Rudi Völler

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rudi Völler
Rudi Völler Bühne (cropped).jpg
Völler in 2016
Personal information
Full name Rudolf Völler
Date of birth (1960-04-13) 13 April 1960 (age 61)
Place of birth Hanau, West Germany
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Bayer Leverkusen (sporting director)
Youth career
1966–1975 TSV Hanau
1975–1977 Kickers Offenbach
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1980 Kickers Offenbach 73 (19)
1980–1982 1860 Munich 70 (46)
1982–1987 Werder Bremen 137 (97)
1987–1992 Roma 142 (45)
1992–1994 Olympique Marseille 58 (24)
1994–1996 Bayer Leverkusen 62 (26)
Total 542 (257)
National team
1979–1982 West Germany U21 19 (10)
1980 West Germany B 3 (0)
1982–1994 Germany 90 (47)
Teams managed
1996–2000 Bayer Leverkusen (sporting director)
2000 Bayer Leverkusen
2000–2004 Germany
2004 Roma
2005 Bayer Leverkusen
2005– Bayer Leverkusen (sporting director)
Honours
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Rudolf "Rudi" Völler (pronounced [ˈfœlɐ]; born 13 April 1960), nicknamed "Tante Käthe" ("Aunt Käthe"), is a German former professional football player and manager who serves as the sporting director for Bayer Leverkusen.

A forward, Völler won the FIFA World Cup in 1990 as a player. He also scored an equalizing goal to make it 2–2 in the 81st minute of the 1986 FIFA World Cup Final vs Argentina, but it ended up with a 3–2 victory for Argentina. Along with Mário Zagallo, Franz Beckenbauer and Didier Deschamps, Völler has the distinction of reaching a World Cup final as both a player (1986 and 1990) and as a manager (2002).

Club career[]

Völler started his career with 1860 Hanau, then played for second division sides Kickers Offenbach and TSV 1860 Munich, before joining Bundesliga club Werder Bremen in 1982, winning his first cap for West Germany that same year. Following a successful season in which he was the Bundesliga's top scorer, foreign clubs became interested in the striker, and in 1987 he was transferred to Roma, where he became a mainstay of the team and earned the nickname "er tedesco" ("the German") and also "il tedesco volante" ("the flying German").[1] He won the Coppa Italia in 1991 and was the club's top scorer on several occasions.[2]

In 1992, Roma decided to sell Völler to Marseille, where he was intended as replacement for superstar striker Jean-Pierre Papin. That also allowed Roma to add Claudio Caniggia as its third foreigner to the squad, so both parties were happy to let the deal go through. There he won his biggest club honour in a very successful first season, thanks to the UEFA Champions League won with Olympique de Marseille against AC Milan coached by Fabio Capello, in 1993 (1–0, goal scored by Basile Boli). Völler started the match, playing 78 minutes. Marseille was then caught in a bribery scandal, however, and was stripped of its 1993 league title, and were relegated despite a second-place finish in 1994. Völler scored 24 league goals for the club but departed after its relegation. Returning to Germany, he joined Bayer Leverkusen in 1994, where he ended his career as a player in 1996 and started a career in the management of the club.

International career[]

Völler was capped 90 times for the Germany national team, scoring 47 goals, including eight in World Cup final rounds.[3]

Völler also played at three UEFA European Championships, starting with Euro 1984, where he scored twice in a group match against Romania which the Germans won 2–1. A 90th minute defeat against Spain in their next match, however, saw West Germany eliminated when all they needed was a draw.

At the 1986 FIFA World Cup, Völler scored the West Germans' equalizer in a 2–1 win over Scotland in the group stage. He bagged a last minute goal against France in the semi-final to seal a 2–0 win and in the final itself his 80th-minute goal made it 2–2 against Argentina. Germany had recovered from 2–0 down but eventually lost the match 3–2. Völler became the third player to score as a substitute in the World Cup final, after Dick Nanninga in 1978 and Alessandro Altobelli achieved this feat in 1982.

West Germany hosted the Euro 1988, and Völler scored twice in a 2–0 win over Spain but the hosts lost to eventual winners the Netherlands in the semi-final.

