Rudi Völler

Rudi Völler
Rudi Völler 06-2004.jpg
Personal information
Full name Rudolf Völler
Date of birth 13 April 1960 (1960-04-13) (age 50)
Place of birth Hanau, West Germany
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club Bayer Leverkusen (management)
Youth career
1966–1975 TSV 1860 Hanau
1975–1977 Kickers Offenbach
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)†
1977–1980 Kickers Offenbach 073 (18)
1980–1982 1860 Munich 070 (46)
1982–1987 Werder Bremen 137 (97)
1987–1992 AS Roma 142 (45)
1992–1994 Olympique Marseille 073 (28)
1994–1996 Bayer Leverkusen 062 (26)
National team
1979–1982 West Germany U-21 019 (10)
1980 West Germany B 003 0(0)
1982–1994 West Germany 090 (47)
Teams managed
2000 Bayer Leverkusen
2000–2004 Germany
2004 AS Roma
2005 Bayer Leverkusen
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Rudolf 'Rudi' Völler (born 13 April 1960 in Hanau, Hesse) (pronounced [ˈfœlɐ]) is a German former international football striker, and a former manager of the German national team. He won the FIFA World Cup in 1990 as a player and coached the national team to second place at the 2002 World Cup.

Contents

Club career

Völler joined the Bundesliga team Werder Bremen in 1982, winning his first cap for Germany in the same year. Following a successful season, in which he became the Bundesliga's top scorer, foreign clubs became interested in the striker, and in 1987 he was transferred to A.S. Roma, where he became a mainstay of the team and earned the nickname 'il tedesco volante' (the flying German). He won the Italian Cup in 1991, and was the club's top scorer on several occasions.

In 1992, Roma decided to sell Völler to Olympique 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 Champions League with Marseille won in 1993. Völler started the match, and played 78 minutes. Marseille was then caught in a bribery scandal, was stripped of its 1993 league title, and were relegated despite its second place in 1994. Völler scored 24 league goals for the club, but left when it was relegated. 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.

National team

Völler was capped 90 times for the national team, scoring 47 goals, including 8 in World Cup finals matches. He was a member of the team that won the 1990 World Cup. He scored 3 times in the tournament, including one goal in a 4–1 win over Yugoslavia, and then found the net twice against the United Arab Eimirates in a 5–1 win. During the second-round game against Holland, Völler and Dutch player Frank Rijkaard were sent off the field after a spitting incident. Völler came back to play and star for Germany in both the semi-final and final, and he was the player brought down in the penalty area by an Argentinian defender, leading to Andreas Brehme's penalty kick in the final. Germany ended up winning the match 1–0.

The unsavoury incident that took place during the second-round match with Holland 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, Völler dived to avoid a collision with Dutch Keeper Hans van Breukelen, although it did also look as if he dove for a penalty. Van Breukelen was angry at this, but Rijkaard again confronted Völler by twisting his ear and stamping on his foot. Both Völler and Rijkaard were sent off, but Rijkaard 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)[1].

Völler also played in Euro 84, he scored twice in a group match with Romania which the Germans won 2–1 but a 90th minute defeat against Spain in their next game saw West Germany eliminated when all they needed was a draw.

At the 1986 World Cup, Völler scored the West German's 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. West Germany had been 2–0 down but lost the match 3–2. Völler became the third, and to this day the last 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 88, and Völler scored twice in a 2–0 win over Spain but the hosts lost to eventual winners Holland in the semi final.

He was again selected for the Euro 92 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 3 group games by Jürgen Klinsmann and Karl-Heinz Riedle who scored 5 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.

