Thomas Doll
Germany- Early Career and Breakthrough
- Club Career Highlights
- International Career
- Coaching Career
- Personal Life and Honors
Early Career and Breakthrough
Thomas Doll, born in the German town of Malchin, began his football journey with the youth team of Lokomotive Malchin. His talent quickly caught the attention of Hansa Rostock, where he joined the youth ranks and eventually made his debut for the first team in 1983.
Club Career Highlights
After Hansa Rostock's relegation from the Oberliga in 1986, Doll moved to Berliner Dynamo. Following German reunification, he joined Hamburger SV (HSV), where he enjoyed a remarkable season in 1990/91. His performances attracted international attention, leading to a record-breaking transfer to Lazio for 15 million marks, which helped HSV clear a significant portion of its debt.
After three years in Italy, Doll returned to the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt, but injuries limited his playing time to just 28 games over two seasons. He then spent two seasons on loan at Italian club Bari before returning to HSV, where he retired in 2001 due to health reasons.
International Career
Doll represented East Germany from 1986 to 1990, earning 29 caps and scoring 7 goals. He made his debut in a match against Greece and scored his first goal against Iceland. He also competed in the 1986 and 1988 Olympic Games.
After reunification, Doll played for the United Germany team from 1991 to 1993, earning 18 caps and scoring one goal against Wales. He helped Germany reach the 1992 European Championship final, where they finished as runners-up.
Coaching Career
In 2002, Doll became the coach of HSV's amateur team and took over as manager of the first team in 2004. Despite a poor start, he led HSV to improved results, particularly away from home.
During the 2005/06 season, Doll guided HSV to victory in the UEFA Intertoto Cup and a third-place finish in the Bundesliga. The team also defeated Bayern Munich twice during the season for the first time in nearly 25 years.
However, HSV's performance declined in the 2006/07 season, and Doll was dismissed in February 2007. He later took over as coach of Borussia Dortmund in March 2007 and saved the club from relegation.
After an unsuccessful 2007/08 season, Doll extended his contract with Dortmund but later resigned at the end of the 2008/09 season. In 2009, he accepted an invitation to coach Turkish club Gençlerbirliği.
Personal Life and Honors
Thomas Doll is married with two daughters, one from each marriage. In 2005, he was named "German Footballer of the Year" by kicker magazine and "Hamburger of the Year."
