Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt (German pronunciation: [ˌhansˈvɪlhɛlm ˌmʏlɐˈvoːlfaːɐ̯t]; born 12 August 1942 in Leerhafe, today part of Wittmund, East Frisia) is a German orthopedist. He gained recognition for his roles as Germany national football team doctor (1995–2018) [1] and club doctor of Bayern Munich (1977–2015, 2017–2020). [2] He initially resigned after him and his medical staff were blamed for a 3–1 loss to Porto in a UEFA Champions League match during the tenure of coach Pep Guardiola, [3] but he rejoined after the reappointment of Jupp Heynckes as head coach. Having already resigned from his position at the Germany national football team in 2018, [1] his second and final resignation at Bayern Munich also came into effect on the 30th of June 2020. [2]
Many of the German doctor's treatments are seen as controversial, including using injections of a substance called Hyalart, [4] extracted from the crest of cockerels, which is claimed to help lubricate knee injuries and take away the pain. He has also injected Myo-Melcain, which is the painkiller Procaine in a honey solution, or Actovegin into patients' muscles.[ citation needed]
Müller-Wohlfahrt's use of homeopathic medicine to treat players is also controversial. [5] [6] [7]
He has treated many footballers and athletes including Jürgen Klinsmann, [8] Ronaldo and Jonathan Woodgate, [9] Kelly Holmes, [10] Maurice Greene [11] and Usain Bolt. [12]
He helped cure Michael Owen's hamstring problems in time to play at the Euro 2000 tournament [13] and has also helped Owen's Liverpool and England colleague, Steven Gerrard [14] and Harry Kewell. [15]
Darren Gough [16] [17] and Alex Tudor, [17] Essex cricketers, have benefited from the German doctor's pioneering treatments. On 6 May 2009 it was announced that he was helping Akpo Sodje recover from a longstanding hamstring problem.
José María Olazábal, [18] the 1994 US Masters golf champion was suffering from the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis when he visited Müller-Wohlfahrt but was able to win at Augusta again in 1999.
Rugby World Cup winner Will Greenwood [19] is another who has benefited from the doctor's treatment after 8 months with a groin problem. Weeks later he was staking a claim to a recall to the England team.
Even international sportsmen as far away as Australia have sought treatment from Müller-Wohlfahrt – Australian rules footballers Ben Reid, Max Rooke and Mark Coughlan were treated for chronic soft tissue injuries. [20] Likewise he has also treated professional cyclists including Stephen Roche.
One of his more unusual treatments was when St Johnstone F.C. striker Peter MacDonald was prescribed goat's blood injections in a bid to cure a recurring hamstring problem. [21]
In 2010, he treated Bono (singer for U2) and Usain Bolt for severe back injury. [22]
In 2012, he was given the job of repairing the hamstring of Dylan Grimes of the AFL club the Richmond Tigers.
In 2016 Usain Bolt devoted his 100 m sprint gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio to Müller-Wohlfahrt, who was at the stadium, after having received treatments from him for a previous calf injury. [23]
In 2019, he worked on Collingwood Magpie AFL Jordan De Goey in a bid to get his injured hamstring resolved in time to play in the AFL Grand Final if the team get through their penultimate match against the GWS Giants. [24]
Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt (German pronunciation: [ˌhansˈvɪlhɛlm ˌmʏlɐˈvoːlfaːɐ̯t]; born 12 August 1942 in Leerhafe, today part of Wittmund, East Frisia) is a German orthopedist. He gained recognition for his roles as Germany national football team doctor (1995–2018) [1] and club doctor of Bayern Munich (1977–2015, 2017–2020). [2] He initially resigned after him and his medical staff were blamed for a 3–1 loss to Porto in a UEFA Champions League match during the tenure of coach Pep Guardiola, [3] but he rejoined after the reappointment of Jupp Heynckes as head coach. Having already resigned from his position at the Germany national football team in 2018, [1] his second and final resignation at Bayern Munich also came into effect on the 30th of June 2020. [2]
Many of the German doctor's treatments are seen as controversial, including using injections of a substance called Hyalart, [4] extracted from the crest of cockerels, which is claimed to help lubricate knee injuries and take away the pain. He has also injected Myo-Melcain, which is the painkiller Procaine in a honey solution, or Actovegin into patients' muscles.[ citation needed]
Müller-Wohlfahrt's use of homeopathic medicine to treat players is also controversial. [5] [6] [7]
He has treated many footballers and athletes including Jürgen Klinsmann, [8] Ronaldo and Jonathan Woodgate, [9] Kelly Holmes, [10] Maurice Greene [11] and Usain Bolt. [12]
He helped cure Michael Owen's hamstring problems in time to play at the Euro 2000 tournament [13] and has also helped Owen's Liverpool and England colleague, Steven Gerrard [14] and Harry Kewell. [15]
Darren Gough [16] [17] and Alex Tudor, [17] Essex cricketers, have benefited from the German doctor's pioneering treatments. On 6 May 2009 it was announced that he was helping Akpo Sodje recover from a longstanding hamstring problem.
José María Olazábal, [18] the 1994 US Masters golf champion was suffering from the crippling effects of rheumatoid arthritis when he visited Müller-Wohlfahrt but was able to win at Augusta again in 1999.
Rugby World Cup winner Will Greenwood [19] is another who has benefited from the doctor's treatment after 8 months with a groin problem. Weeks later he was staking a claim to a recall to the England team.
Even international sportsmen as far away as Australia have sought treatment from Müller-Wohlfahrt – Australian rules footballers Ben Reid, Max Rooke and Mark Coughlan were treated for chronic soft tissue injuries. [20] Likewise he has also treated professional cyclists including Stephen Roche.
One of his more unusual treatments was when St Johnstone F.C. striker Peter MacDonald was prescribed goat's blood injections in a bid to cure a recurring hamstring problem. [21]
In 2010, he treated Bono (singer for U2) and Usain Bolt for severe back injury. [22]
In 2012, he was given the job of repairing the hamstring of Dylan Grimes of the AFL club the Richmond Tigers.
In 2016 Usain Bolt devoted his 100 m sprint gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio to Müller-Wohlfahrt, who was at the stadium, after having received treatments from him for a previous calf injury. [23]
In 2019, he worked on Collingwood Magpie AFL Jordan De Goey in a bid to get his injured hamstring resolved in time to play in the AFL Grand Final if the team get through their penultimate match against the GWS Giants. [24]