From goalkeeper for one minute to Bundesliga head coach
In short: In 2002, a sudden red card forced Martín Demichelis into the goal. Decades later, the Argentine defender has transitioned from a trophy-laden playing career at Bayern Munich to the helm of RB Leipzig, navigating the intense pressures of elite European football management.
Martín Demichel helis's professional journey is marked by remarkable versatility and high-stakes drama. His early career at River Plate included a surreal moment on 28 April 2002, when he was forced to act as goalkeeper for the final minute of a match after goalkeeper Ángel Comizzo was sent off. While he conceded a goal during that brief stint, his team secured the Clausura title.
As a player, Demichelis became a cornerstone of Bayern Munich, where he spent seven and a half years. Under managers like Felix Magath and Ottmar Hitzfeld, he won 11 major titles, including four Bundesliga championships. His career was not without friction; he famously clashed with Louis van Gaal, eventually requesting to be removed from the squad entirely after being dropped from the starting lineup for the 2010–11 season opener.
His international career with Argentina saw him earn 51 caps, including appearances in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He reached the pinnacle of the sport as a runner-up in the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 Copa América. Beyond the pitch, his career has faced legal and disciplinary hurdles, including a £22,058 fine from the Football Association for gambling breaches in 2015.
Now a manager, Demichelis has proven his ability to win silverware, leading River Plate to the Argentine Primera División title in his first season in 2023. After stints with Monterrey and Mallorca, he moved to RB Leipzig in 2026, continuing a coaching trajectory that began in the youth ranks of Bayern Munich.
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