How Thomas Müller could give the Vancouver Whitecaps a star power that's hard to describe

In a 2011 interview with a German newspaper, Thomas Müller — then a few years into his legendary career at Bayern Munich — was asked to describe himself as a soccer player.  

"Ich bin ein Raumdeuter," said Müller, which translates to "I am a space interpreter."

After a decorated career in Germany, the 35-year-old is bringing his unique style — one that relies on his uncanny ability to find space in key areas of the pitch — to the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS. 

"He has always been extremely unconventional and it's impossible to actually put him into a box of a position, because his thing is the game intelligence takes him to where the ball is going to be," says Peter Schaad, a soccer podcaster and former Whitecaps broadcaster.

"How you describe that, I don't know."

Müller made more appearances than any other player at Bayern and led the club to two UEFA Champions League titles and 13 Bundesliga titles, going out with one last championship this past season.

He was also a key member of the German national team that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Müller earned the Silver Boot Award as the tournament's second-leading goal scorer. 

He won the FIFA Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup as that tournament's top scorer. Two of his five goals came inside of four minutes during Germany's 4-1 Round of 16 win over England.  

Müller signing puts spotlight on Whitecaps

Throughout MLS history, teams have signed veteran stars who had successful tenures with top European clubs, including big names like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi.

The Whitecaps have never signed a player with such global reach, until now. 

Peter Czimmermann, president of the Southsiders supporters' club, says he is not of fan of MLS clubs signing big-name stars to hefty contracts and then surrounding them with "mediocre players."

But that's not the case here, he says. 

"If you have to sign somebody, he's a good fit," he said of Müller . "He's experienced and I think the team as is right now, it's a lot more than mediocre players. They are great players."

Schaad agrees that Müller will be a good fit in Vancouver.

"He's a guy who can be very serious sometimes, he can be fun, but he is one of the most intelligent players ever," he said.

The Whitecaps' decision to sign Müller comes at a pivotal time in franchise history.

Late last year, the owners of the Whitecaps announced they were preparing to sell the club, and the commissioner of the MLS recently said the Whitecaps are in urgent need of a new stadium.

Meanwhile, the team has found success on the pitch under coach Jesper Sorensen, earning a spot in the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier this year.

Having a player of Müller's stature on the roster could help the team and raise its valuation, says Czimmermann.

"He will bring more attention. We would argue that in the past two years we deserved it because the team was really good, but I think this is kind of stepping up one level."

Schaad agrees that the presence of the Raumdeuter has the potential to take the Whitecaps to new heights.

"All of a sudden the spotlight is on the Whitecaps again and people are just going, 'How did they pull this off? Why Vancouver? Why did he choose Vancouver?' There must be something good happening. All those are really great things."