Last weekend, Franck Ribery was due to celebrate a slap-up meal with the rest of his Bayern Munich team-mates safe in the knowledge that he had helped secure a record 23rd league title with six games to spare.
Club captain Philippe Lahm had already let the club know that the squad intended to let their hair down well in advance.
But just before the event, orders were sent down from above that birthdays and celebrations would be postponed until the end of the season despite the fact that the Bundesliga had been wrapped up.
The main architect of that decision was a certain Matthias Sammer, the club’s sporting director.
Appointed last July, Sammer has been the driving force behind Bayern’s excellent season – one that could end with their first ever treble.
A born winner, the former defensive sweeper was one of the main stars of the 90s during his playing career. The 1996 European Player of the Year and two-time German Player of the Year, won three Bundesliga titles and captained Borussia Dortmund to their maiden Champions League title in 1997.
After his career was cut short by a serious knee injury in 1998, the 45-year-old moved into coaching.
But in 2006, the new position of Technical Director was created for him in the DFB (German Football Association).
His role involved overseeing the development of young German players between the ages of 11 and 18 at a national level, working closely with current Germany boss Joachim Low.
His role in Germany’s recent success at international level and the creation of a national footballing culture should not be underestimated.
Catalyst
As Sammer’s tenure at the DFB wound down, Bayern Munich were in need of more than a little assistance after coming so close yet so far from what they hoped to achieve in 2011/12.
The defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League final last May proved to be the catalyst for change and the club decided to appoint Sammer as Sporting Director with responsibility for the playing staff and management.
So how has he revolutionized a club that was already well run?
Sammer played an instrumental role in finalizing the management coup of the year by bringing Pep Guardiola to the Allianz Arena for 2013/14 under the noses of Manchester City and Chelsea.
He also pushed for transfers like that of Spain midfielder Javi Martinez for €40 million, despite the astronomical price tag that Bayern may have baulked at in the past. Those signings may not have been completed without Sammer’s drive and determination.
But it has been his leadership off-the-field during the season which has set the tone for Bayern’s campaign.
Even though the Bavarians have been in control domestically almost from the start of the season, Sammer regularly makes public criticism of even the slightest setback.
When Bayern thrashed Hamburg 9 – 2 on March 30th, they conceded two late consolation goals from corner kicks.
Far from lauding the awe-inspiring performance like the rest of the team and management, Sammer focused on the two goals, telling the media that:
"It was a good accomplishment, but the opposing goals are frustrating. That can't happen against Juve."
The message that he sends out is that the slightest hint of mediocrity is completely unacceptable.
Last season was traumatic for Bayern as they finished runners-up in the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.
But this season and beyond it is clear that Bayern will not allow such an eventuality to occur again. And Sammer embodies that determined spirit that is currently coursing through the veins of the club.
