| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Bernd Schneider | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 17 November 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Jena, East Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1998 | Carl Zeiss Jena | 124 | (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 33 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2009 | Bayer Leverkusen | 263 | (35) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 420 | (53) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2008 | Germany | 81 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Bernd Schneider (born 17 November 1973) is a retired German footballer. A player of great versatility, he was mainly a midfielder but could play anywhere on the left and right flanks. After retiring in June 2009, he took up an advisory role at his first club, Carl Zeiss Jena, and a scouting position at Bayer Leverkusen.
Nicknamed Schnix by fans and teammates, Schneider started out at his hometown club Carl Zeiss Jena and made a name for himself during his decade-long stint at Bayer Leverkusen. He earned the nickname "The White Brazilian"[1] for his dribbling and passing skills as well as his accurate free kicks and corners. Although mostly a provider of goals rather than a finisher, he is capable of scoring, especially from long distance.
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Schneider started his professional career at local Carl Zeiss Jena, going on to help the East German outfit to remain five consecutive seasons in the second division; his debut came on 13 August 1991, playing ten minutes in a 1–3 loss at Darmstadt 98.
Schneider then played one season at Eintracht Frankfurt, subsequently moving to Bayer Leverkusen, and establishing himself as an essential player for both club and country. In 1999–2000 and 2001–02, he was instrumental in Bayer's runner-up league finishes, serving 11 decisive passes in the latter season, as well as netting five goals himself; he also appeared 19 times as the side reached the 2002 Champions League Final.
More a creator than a finisher, Schneider scored a career-best ten league goals in the 2003–04 season, making him the highest-scoring midfielder in that year's competition, alongside Johan Micoud; Leverkusen finished third and, during the following season, Schneider renewed his link for a further four years.[2]
After two more solid seasons (ten goals and 18 assists in 60 matches), Schneider began suffering consecutive injuries: first the calf,[3] then the back, being sidelined almost the entire 2008–09 due to the latter.[4] He only managed to return to action on 16 May 2009, playing the last 20 minutes of a 5–0 home win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The following month, he announced his retirement after failing to fully recover from the injury.[5][6]
On 29 May 2009, Carl Zeiss Jena named him as mentor to club president Peter Schreiber,[7] and he began to work as scout for Bayer Leverkusen on June, immediately after retiring from play.[8]
Bernd Schneider was one of footballs nearly men having been a runner-up on so many occasions without winning a single trophy. He was a major part of the Bayer Leverkusen team who had so much success but fell short of silverware in the early noughties.
Schneider made his debut for Germany during the 1999 Confederations Cup, playing in the 2–0 win against New Zealand and the loss to the United States (same result).
Since then, Schneider has established himself as a vital squad member due to his work rate and versatility. He was ever-present at the 2002 World Cup, where he scored his first goal in their 8–0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia in the group stages, and at the Euro 2004. At the World Cup on home soil, along with Ballack, Torsten Frings and Bastian Schweinsteiger, they formed a formidable midfield and all played their part in the national team's unexpected success. He captained the team in their opening game against Costa Rica as Ballack was out injured.[9] In the final group stage match, he was instrumental in Germany's 3–0 win over Ecuador which guaranteed them maximum points as group winners.
Schneider was ruled out of Germany's Euro 2008 squad, due to surgery to fix a slipped disc.[10] He retired with 81 caps for Germany.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1 June 2002 | Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan | Saudi Arabia | 8–0 | 8–0 | 2002 World Cup |
| 2. | 16 August 2006 | Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Sweden | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 3. | 6 September 2006 | Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino | San Marino | 13–0 | 13–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 4. | 12 September 2007 | Rhein Energie Stadion, Cologne, Germany | Romania | 1–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
Schneider and his wife Carina have one daughter, Emely and a son, Giovani.[11]
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