Happy Birthday Lothar!

MILAN - "I enjoyed a career spanning 20 years, but the four years I spent at Inter were the most emotional." This is what Lothar Matthäus had to say when he was inducted into the Nerazzurri’s Hall of Fame a year ago after being voted as Inter’s best-ever midfielder by thousands of fans, national and international newspapers and the ‘world of Inter’, including the First Team and employees. The former Ballon d’Or winner made 153 appearances for Inter while at the Club from 1988 to 1992 and had a lot of success along the way: he won one Supercoppa Italiana, one UEFA Cup and a Scudetto title with the Nerazzurri.

He recently came back to talk about his Inter adventure and looked back on his most emotional moments in our Matchday Programme: "Being part of that squad was great fun and a greater privilege. Lifting the cup was exhilarating, we were happy for both ourselves and the fans. We were a strong team but above all a fantastic group: Zenga, Bergomi, Ferri, Berti and, of course, the three Germans. It makes me smile to think back on those big guys."

Matthaus won the Ballon d’Or while with Inter: "Lifting it at San Siro was an amazing thrill. I remember the stadium being packed and my ecstatic smile. Sharing that moment with the Nerazzurri fans was magical. It’s true that every player plays for their supporters, but mine mean the world to me."

Matthäus is 58 today. From Inter Forever and FC Internazionale Milano, Happy Birthday Lothar!