Among the most disputed Ballon d'Or in the recent history of the reward for France Footballspecialists very often cite the coronation of Matthias Sammer in 1996. The German defender had very much ahead of an already phenomenal Ronaldo. The exceptional Brazilian striker caught up the year after. His 1996-1997 XXL season at Barça (47 goals in 49 matches!) And his brilliant beginnings at Inter offered her first Ballon d'Or.
Sammer did not steal anything in 1996, however. Libero overpowered, controlling his defense as much as the game of his teams, he was the worthy successor to the German legend Franz Beckenbauer. With Borussia Dortmund, he won the Bundesliga in 1995 and 1996, being elected best player in the championship two years in a row, before winning Euro 96 with Mannschaft, England, UEFA also offering him the title of player of the tournament!
The East-German (he was born in Dresden and was trained at Dynamo Dresden) was elected Ballon d'Or 96 before even led the BVB to the Champions League in 1997, against Juventus of Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane (3-1). Five months later, his end of career is sudden, at 30. It could have turned to drama.
Less than a year after his Ballon d'Or …
Operated from the left knee in October 1997, Matthias Sammer was infected with a golden staphylococcus, a deadly bacteria broadcast in a hospital environment. “They told my wife that I was likely to die. Doctors spoke to my wife. She won't tell me that much later. I only had a little chance left because all the antibiotics tried had no effect. But the last one saved my life ”he told Die ziet in 2014.
Restored after long months of suffering, Sammer could have resumed football “For four, five years” But preferred to stop. The former defender cannot run with his children today. The Ballon d'Or 96 was coach of Borussia Dortmund from 2000 to 2004 -for a title of champion -, then was sports director in Bayern Munich and is now advisor to the management of the BVB.
