I did a double take when I saw Alexander Baumjohann being unveiled as Sydney FC’s new signing in front of the city’s famous Opera House this week.
I’d assumed that the talented midfielder would be on his way back to Europe or heading on to the mega pay cheques of China after the Wanderers chose not to renew his contract at the end of the A-League season.
Apparently he had cancelled the lease on his apartment and was getting ready to move on. Instead, he has now signed on with Sydney for two years and we can consider ourselves lucky that he’s decided to hang around.
For Sydney FC, his signing makes good sense. Not only has he had one season to acclimatise to Australia and the A-League, he fills a huge hole for them in the midfield after the departure of skipper Alex Brosque.
His creative passing into a forward line consisting of Adam Le Fondre and Kosta Barbarouses is something to look forward to for Sky Blues fans this season.
There’s also the added bonus that his signing will presumably annoy the hell out of Sydney’s cross-town rivals, the Wanderers.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Why he was let go by Western Sydney was unclear. From the outside, it didn’t make a lot of sense. Without setting the competition alight, Baumjohann was creative on the ball and set up plenty of scoring opportunities for Western Sydney last season. He also scored three goals himself.
Standing beside Steve Corica on Tuesday, Baumjohann was asked about a possible falling out with Wanderers coach Markus Babbel, but he avoided the journalist’s tackle skilfully.
“I’m here now playing for Sydney FC, I’m not looking back, I’m just looking to the future,” he said.
Baumjohann’s recruitment by Sydney is a win for the A-League, too. The former Bayern Munich man has played in Europe’s biggest competitions and he wasn’t just making up the numbers there either.
In a period when a glut of young, talented midfielders and attackers took Germany all the way to a World Cup victory, Baumjohann only just missed out on higher honours. After all, failing to keep pace with Thomas Müller and Mario Götze in their prime is not a crime.
If he had arrived into the Bundesliga five years earlier or later, he could well have been selected a number of times for Die Mannschaft. Instead, the 32-year-old is now plying his trade in Australia, earning considerably less but with a lifestyle that takes some beating.
It does remind me a little of the story of Thomas Broich, another German who could have made it back home, but instead headed Down Under and positively influenced the A-League for many years with his energy and honesty.
If Baumjohann can match even half of Broich’s legacy, he’ll become a competition favourite for years to come.
Beach
Roar Rookie
It looked pretty obvious that there was a personality clash too. Big question marks over Babel for mine.
josh
Guest
It was well known at training, Babbel even mentioned him without naming him when he said he wants players who will give 100%. Look at his behaviour when he was subbed off after Vedran's red card brain fade. Sydney FC will get a good 2-3 games out of him, and the smug will be at record levels - before he loses interest and they'll be cursing themselves for signing him for 2 years instead of 1.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
Having top-quality backup for the same position isn't a bad idea I don't think, especially if Sydney want to put in a good showing in the Asian Champions League. Obviously, a bit of depth can help a team perform better in those mid-week games. The question always is: is one player prepared to play second fiddle behind the other? Baumjohann doesn't strike me as that sort of guy. Either way, A-League team performances last year in the ACL were really poor, so it would be nice if one Aussie team found a way of getting some results in that comp!
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
Thanks for the feedback. Where have you heard that he has a bad attitude? Or did you observe this yourself?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I dont think having both Ninkovic and Baumjohann is a good idea, Barbarouses is a superb addition but this means Ninkovic will stay on the left instead of moving centrally. if they wanted to be competitive in the ACl they needed two strong wingers with good workrates, Barbarouses is a key ACL player can back up multiple games unlike other players, the other players will all struggle.
At work
Roar Rookie
It's probably bit of chicken or egg situation with the Wanderers. Did he have a bad attitude because that's the kind of player he is, or was it due to not getting along with the Babbel and it was his way of getting out of a contract... Anyway I think it's a great signing for Sydney, the service he will provide to Kosta and LeFondre will be good to watch. My only concern is whether this will mean Ninkovic will continue to be played out of position on the wing instead of a more central role. But I shouldn't complain, our recruiting for the season ahead has been much better than most of the competition!
josh
Guest
People need to stop acting like WSW fans are upset at this, we got rid of him because of his attitude. I'm glad he's gone.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
He will be good for the A League if he performs - I think is the bottom line. I thought he was one of the better players in a very poor team last season but obviously the german coach didn’t see him as a part of WSW’s future. There appeared to be complaints about work rate and training but whatever it was, the club released him as surplus to requirements so there shouldn’t be any issue with him finding another place of employment. That is, unless he comes back to haunt them in another one of those lop sided derbies that has been the order of the day for quite some time.
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
With Barbarouses, Baumjohann and McGowan Sydney FC have made some good off-season additions, then again they needed too with Brosque retiring and DeJong and Calver departing. I reckon Sydney FC are not finished with their recruiting as they will need to strengthen their roster for league and AFC competition.