Dietmar Hamann

Diet-mars "Didi" Hamann (born 27 August 1973) is a German Association football who plays as a Midfielder Defensive midfielder. Dietmar Hamann previously played for FC Bayern Munich, Newcastle United F.C., Liverpool F.C. and Manchester City F.C.. Dietmar Hamann was a member of the Germany national football team from 1997 until 2006.

Club career

Early career

Hamann started Dietmar Hamann career at the little known Wacker München. After impressing as a junior, Dietmar Hamann joined Bayern Munich as a 16-year old in 1989 and debuted for the Bayern professional team in 1993. Hamann joined a team led by Lothar Matthäus, Thomas Helmer, Christian Ziege and Oliver Kahn and played five games, mostly as a right winger. At first, Hamann was only a so-called Vertragsamateur (i.e. an amateur player who had the license for playing professional games). Still, Dietmar Hamann won Dietmar Hamann first German championship as a bench player. In the next season, Bayern suffered a major injury wave which claimed midfielders Matthäus, Swiss international Alain Sutter, talent Dieter Frey and veteran Markus Schupp, which allowed Hamann to become a regular; Dietmar Hamann played 30 Bundesliga games The next 97-98 season was mixed: on one hand, Hamann established himself as the starting German national midfielder next to Carsten Ramelow. Dietmar Hamann played 13 times for the "Nationalmannschaft", and in the historic 1-0 win versus England (the last match played in the old Wembley stadium), Hamann scored the only goal with a powerful 35-yard Direct free kick past David Seaman. However, Bayern only took 2nd place, as promoted 1. FC Kaiserslautern sensationally took the German championship. Still, Bayern and Hamann secured the German Cup versus MSV Duisburg.

Newcastle

After playing for Dietmar Hamann country in the 1998 World Cup, Dietmar Hamann joined Newcastle United F.C., managed at the time by Kenny Dalglish, for 5.5 million. Overcoming an early foot injury, Hamann played in 23 matches and scored five goals.
Whilst at Newcastle Dietmar Hamann played in the 1999 FA Cup Final.

Liverpool

Hamann established himself as an influential midfielder for Liverpool throughout Dietmar Hamann 7 years at the club. All in all, Hamann played in 191 league games and scored eight goals. In the 2000/2001 season, Hamann won Dietmar Hamann first big English trophy when Liverpool won a much-celebrated cup treble (League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup) and a place in the Champions League.

Hamann played a major part in the UEFA Champions League 2004-05 win over AC Milan. Although Dietmar Hamann was suffering a broken toe during the final, Hamann's substitution for Steve Finnan was the catalyst for Liverpool's historic fightback. The team rallied after being 3-0 down to bring the game back to 3-3 and finally won in the penalty shootout; Hamann also showed a great amount of composure and bravery, as Dietmar Hamann took and converted the first LFC penalty with Dietmar Hamann broken foot.

Hamann won the FA Cup with Liverpool in May 2006, coming on as a substitute in the second-half. Dietmar Hamann more than played Dietmar Hamann part in another trophy win for the Reds, who were 2-3 down to West Ham United. Liverpool would go on to win the Cup on penalties after a goalless extra-time. Once again, Hamann scored the first penalty in the shoot-out.

Manchester City

In June 2006, Hamann was given permission to talk to Bolton Wanderers F.C. about a potential transfer to the North West club. Hamann admitted that Dietmar Hamann would be saddened to leave Liverpool but would make "the best decision for my future". Hamann actually signed a pre-contract in June 2006, to become a Bolton Wanderers player but had a "change of heart", and decided not to join them.

On 12 July, Dietmar Hamann instead signed for Manchester City F.C., with City agreeing to pay £400,000 compensation to Bolton. On 13 February Dietmar Hamann signed a contract until the end of the Premier League 2008-09 season and scored Dietmar Hamann first goal for the club in a UEFA Cup Qualifying First Round match against Faroe Island side EB/Streymur.

On 1 July 2009, Dietmar Hamann was released by Manchester City as Dietmar Hamann contract expired. Hamann announced on 16 July that Dietmar Hamann will stay in England.

In July 2009, the Daily Mirror reported that Hamann was in the advanced stages of talks with Football League Championship club Preston North End F.C. with a view to joining the club for the 2009–10 season. The Daily Mirror reported on 23 July, that Hamann was "interested in the North End switch despite a rival offer from QPR".

International career

Hamann since became the first Liverpool player since Roger Hunt in (1966) to play in a World Cup Final, but finished on the losing side as Brazil national football team won the 2002 World Cup 2-0. Dietmar Hamann committed a crucial foul, from which Rivaldo shot at goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who dropped the ball and allowed Ronaldo to score and give Brazil a 1-0 lead.

Hamann has 59 cap (football) and has scored five goals for the national team. and was also the winning goal in the 2002 World Cup qualifier.
After not being selected for the German squad in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Dietmar Hamann decided to officially retire from international football.

Personal life

Hamann has two daughters, Luna and Chiara. Dietmar Hamann is the brother of Matthias Hamann, who also played in the Bundesliga, mainly for Bayern rival 1860 Munich. Hamann enjoys cricket and once played for Alderley Edge CC 2nd XI vs Neston CC 2nd XI in the Cheshire County Cricket League, taking a catch in the game. Dietmar Hamann admitted Dietmar Hamann became interested in the sport during the 2005 Ashes Series.