Völler was a member of the team that won the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He scored three times in the tournament, including one goal in a 4–1 win over Yugoslavia, and then found the net twice against the United Arab Emirates in a 5–1 win. During the second-round match against the Netherlands, Völler and Dutch player Frank Rijkaard were sent off the field after the Dutchman spat on Völler twice.[4] In the semi-final against England Völler limped off injured in the first half and was replaced by Karl-Heinz Riedle.[5] However Völler recovered to start the final against Argentina, which Germany won 1–0 to claim their 3rd World Cup title

The unsavoury incident that took place during the second-round match with the Netherlands started when Rijkaard was booked for a bad tackle on Völler. As Rijkaard took up position for the free kick, he spat in Völler's hair. Völler complained to the referee and was booked as well. From the resulting free kick, a furious Völler then jumped up and punched the ball with his hand (although it looked like he had used his head) and then dived to avoid a collision with Dutch goalkeeper Hans van Breukelen, although it also looked as if he had dived for a penalty. Van Breukelen was angry at this, but Rijkaard again confronted Völler by twisting his ear and stamping on his foot. The temperamental and tough Argentine referee Juan Carlos Loustau finally had enough of Völler's and Rijkaard's antics and he sent both players off. Rijkaard then again spat in Völler's hair as they left the pitch and was rumoured to have repeated this on the touchline. Rijkaard later stated that it was his fault: "That day I was wrong. There was no insult. I always had much respect for Rudi Völler. But I went berserk when I saw that red card. I talked to him after the match and I apologized. I'm very happy that he accepted. I have no bad feeling about him now. We even posed for a very funny advert together, years after." (Rijkaard had family problems in this time).[6]

Völler was again selected for the Euro 1992 but was sent home when he suffered an injury in the opening game with CIS.

At the 1994 World Cup, Völler was kept out of the starting line up for all three group games by Jürgen Klinsmann and Karl-Heinz Riedle who scored five between them. He made just one sub appearance in the group stages. He did start the second round tie with Belgium and scored twice in a 3–2 win.

Managerial career[]

Völler signs the book of his hometown Hanau, 2002

After a disappointing Euro 2000 for Germany under manager Erich Ribbeck, the German Football Association (DFB) appointed Völler as new manager, accepting his lack of coaching qualifications at the time.[7] Initially, he only planned to take interimistic responsibility for one year,[7] following the decision by Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Völler himself (as sporting director of the club) not to make Christoph Daum step down from the national team before 2001. However, Völler extended his contract due to good results, after Daum became involved in a controversial drug scandal.[8] Despite losing to England 5–1 at home and two disappointing draws against Finland during qualification he managed to lead the team to a surprising appearance in the final of the 2002 World Cup against Brazil.

After a first-round exit from Euro 2004, he resigned from his post.[9]

Following his resignation from the German national job, Völler briefly made a comeback at Roma in 2004 as manager. Hired in late August as a last-minute appointment after the shock resignation of Cesare Prandelli,[10] he left the club only one month later after a series of poor results and high-profile disagreements with players, notably Antonio Cassano.[11] He only signed a one-year contract to allow a return of Prandelli the next year, but presided over only one draw and two defeats in the league.

Moving back to the support ranks at Bayer Leverkusen, Völler was named caretaker manager of Leverkusen on 16 September 2005 after the club sacked coach Klaus Augenthaler. Völler served in that role until Michael Skibbe was named as the club's new permanent coach that October. After the arrival of Skibbe, Völler was promoted to become for the second time sports director at Leverkusen.

Völler was (and still is) very popular in Germany. Even when the national squad achieved only modest results, Völler never lost his popularity as the German public knew he was achieving as much as possible with a relatively limited squad. His predecessor Berti Vogts, by contrast, was widely criticised, even during periods of success with a far more talented German squad. The public even forgave Völler when – during a TV interview after a 0–0 draw against Iceland in September 2003 – he lost his temper and yelled at the presenter Waldemar Hartmann in order to defend his team against, what he thought was, unfair press statements.

