 84th minute, he began his season by returning as a substitute. Götze scored with a goal in Bayern's 3–1 DFB-Pokal victory over FC Nöttingen on August 9, 2015. He had a tough time in the next four games, and he didn't have a big impact on the team. Götze, who appeared in 79th minute as a replacement in the 2015–16 Champions League, scored his second goal against Olympiacos in the 2015-16 Champions League as his club won 3–0 away victory. Götze was lauded by Bayern coach Pep Guardiola for his job after the game.

Götze was the last goal in Bayern's 5–1 victory over Wolfsburg on September 22, 2015. Götze was a threat to the entire game on September 29th, when he scored a goal against Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb. Bayern won by 5–0. Götze scored and assisted a goal against Borussia Dortmund on October 4th, helping Bayern win 5–1. In 21 appearances between the 2015-2016 season, he scored six goals in 21 appearances.

Götze reported his return to Dortmund on a four-year deal on July 21. He also expressed regret for his decision to join Bayern Munich three years earlier. Götze lost 1–0 against RB Leipzig on September 11, 2016, marking his official return to form. Despite the loss, he was lauded for his coming back. He scored his first goal for Dortmund since his return to his boyhood club, with his first goal in a competitive game for the club being a 6–1 victory over Greuther Furth in April 2013. He scored the opener of the Champions League group stage against Legia Warszawa.

Götze found his form when his team faced Bayern Munich on November 20, 2016, after a long period of re-adapting to the Dortmund system. Götze scored the game's only goal and gained a 1–0 win. In a 2–2 draw against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, almost a month later, he scored his first Bundesliga goal since returning to Dortmund. Götze was suspended from the Dortmund team in February 2017 due to a mystery illness that can cause exhaustion and weight gain, as shown in media reports. The illness was reported to be the source of several of Götze's fitness issues over the previous several seasons with Bayern and on his return to Dortmund. He had two goals in 16 appearances last season.

Götze returned to the field on July 14, 2017, beating Urawa Reds 32-0 in a friendly match after he was out due to respiratory problems. In a 3–0 away win over VfL Wolfsburg on August 19, 2017, he made his first appearance in seven months; he assisted with a goal and played industriously. Götze's result was lauded after the match, but Dortmund's coach Peter Bosz praised the team's but also said that he should be cautious with his midfielder in order to get complete recovery. He had two goals in 32 appearances last season.

Götze scored in a 3–3 draw with Hoffenheim on February 9, his 50th appearance in the Bundesliga, and in doing so, he extended his record of never losing a game in which he scored to 43 goals.

Götze made his 200th competitive appearance for Dortmund on the first day of the 2019-20 Bundesliga season, defeating Reus by 5–1 over Augsburg.

Götze will leave the club at the end of the season, according to Borussia Dortmund sport director Michael Zorc on May 23. His last appearance for the team was against Bayern Munich, a 1–0 loss three days after he opted to withdraw. At the Westfalenstadion before Dortmund's final match against 1899 Hoffenheim, he bid his farewell to the team.

Götze joined PSV on a free transfer on October 6, 2020, with a two-year contract. Götze scored on his PSV debut, a 3–0 away victory over PEC Zwolle on October 18th.

Götze scored twice against Galataray in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie on July 21, 2021. Götze scored in a 4–0 victory over Ajax on August 7th, putting an end to Ajax's 17 game unbeaten streak.

Götze signed a new deal with PSV on September 6, 2021, extending his player deal until 2024.

Götze agreed to a three-year contract with Eintracht Frankfurt on June 21, 2022.

International career

Götze was called up for his first senior match against Sweden on November 17, 2010, after advancing through many youth squads. He made his debut that day in the 78th minute of a goalless draw, replacing his Dortmund teammates Kevin Großkreutz and becoming the youngest German international since Uwe Seeler. Götze and André Schürrle, who appeared at the same time, are the first two German players to be born in reunited Germany. On February 9, 2011, he made his second appearance for the national team in a friendly match against Italy.

Götze's first goal for Germany came against Brazil on August 10, 2011; he spent 19 years and 68 days for the German national team, as well as Klaus Stürmer, who scored on debut against France on October 16, 1954. On May 28, 2012, he was named in the 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2012 in the Czech Republic. Götze won by 4–2 after being a replacement against Greece in the 80th minute.

Götze scored four goals in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying, and was selected in Germany's squad for the tournament finals. Götze was named in the starting lineup against Portugal in the team's first game, winning the penalty kick for Germany's first goal on his World Cup debut. He scored the first goal and was named Man of the Match in the team's second match and was named Man of the Match in a 2–2 draw with Ghana. Götze defeated the United States 1–0, the first half of the Round of 16 victory over Algeria and seven minutes in a quarter-final 1–0 victory over France. He did not participate in Germany's historic 7–1 victory over Brazil in the semi-finals.

Löw's 36-year-old Miroslav Klose was recalled after 88 minutes with Götze, "How the world you are better than Messi and will determine the World Cup." Götze scored the only goal of the game in the 113th minute, focusing André Schürrle's cross on his chest before volleying the ball into the net, giving Germany their fourth World Cup victory. He was the first substitute to score in a World Cup final since fellow German Wolfgang Weber in 1966, who was then 22 years old. Götze was also named Man of the Match.

Götze appeared in four matches of Germany's semifinalists campaign at UEFA Euro 2016. He played just over 20 minutes in the knockout phase after starting every group game. Pundits blasted his performances for being unscriptive. He participated in a friendly against France in November 2017, a one-year absence from the national team, but did not make the squad for the final tournament.

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