From Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich and back: Mario Götze goes full circle
When Mario Götze completed his return to Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich in 2016, the attacking midfielder's career came full circle.
bundesliga.com traces the Memmingen-born superstar's journeys between Munich and Dortmund, Germany's two great footballing cities.
Scoring wonder goals and winning titles as a teenager, Götze drew high praise from all over the football world. "Players like him come around once in a blue moon," said Dortmund's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.
Watch: we spoke to a fresh-faced Götze after he made his Bundesliga debut
Götze left Dortmund for Munich in 2013, having only just missed out on a third straight Bundesliga title - although he soon added that to his collection down south, where former Bayern and Dortmund coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said it was "only logical" he would go. "I'm just astonished Bayern didn't bring him in a year or two ago, when you could already see he was one of the biggest talents in German football," Hitzfeld added…
Watch: Hitzfeld and Jürgen Klopp reflect on Götze's move to Bayern
Want more Bundesliga Action?
With eight goals and seven assists in his first 23 games for Bayern, Götze hit the ground running with the record champions. "I like working with good players, and he's one of the best in Germany," said then-Bayern coach Pep Guardiola. Not many back in Dortmund agreed with that any more, though, and they made their feelings known when Götze returned to Westphalia with his new club.
"It wasn't pleasant to come off the bench to stadium full of catcalls - I won't forget that feeling in a hurry, when everybody in the stadium seems to hate you," Götze said in this video of his first few months with FC Bayern.
Watch: Götze reflects on his first experiences in Bayern red
He had the whole of Germany cheering him in 2014, on the other hand, when he fired them to World Cup glory in what was a memorable year for Götze.
Watch: Bundesliga stars discuss Götze's World Cup impact
The son of an academic, Götze returned to Borussia in summer 2016. "We always hoped he would return one day," said Watzke when the transfer was announced. "When I return home, I want to try to win everyone over with my performances," said Götze. "It's my aim to play at the top of my game again: for all of us, for the club and the BVB fans."
Watch: Götze discusses his return to Dortmund
Of course, returning to Dortmund also meant linking up with Marco Reus, Götze's best friend, reuniting a pair that had thrilled Europe when free-scoring BVB reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2013. They were joined by another close friend soon after, Andre Schürrle putting pen to paper on a deal at the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.
Watch: Götze, Reus and Schürrle, the Bundesliga's BFFs
Following a metabolic disorder that disrupted his 2016/17 season, Götze returned to training in high spirits under new coach Peter Bosz ahead of the 2017/18 campaign. Whatever comes next, it's likely to be worth watching for one of the Bundesliga's favourite sons.