Personal life[]

Völler's son Marco is a professional basketball player.[12]

Career statistics[]

Völler in 2009

Club[]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kickers Offenbach 1977–78 2. Bundesliga 6 1 — — — 6 1
1978–79 2. Bundesliga 29 11 1 2 — — 30 13
1979–80 2. Bundesliga 38 7 5 2 — — 43 9
Total 73 19 6 4 — — 79 23
1860 Munich 1980–81 Bundesliga 33 9 2 1 — — 35 10
1981–82 2. Bundesliga 37 37 2 2 — — 39 39
Total 70 46 4 3 — — 74 49
Werder Bremen 1982–83 Bundesliga 31 23 1 2 8 11 — 40 36
1983–84 Bundesliga 31 18 4 1 9 2 — 44 21
1984–85 Bundesliga 32 25 4 1 2 0 — 38 26
1985–86 Bundesliga 13 9 1 1 6 4 — 20 14
1986–87 Bundesliga 30 22 1 0 1 0 — 32 22
Total 137 97 11 5 26 17 — 174 119
Roma 1987–88 Serie A 21 3 7 2 — — 28 5
1988–89 Serie A 29 10 7 3 6 2 1 0 43 15
1989–90 Serie A 32 14 6 2 — — 38 16
1990–91 Serie A 30 11 10 4 12 10 — 52 25
1991–92 Serie A 30 7 2 0 3 0 1 0 36 7
Total 142 45 32 11 22 12 2 0 198 68
Marseille 1992–93 Ligue 1 33 18 3 2 8 2 — 44 22
1993–94 Ligue 1 25 6 4 0 — — 29 6
Total 58 24 7 2 8 2 — 73 28
Bayer Leverkusen 1994–95 Bundesliga 30 16 1 0 3 0 — 34 16
1995–96 Bundesliga 32 10 5 2 — 4 3 41 15
Total 62 26 6 2 3 0 4 3 75 31
Career total 542 257 66 27 59 31 6 3 673 318
  1. ^ Includes 1988–89 Serie A UEFA Cup qualification, 1991 Supercoppa Italiana, 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup

International[]

Appearances and goals by national team and year[13]
National team Year Apps Goals
Germany 1982 1 0
1983 10 7
1984 10 4
1985 8 4
1986 10 7
1987 6 3
1988 10 4
1989 5 3
1990 13 8
1991 6 2
1992 6 2
1993 0 0
1994 5 3
Total 90 47
Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Völler goal.
List of international goals scored by Rudi Völler
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 30 March 1983 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania  Albania 1–0 2–1 UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying
2 7 September 1983 Népstadion, Budapest, Hungary  Hungary 1–1 1–1 Friendly
3 5 October 1983 Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany  Austria 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying
4 3–0
5 26 October 1983 Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany  Turkey 1–0 5–1 UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying
6 3–0
7 15 February 1984 Spartak Stadium, Varna, Bulgaria  Bulgaria 2–0 3–2 Friendly
8 29 February 1984 Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  Belgium 1–0 1–0 Friendly
9 28 March 1984 Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, Germany  Soviet Union 1–1 2–1 Friendly
10 17 June 1984 Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens, France  Romania 1–0 2–1 UEFA Euro 1984
11 2–1
12 24 February 1985 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal  Portugal 2–0 2–1 FIFA World Cup 1986 qualifying
13 17 April 1985 Rosenaustadion, Augsburg, Germany  Bulgaria 1–0 4–1 Friendly
14 4–1
15 25 September 1985 Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden  Sweden 1–0 2–2 FIFA World Cup 1986 qualifying
16 11 May 1986 Ruhrstadion, Bochum, Germany  Yugoslavia 1–1 1–1 Friendly
17 14 May 1986 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany  Netherlands 1–0 3–1 Friendly
18 2–0
19 8 June 1986 Estadio La Corregidora, Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico  Scotland 1–1 2–1 FIFA World Cup 1986
20 25 June 1986 Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico  France 2–0 2–0 FIFA World Cup 1986
21 29 June 1986 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico  Argentina 2–2 2–3 FIFA World Cup 1986
22 29 October 1986 Prater Stadium, Vienna, Austria  Austria 1–1 1–4 Friendly
23 12 August 1987 Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany  France 1–0 2–1 Friendly
24 2–0
25 23 September 1987 Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany  Denmark 1–0 1–0 Friendly
26 17 June 1988 Olympic Stadium, Munich, Germany  Spain 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 1988
27 2–0
28 31 August 1988 Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland  Finland 1–0 4–0 FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifying
29 2–0
30 22 March 1989 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Bulgaria 1–1 2–1 Friendly
31 4 October 1989 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany  Finland 4–0 6–1 FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifying
32 15 November 1989 Müngersdorfer Stadion, Cologne, Germany  Wales 1–1 2–1 FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifying
33 25 April 1990 Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, Germany  Uruguay 2–1 3–3 Friendly
34 30 May 1990 Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany  Denmark 1–0 1–0 Friendly
35 10 June 1990 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy  Yugoslavia 4–1 4–1 FIFA World Cup 1990
36 15 June 1990 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy  United Arab Emirates 1–0 5–1 FIFA World Cup 1990
37 5–1
38 10 October 1990 Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden  Sweden 2–0 3–1 Friendly
39 31 October 1990 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg  Luxembourg 3–0 3–2 UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
40 19 December 1990 Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, Germany   Switzerland 1–0 4–0 Friendly
41 16 October 1991 Frankenstadion, Nuremberg, Germany  Wales 2–0 4–1 UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
42 20 November 1991 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  Belgium 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
43 30 May 1992 Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany  Turkey 1–0 1–0 Friendly
44 14 October 1992 Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, Dresden, Germany  Mexico 1–0 1–1 Friendly
45 8 June 1994 Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Canada  Canada 2–0 2–0 Friendly
46 2 July 1994 Soldier Field, Chicago, United States  Belgium 1–0 3–2 FIFA World Cup 1994
47 3–1 3–2

