Thomas Häßler

Thomas Häßler

Häßler in 2015
Personal information
Full name Thomas Jürgen Häßler
Date of birth (1966-05-30) 30 May 1966
Place of birth West Berlin, West Germany
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
0000–1979 BFC Meteor 06
1979–1984 Reinickendorfer Füchse
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1990 1. FC Köln 149 (17)
1990–1991 Juventus 32 (1)
1991–1994 Roma 88 (11)
1994–1998 Karlsruher SC 118 (28)
1998–1999 Borussia Dortmund 18 (2)
1999–2003 1860 München 115 (21)
2003–2004 SV Salzburg 19 (1)
Total 549 (81)
National team
1986 West Germany U-21 1 (0)
1987–1988 West Germany Olympic 11 (0)
1988–2000 Germany 101 (11)
Teams managed
2007–2008 Nigeria (assistant)
2008–2010 1. FC Köln (assistant)
2014–2015 Padideh (assistant)
2016– Club Italia Berlin

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Thomas Jürgen "Icke" Häßler (German pronunciation: [ˈtoːmas ˈhɛslɐ]; born 30 May 1966 in West Berlin) is a former German football midfielder.

Häßler appeared over 100 times for the German national team. He was a member of the teams which won the 1990 FIFA World Cup (as West Germany) and UEFA Euro 1996. He also appeared at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, the 1992 and 2000 UEFA European Championships, and the 1988 Olympic Games.

Club career

1. FC Köln (1984–1990)

Häßler spent his early playing days in the youth team of Reinickendorfer Füchse. He began his professional career in 1984 with 1. FC Köln of the Bundesliga, for whom he played six successful years,[1] helping the club to become German vice-champion in 1989 and 1990.

Juventus (1990–1991), AS Roma (1991–1994)

Soon after winning the 1990 World Cup with the German national team in Italy, Häßler transferred to Juventus for a sum of DM15 million. He spent only one year in Turin before he decided to join another Italian club, AS Roma, for a fee of DM14 million. This time he stayed for three years, making 88 appearances and scoring 11 goals.

Karlsruher SC (1994–1998)

In 1994, however, Häßler wanted to return to the Bundesliga. Despite offers from some of the biggest German clubs, he decided to sign with Karlsruher SC in a DM7 million deal, the highest transfer sum the club has ever spent. In the following three years, Karlsruhe and its new key player achieved positions in the upper third of the table which resulted in UEFA Cup participations in 1996–97 and 1997–98.

By winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1996, Karlsruhe not only qualified for the UEFA Cup but also accomplished to throw out Häßler's former club AS Roma in the second round of the tournament. In the first leg of the third round, Häßler scored twice in his team's 3–1 win over Brøndby IF in Copenhagen. However, shortly after this win Häßler received the first big injury in his career when he broke his leg in a league match against Fortuna Düsseldorf. Without its captain, Karlsruhe played a catastrophic second leg and was eliminated from the tournament after a 0–5 home defeat. Following his recovery, Häßler returned for the last two games of the season and helped his team to finish in sixth place in the 1996–97 season, securing another year of international football competition. In the end, once again the club failed to survive the third round.

At the end of the 1997–98 season, the club's situation had worsened significantly. For the first time in his career, Häßler was confronted with a possible relegation. Feeling the pressure he once more showed his extraordinary skills and scored four goals in the last three games of the season. Despite Häßler's performances, Karlsruhe lost its last match in a dramatic season final and was relegated from the Bundesliga.

Borussia Dortmund (1998–1999)

Due to a contract clause, Häßler could leave Karlsruhe immediately on a free transfer. He decided to join Borussia Dortmund, which had won the UEFA Champions League in 1997. There he met the later assistant of the German national team, Michael Skibbe, then with 32 years the youngest head coach in the history of the Bundesliga. In the course of the season, there were some serious disputes between Häßler and Skibbe because the latter entrusted the midfield leadership to Andreas Möller. In the end, Häßler made only 18 appearances and never played over the full 90 minutes.

1860 München (1999–2003)

Disappointed about his season in Dortmund, Häßler left the club towards Bavaria and signed a contract with 1860 München. He spent four very successful years in Munich and became an important part of the team. Already in his first season the club reached a sensational fourth place in the Bundesliga. After they failed to win against Leeds United in the qualification for the UEFA Champions League, Häßler and his team participated in the UEFA Cup. But also with 1860 Munich he failed to overcome the competition's third round. In the following two years, the club took part in the UEFA Intertoto Cup but didn't manage to succeed. After the 2002–03 season, Häßler left Munich to finish his career in Austria.

SV Salzburg (2003–2004)

In 2003, Häßler signed a one-year contract with the Austrian club SV Salzburg. He made 19 appearances and reached a seventh place in the 2003–04 season before he announced his retirement.

Overall, Häßler chalked up an entertaining 539 games and a total of 81 goals throughout a football career in which he was voted Germany's footballer of the year in 1989 and 1992. Although he is considered as one of the best German footballers of all time, he didn't win a single major club title, having lost the UEFA Cup final with 1. FC Köln in 1986, the Coppa Italia final with AS Roma in 1993 and the DFB-Pokal final with Karlsruhe in 1996.

