Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt

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Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt in 2019.

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]

Players treated[edit]

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]

Works[edit]

  • Mensch, beweg dich!, Zabert Sandmann, ISBN 978-3-423-34093-9
  • So schützen Sie Ihre Gesundheit, Zabert Sandmann, ISBN 3-932023-52-8
  • So gewinnen Sie mehr Lebenskraft, Zabert Sandmann, ISBN 3-89883-037-3
  • Verletzt, was tun?, with Hans-Jürgen Montag, ISBN 3-9806973-1-2
  • Besser trainieren!, Zabert Sandmann, ISBN 978-3-89883-170-3

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Müller-Wohlfahrt hört als DFB-Arzt auf". BR.de (in German). 20 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Müller-Wohlfahrt hört im Sommer beim FC Bayern auf". kicker.de (in German). 12 June 2020.
  3. ^ Warmbrunn, Benedikt (16 April 2015). "Ende eines Machtkampfs mit Guardiola". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Rooster booster could be the solution". guardian.co.uk. London. 1 March 2006. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  5. ^ Naughton, Philippe; Costello, Miles (3 June 2006). "The most feared man in football". The Times. London. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  6. ^ "Germany's Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt either a great healer or quack with hyperactive syringe". ESPN.com.
  7. ^ "HANS-WILHELM MÜLLER-WOHLFAHRT MD". MW Orthopedic Centre. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Spurs Call International Rescue". 4thegame.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  9. ^ Wallace, Sam; Stewart, Rob (20 August 2004). "Newcastle open the way for Woodgate's £15.7m Real deal". telegraph.co.uk. London. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  10. ^ Moore, Charles. "Injury curse hits Holmes". telegraph.co.uk. London. Archived from the original on 21 September 2005. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  11. ^ "Injury ends Greene campaign". bbc.co.uk. 20 February 2003. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  12. ^ Turnbull, Simon (11 August 2010). "Bolt calls halt to his disappointing season after back injury strikes". independent.co.uk. London. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  13. ^ "Owen shrugs off fitness fears". bbc.co.uk. 24 May 2000. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  14. ^ "Profile – Gerrard". liverpool.rivals.net. Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  15. ^ "Kewell Can't Help Out In Striker Crisis". liverpoolfc.tv. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  16. ^ Watson, Roland; Elliott, Francis; Coates, Sam. "Interview:Darren Gough". timesonline.co.uk. London. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  17. ^ a b "Pacemen get German help". ecb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  18. ^ "Hensby seeks Olazabal's help to defend title". scotsman.com. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  19. ^ Moore, Charles. "Case for Atherton's return to the fray". telegraph.co.uk. London. Archived from the original on 8 September 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
  20. ^ Boulton, Martin (18 May 2008). "Coughlan in Germany for radical injury treatment". The Age. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  21. ^ Neil Cameron (1 September 2009). "St Johnstone star Peter MacDonald gets goat blood injections to cure hamstring problem". dailyrecord.
  22. ^ "U2 > News > Bono Discharged from Hospital". u2.com.
  23. ^ "Usain Bolt widmet seine Gold Medaille Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt". 15 August 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  24. ^ "De Goey heads to Germany". collingwoodfc.com.au. 9 September 2019.

External links[edit]