International goals

Scores and results table. Germany's goal tally first:
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 March 30, 1983 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania  Albania 1–0 2–1 UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying
2 September 7, 1983 Népstadion, Budapest, Hungary  Hungary 1–1 1–1 Friendly
3 October 5, 1983 Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany  Austria 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying
4 October 5, 1983 Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany  Austria 3–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying
5 October 26, 1983 Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany  Turkey 1–0 5–1 UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying
6 October 26, 1983 Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany  Turkey 3–0 5–1 UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying
7 February 15, 1984 Spartak Stadium, Varna, Bulgaria  Bulgaria 2–0 3–2 Friendly
8 February 29, 1984 Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  Belgium 1–0 1–0 Friendly
9 March 28, 1984 Niedersachsenstadion, Hannover, Germany  Soviet Union 1–1 2–1 Friendly
10 June 17, 1984 Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens, France  Romania 1–0 2–1 UEFA Euro 1984
11 June 17, 1984 Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens, France  Romania 2–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 1984
12 February 24, 1985 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal  Portugal 2–0 2–1 FIFA World Cup 1986 qualifying
13 April 17, 1985 Rosenaustadion, Augsburg, Germany  Bulgaria 1–0 4–1 Friendly
14 April 17, 1985 Rosenaustadion, Augsburg, Germany  Bulgaria 4–1 4–1 Friendly
15 September 25, 1985 Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden  Sweden 1–0 2–2 FIFA World Cup 1986 qualifying
16 May 11, 1986 Ruhrstadion, Bochum, Germany  Yugoslavia 1–1 1–1 Friendly
17 May 14, 1986 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany  Netherlands 1–0 3–1 Friendly
18 May 14, 1986 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany  Netherlands 2–0 3–1 Friendly
19 June 8, 1986 Estadio La Corregidora, Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico  Scotland 1–1 2–1 FIFA World Cup 1986
20 June 25, 1986 Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico  France 2–0 2–0 FIFA World Cup 1986
21 June 29, 1986 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico  Argentina 2–2 2–3 FIFA World Cup 1986
22 October 29, 1986 Prater Stadium, Vienna, Austria  Austria 1–1 1–4 Friendly
23 August 12, 1987 Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany  France 1–0 2–1 Friendly
24 August 12, 1987 Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany  France 2–0 2–1 Friendly
25 September 23, 1987 Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany  Denmark 1–0 1–0 Friendly
26 June 17, 1988 Olympic Stadium, Munich, Germany  Spain 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 1988
27 June 17, 1988 Olympic Stadium, Munich, Germany  Spain 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 1988
28 August 31, 1988 Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland  Finland 1–0 4–0 FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifying
29 August 31, 1988 Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland  Finland 2–0 4–0 FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifying
30 March 22, 1989 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Bulgaria 1–1 2–1 Friendly
31 October 4, 1989 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany  Finland 4–0 6–1 FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifying
32 November 15, 1989 Müngersdorfer Stadion, Cologne, Germany  Wales 1–1 2–1 FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifying
33 April 25, 1990 Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, Germany  Uruguay 2–1 3–3 Friendly
34 May 30, 1990 Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany  Denmark 1–0 1–0 Friendly
35 June 10, 1990 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy  Yugoslavia 4–1 4–1 FIFA World Cup 1990
36 June 15, 1990 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy  United Arab Emirates 1–0 5–1 FIFA World Cup 1990
37 June 15, 1990 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy  United Arab Emirates 5–1 5–1 FIFA World Cup 1990
38 October 10, 1990 Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden  Sweden 2–0 3–1 Friendly
39 October 31, 1990 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg  Luxembourg 3–0 3–2 UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
40 December 19, 1990 Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, Germany  Switzerland 1–0 4–0 Friendly
41 October 16, 1991 Frankenstadion, Nuremberg, Germany  Wales 2–0 4–1 UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
42 November 20, 1991 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  Belgium 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
43 May 30, 1992 Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany  Turkey 1–0 1–0 Friendly
44 October 14, 1992 Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, Dresden, Germany  Mexico 1–0 1–1 Friendly
45 June 8, 1994 Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Canada  Canada 2–0 2–0 Friendly
46 July 2, 1994 Soldier Field, Chicago, USA  Belgium 1–0 3–2 FIFA World Cup 1994
47 July 2, 1994 Soldier Field, Chicago, USA  Belgium 3–1 3–2 FIFA World Cup 1994

Coaching career

After a disappointing Euro 2000 for the national team under manager Erich Ribbeck, the DFB appointed Völler as new manager, even though he then did not have a coaching licence. At first only planning to manage the national team for one year, he extended his contract when his planned successor Christoph Daum was involved in a drug scandal. Despite losing to England 5–1 at home, he managed to lead the team to a surprising appearance in the Final of the 2002 World Cup.

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

Following his resignation from the German national job, Völler briefly made a comeback at A.S. Roma in 2004, this time as manager. Hired in late August as a last-minute appointment after the shock resignations of Cesare Prandelli, he left the club only one month later after a series of poor results and high-profile disagreements with players, notably Antonio Cassano.

Moving back to the support ranks at Bayer Leverkusen, Völler was named caretaker manager of Bayer Leverkusen on September 16, 2005 after the club sacked manager Klaus Augenthaler. Völler served in that role until Michael Skibbe was named as the club's new permanent manager that October.

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 "slagged off" by everybody even during periods of success with a far more talented German squad. The public even forgave Völler when – during a TV interview in September 2003 – he lost his temper, used profanity, even attacked and yelled at the presenter Waldemar Hartmann in order to defend his team against unfair press statements.

Career statistics

Rudi Völler (2009)
Rudi Völler signs the book of his hometown Hanau.
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Germany League DFB-Pokal Premiere Ligapokal Europe Total
1977–78 Kickers Offenbach 2. Bundesliga 5 1
1978–79 31 11
1979–80 38 7
1980–81 1860 München Bundesliga 33 9
1981–82 2. Bundesliga 37 37
1982–83 Werder Bremen Bundesliga 31 23
1983–84 31 18
1984–85 32 25
1985–86 13 9
1986–87 30 22
Italy League Coppa Italia League Cup Europe Total
1987–88 Roma Serie A 21 3
1988–89 29 10
1989–90 32 14
1990–91 30 11
1991–92 30 7
France League Coupe de France Coupe de la Ligue Europe Total
1992–93 Olympique Marseille Division 1 33 18
1993–94 25 6
Germany League DFB-Pokal Premiere Ligapokal Europe Total
1994–95 Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga 30 16
1995–96 32 10
Total Germany 343 188
Italy 142 45
France 58 24
Career total 543 257

[2]

Germany national team
Year Apps Goals
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

Honours

As a player

As a coach

In popular culture

References

  1. ↑ "Cheeseheads vs Krauts": 30 Years of Enmity
  2. ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/voeller-intlg.html

External links