Career statistics

[2]

Club performance League Cup Other Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Germany League DFB-Pokal – Europe Total
1984–851. FC KölnBundesliga6000–1070
1985–8621000–70280
1986–8721120––231
1987–8834520––365
1988–8933521–60416
1989–9034630–100476
Italy League Coppa Italia Supercoppa Europe Total
1990–91JuventusSerie A3211081
1991–92AS Roma3231060
1992–93266–72
1993–94302––
Germany League DFB-Pokal DFB-Ligapokal Europe Total
1994–95Karlsruher SCBundesliga33341––374
1995–9634864–624614
1996–9717541–943010
1997–9834122120634416
1998–99Borussia Dortmund18211––193
1999–001860 Munich33820––358
2000–01327301081448
2001–0229631–62389
2002–0321031–00241
Austria League Austrian Cup – Europe Total
2003–04SV SalzburgBundesliga19100–31222
Total Germany 40068371130591249991
Italy 1201220213
Austria 19100–31222
Career total 53981508316

Note: Häßler appeared in the following European club competitions - UEFA Intertoto Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Cup Winner's Cup, UEFA Champions League qualification

International career

For Germany, Häßler was capped 101 times, scoring 11 goals. Other than the two major tournament wins at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the 1996 UEFA European Championship, he also played for his country at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, Euro 92, and Euro 2000.[3]

He also won a bronze medal for West Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He was the dominant figure of the Euro 92, displaying performances that were reminiscent of Diego Maradona's 1986 World Cup exploits. He displayed a specialty for scoring spectacular free kicks, tireless stamina and dazzling dribbling sprees, as Germany went on to reach the final of the tournament.[4]

International career statistics

[3]

Germany national team
YearAppsGoals
198820
198961
1990120
199151
1992134
199370
1994140
1995102
1996142
199751
199890
199900
200040
Total10111

International goals

Scores and results table. Germany's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 15 November 1989 Müngersdorfer Stadion, Cologne, Germany  Wales 2–1 2–1 FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifying
2. 18 December 1991 Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion, Leverkusen, Germany  Luxembourg 4–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
3. 22 April 1992 Stadion Eden, Prague, Czechoslovakia  Czechoslovakia 1–0 1–1 Friendly
4. 12 June 1992 Idrottsparken, Norrköping, Sweden  CIS 1–1 1–1 UEFA Euro 1992
5. 21 June 1992 Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden  Sweden 1–0 3–2 UEFA Euro 1992
6. 20 December 1992 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay  Uruguay 3–0 4–1 Friendly
7. 23 June 1995 Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, Switzerland   Switzerland 1–0 2–1 Friendly
8. 15 November 1995 Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany  Bulgaria 2–1 3–1 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
9. 9 October 1996 Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia  Armenia 1–0 5–1 FIFA World Cup 1998 qualifying
10. 9 October 1996 Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia  Armenia 3–0 5–1 FIFA World Cup 1998 qualifying
11. 10 September 1997 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany  Armenia 3–0 4–0 FIFA World Cup 1998 qualifying

Coaching career

Häßler is an assistant coach at Köln.[5] He previously served as an assistant coach to Berti Vogts when he was head coach of Nigeria[5] but both were later sacked by the Nigerian FA.

Häßler interviewed for the managerial position at Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock in June 2010.[5] On 24 May 2014, he was named as the assistant coach of newly Iran Pro League promoted club, Padideh. He will work with his long-time friend, Alireza Marzban.

In February 2016 Häßler joined eighth division Bezirksliga side Club Italia Berlin as their new coach with the self-declared aim of eventual promotion to the 3. Liga.[6]

Honours

Club

1. FC Köln
Juventus
Roma
Karlsruher SC

International

Germany

Individual

Other information

Häßler's nickname is "Icke" – awarded to him for his pronunciation of "Ich" (German for "I") in typical Berlin dialect. He founded the music label MTM Music in March 1996. He participated in the 2016 season of German dance show Let's Dance.

References

  1. ↑ Arnhold, Matthias (26 July 2012). "Thomas Häßler - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "Häßler, Thomas" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 Arnhold, Matthias (1 February 2006). "Thomas Häßler – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  4. ↑ Stefano Bedeschi (30 May 2013). "Gli eroi in bianconero: Thomas HÄßLER" (in Italian). Tutto Juve. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Barnes, John (11 June 2010). "Thomas Hassler holds Kilmarnock manager talks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  6. ↑ "Häßler will in Liga 3: "Man muss geil drauf sein"" [Häßler wants the 3. Liga: "You have to be crazy about it"]. kicker.de (in German). Kicker (sports magazine). 8 February 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "World Cup 1994 – Statistics". Planetworldcup.com. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Van Basten pips Stoichkov and Hassler". FIFA.com. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  9. ↑ FIFA XI´s Matches - Full Info
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