Managerial statistics[]

Team From To Record
G W D L Win % Ref.
Germany 2 July 2000[7] 24 June 2004[9] 53 29 11 13 054.72 [14]
Bayer Leverkusen 21 October 2000[15] 11 November 2000[15] 7 5 2 0 071.43 [15]
Roma 31 August 2004[10] 27 September 2004[11] 6 1 1 4 016.67 [16]
Bayer Leverkusen 16 September 2005[15] 9 October 2005[15] 5 2 1 2 040.00 [15]
Total 71 37 15 19 052.11 —

Honours[]

Player[]

Werder Bremen

Roma

Marseille

Germany

  • FIFA World Cup: 1990; runner-up: 1986
  • UEFA European Championship runner-up: 1992

Individual

  • UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Golden Player: 1982
  • 2. Bundesliga Top Goalscorer: 1981–82
  • Bundesliga Top Goalscorer: 1982–83
  • kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1994–95[17][18][19][20]
  • Footballer of the Year (Germany): 1983
  • UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 1984
  • UEFA Cup Top Goalscorer: 1990–91[21]
  • A.S. Roma Hall of Fame: 2014[22][23]

Manager[]

Germany

  • FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2002

References[]

  1. ^ A.S. Roma supporters sing 'tedesco, vola!'
  2. ^ Glendenning, Barry (19 May 2018). "World Cup stunning moments: Frank Rijkaard and Rudi Völler | Barry Glendenning". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Planet World Cup - Legends - Rudi Völler". www.planetworldcup.com. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  4. ^ "World Cup: 25 stunning moments … No19: Frank Rijkaard and Rudi Völler". Guardian. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  5. ^ "England v West Germany at Italia '90 – as it happened". Guardian. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Cheeseheads vs Krauts": 30 Years of Enmity". ajax-usa.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Rudi Völler ab sofort Interims-Coach". kicker (in German). 2 July 2000. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Daum: I took cocaine". 12 January 2001. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Rudi Völler nimmt seinen Hut". kicker (in German). 22 July 2004. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "Völler wird Teamchef der Roma". kicker (in German). 31 August 2004. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "Wie das gewertet wird, das ist mir herzlich egal". kicker (in German). 27 September 2004. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  12. ^ Unterm Korb gibt es nur ein‘ Marco Völler, Berliner Morgenpost, 23 September 2016. Accessed 15 December 2019. (in German)
  13. ^ Mamrud, Roberto (2 November 2002). "Rudolf "Rudi" Völler – Goals in International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  14. ^ "Nationaltrainer" (in German). DFB. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Bayer 04 Leverkusen" (in German). kicker. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  16. ^ "AS Roma » Dates & results 2004/2005". World Football. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  17. ^ "Bundesliga Historie 1982/83" (in German). kicker.
  18. ^ "Bundesliga Historie 1983/84" (in German). kicker.
  19. ^ "Bundesliga Historie 1984/85" (in German). kicker.
  20. ^ "Bundesliga Historie 1994/95" (in German). kicker.
  21. ^ "Fairs/UEFA Cup Topscorers". RSSSF. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  22. ^ "A.S. Roma Hall of Fame: 2013". A.S. Roma. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  23. ^ "Hall of Fame" (in Italian). A.S. Roma. Retrieved 27 July 2016.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""