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Rudolf VollerGerman football player and coach
Date of Birth: 13.04.1960
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Rudi Völler: German Footballer and Coach
Rudi Völler, a German footballer and coach, was born on 13th April 1960 in Hanau, Germany. He had an illustrious career as a striker, spending the majority of his playing days at clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma.
Playing Career
Völler began his professional career with TSV 1860 Hanau before moving to Kickers Offenbach in 1977. In 1982, he joined 1. FC Kaiserslautern and then moved to Werder Bremen in 1984. It was during his time at Werder Bremen that Völler established himself as one of the finest German strikers of his generation.
In 1987, Völler transferred to AS Roma in Italy, where he enjoyed great success. He won the Serie A title in the 1982-1983 season and reached the final of the UEFA European Cup in 1984. Völler's skill and prolific goal-scoring abilities earned him the title of Bundesliga's best player in 1983.
Völler was also an integral part of the German national team. He represented his country in two FIFA World Cups, finishing as a runner-up in 1986 and 2002. Additionally, he was a member of the German squad that won the FIFA World Cup in 1990, held in Italy.
Controversies and Scandals
Despite his achievements on the field, Völler was involved in a scandal during the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In a match against the French national team, he confronted referee Michel Vautrot, accusing French player Frank Rijkaard of spitting on him. The incident caused a major controversy and tarnished Völler's reputation.
In an interview with Bild magazine, Völler denied using racial slurs against Rijkaard but admitted to exchanging heated words with him. He stated, "After Rijkaard played rough against me, I said something to him, but I did not call him a 'black monkey.' However, I heard him say 'fascist' towards me. I tried to talk to Frank, but he refused to engage in a conversation. On the field, I often raise my voice at both my teammates and opponents, but I never allow myself to be disrespectful because I am a professional."
Coaching Career
Following his retirement as a player, Völler turned his attention to coaching. He served as the head coach of the German national team from July 2, 2000, to June 24, 2004. Under his guidance, Germany finished as runners-up in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, losing to Brazil in the final.
Völler's coaching career also included a brief stint at AS Roma, where he served as the head coach from August 31 to September 25, 2004. However, his time at Roma was short-lived, and he soon returned to his former club, Bayer Leverkusen.
On January 18, 2005, Völler was appointed as the sporting director of Bayer Leverkusen, a role he held for several years. During his tenure, he played a significant role in shaping the club's strategy and overseeing player transfers.
Despite not achieving the same success as Franz Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as both a player and a coach, Völler's contributions to German football as a player, coach, and sporting director remain significant. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest German footballers of all time.
