Pierre Michael Littbarski (born 16 April 1960 in Berlin) is a German football manager and former player. He was mainly a winger or attacking midfielder and is best known for his brilliant dribbling abilities. He was a FIFA World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990. He was also runner–up twice in 1982 and 1986 with West Germany. He was caretaker manager of VfL Wolfsburg after taking over from Steve McClaren from 7 February 2011 to 17 March 2011. Besides his native German, Littbarski is fluent in English, French and Japanese.
Playing career
Littbarski spent most of his playing career at 1. FC Köln, winning the DFB-Pokal once, in 1983, and was three times runner up in the Bundesliga (1982, 1989 and 1990). He has also played for RC Paris in Ligue 1 as well as for JEF United and Brummel Sendai in Japan. In his career, he was initially used as a deep-lying striker before being utilised as an attacking midfielder. "Litti", as he was nicknamed by German fans, was widely known for his excellent dribbling abilities and humorous attitude, being one of the fan favourites in German Bundesliga during this decade. In 1985 his goal versus Werder Bremen was elected "Goal of the Year".
International career
Littbarski had a prolific but short career as part of the West German Under-21 side. He was a part of the squad that got to the 1982 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship final. The team lost to England 5–4 after a two-leg final (losing 1–3 away and winning 3–2 at home). Littbarski scored a hattrick against the English in Germany, but ultimately they lost the tie.
Littbarski earned his first cap for West Germany on 14 October 1981 in the 1982 World Cup qualification against Austria. West Germany manager Jupp Derwall started him in a three-man front line alongside Klaus Fischer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Littbarski's international career got off to a promising start, as he scored both the opening and the second goals in that game. His third international goal came at the 1982 World Cup, in the second round match against Spain, a 2–1 victory. Against France in the semi-final, Littbarski scored the opening goal and, later, on a penalty kick in the deciding post-overtime shoot-out. The now legendary match ended in a 3–3 draw. Littbarski was also involved in the dramatic equalizer, crossing to Horst Hrubesch, who headed to Fischer, who in turn scored with an overhead bicycle kick. A poignant scene in the penalty shooutout showed the young Littbarski consoling a tearful Uli Stielike, who missed a penalty, burying his head in Littbarski's shirt, as West Germany's goalkeeper, Schumacher saved Didier Six's penalty to even ths score, with the Germans eventually winning 5–4 on penalties. West Germany lost 3–1 to Italy in the final. Littbarski played the whole match, receiving a yellow card in the 88th minute.
At the UEFA Euro 1984, West Germany, with Littbarski, were eliminated in the group stage after a string of poor performances. The 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, while successful for West Germany, proved less so for Littbarski personally. He was benched by manager Franz Beckenbauer, and had to watch the semi–finals and the finals from the bench. Eventually, West Germany finished again as runners–up, this time losing 3–2 to Argentina. In 1987, he played in a notable match against England and scored two goals, one directly from a corner, as the Germans won 3–1.
The German players had high hopes for the UEFA Euro 1988 on their home soil. However, the hosts lost 2–1 to the Netherlands in the semi–finals. Littbarski did not score any goals in the tournament. In 1990, Littbarski enjoyed a successful final appearance at the FIFA World Cup, as West Germany won their third title, defeating Argentina 1–0 in the final in Rome. Littbarski scored his only goal in the group stage against Colombia but started three of the four games at the knockout stage, including the final.
Managerial career
In 1999 he started his coaching career with Yokohama FC of Japan Football League and he led the club to the promotion to J. League Division 2.
He has also been the manager of Yokohama FC (twice), as well as assistant manager of Bayer 04 Leverkusen and manager of MSV Duisburg.
Sydney FC
He was manager of Australian A-League side Sydney FC between 2005 and 2006, and led them to the FIFA Club World Championship in 2005, and a win in the inaugural A-League Championship.
He was famous amongst Sydney FC supporters and the media for his stylish brown suits. Sydney under Littbarski were criticised for boring football, but the results could seldom be argued with and Sydney FC went on to claim the inaugural A-League Championship under his reign. Littbarski and Sydney FC severed ties on Wednesday, 5 May 2006, with Littbarski announcing he would not re-sign for the club following disputes over a cut-price contract offer.
Avispa Fukuoka
In December 2006, Littbarski was appointed the manager of Avispa Fukuoka, a J-League side that was newly demoted to the second division after the 2006 season. In July 2008, he left the club and was replaced by Yoshiyuki Shinoda.[1]
Saipa FC
On 26 July 2008, it was announced that he became the new manager of Iranian side Saipa F.C.[2] His contract was terminated on 8 October 2008 after nine games.
FC Vaduz
On 4 November 2008 he signed a contract as head coach and team manager of FC Vaduz.[3] On 12 April 2010 he was dismissed due to lack of success.[4][5]
VfL Wolfsburg
On 9 June 2010 Littbarski signed a two years contract as assistant coach by VfL Wolfsburg.[6] After Steve McClaren was sacked on 7 February 2011, Littbarski was appointed caretaker manager of VfL Wolfsburg. Felix Magath was subsequently made head coach in March 2011.
Career statistics
[7]
| Germany national team |
|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1981 | 2 | 3 |
| 1982 | 15 | 5 |
| 1983 | 8 | 0 |
| 1984 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | 10 | 4 |
| 1986 | 7 | 0 |
| 1987 | 6 | 3 |
| 1988 | 8 | 0 |
| 1989 | 4 | 2 |
| 1990 | 10 | 1 |
| Total | 73 | 18 |
International goals
- Score and results list West Germany's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. |
14 October 1981 | Praterstadion, Vienna |  Austria | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1982 World Cup qualifier |
| 2. |
3–1 |
| 3. | 18 November 1981 | Westfalenstadion, Dortmund |  Albania | 6–0 | 8–0 | 1982 World Cup qualifier |
| 4. | 14 April 1982 | Müngersdorferstadion, Cologne |  Czechoslovakia | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 5. |
12 May 1982 | Oslo |  Norway | 2–1 | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 6. |
3–1 |
| 7. | 2 July 1982 | Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid |  Spain | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1982 World Cup |
| 8. | 8 July 1982 | Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville |  France | 1–0 | 3–3 | 1982 World Cup |
| 9. | 24 February 1985 | Estádio Nacional, Lisbon |  Portugal | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1986 World Cup qualifier |
| 10. | 27 March 1985 | Ludwigsparkstadion, Saarbrücken |  Malta | 4–0 | 6–0 | 1986 World Cup qualifier |
| 11. | 17 April 1985 | Rosenaustadion, Augsburg |  Bulgaria | 3–1 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 12. | 30 April 1985 | Strahov Stadium, Prague | Bulgaria | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1986 World Cup qualifier |
| 13. |
9 September 1987 | Esprit Arena, Düsseldorf |  England | 1–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 14. |
2–0 |
| 15. | 13 October 1987 | Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen |  Sweden | 1–0 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 16. | 22 March 1989 | Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia | Bulgaria | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 17. | 4 October 1989 | Westfalenstadion, Dortmund |  Finland | 2–0 | 6–1 | 1990 World Cup qualifier |
| 18. | 19 June 1990 | San Siro, Milan |  Colombia | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1990 World Cup |
|
Honours
Club
- 1. FC Köln[8]
International
- Germany[9]
Individual
See also
- Litti's Summer Sports, Game Boy video game endorsed by Pierre Littbarski
References
External links
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| | Golden player | |
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| | Top goalscorer | |
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