Jurgen Klinsmann celebrates a goal for Germany against Belgium in the 1994 World Cup.
Klinsmann answers call
By Sofia Kannas. Tuesday, 27 July 2004.
The appointment of former Spurs golden boy Jurgen Klinsmann as Germany's new national coach may have raised a few eyebrows back home - but English fans know that his pedigree as a player should stand him in good stead to lead his country back to the heights they enjoyed when he was a player.
It is exactly ten years since Jurgen Klinsmann jetted into London as the latest addition to Ossie Ardiles' Tottenham Hotspur revolution, and as the man that English football fans loved to hate, he won over the hearts and minds of the British public with his outrageous goals and even better celebrations.
Since he retired from playing six years ago, the 39-year-old former striker has been involved in sports marketing in the USA and though he holds a training licence, has never coached professionally.
However, as a player at Tottenham Hotspur, Klinsmann's track record was impressive.
After leaving French club Monaco in 1994 he signed for Spurs on 29 July, sending share prices at White Hart Lane rocketing by 21 per cent.
Spearheading the Spurs attack with the perfect strike partner in Teddy Sheringham up front, he netted 29 goals in all competitions in the 1994-5 season.
He was named Footballer of the Year by English football writers in 1995 and despite failing to win any silverware during his time at Spurs, he did manage to climb the famous steps up to the old Wembley royal box to collect the European championship trophy in 1996 as captain of Germany.
Known as the 'Golden Bomber' in Germany, he arrived at Spurs with a reputation for diving but soon won the fans over, scoring in his first game before being stretchered off with a gashed face following a collision with Sheffield Wednesday's Des Walker.
Ten stitches could not dent the German's spirits when he said: "I'm okay. In fact, I'm perfect. I have to be satisfied with a goal."
He returned to his homeland in August 1995 and spent two years at Bayern Munich followed by a spell in Italy with Sampdoria.
In 1998 he was back at his beloved White Hart Lane on a six-month loan, scoring 12 goals to help them avoid relegation and reach 14th in the league.
Klinsmann, who won the World Cup as a player with Germany in 1990, hung up his boots after the 1998 World Cup, moving to California to turn his hand to business.
As a partner in the US-based sports marketing consultancy SoccerSolutions, Klinsmann has worked with prestigious clients including Adidas, McDonald's, Coca-Cola and his old club Tottenham Hotspur.
He has also passed on some of his wealth of experience as an advisor to US Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy.
The German will now be hoping to pass on some more of that knowledge as he aims to lead his home nation to the ultimate success in their own back yard when they host the World Cup in 2006.
"It would be an honour for me to contribute to the World Cup being successful," he added.
"I'm absolutely convinced that the German team has the potential to succeed."
Jurgen Klinsmann Factfile
|
Year |
Club |
Apps |
Goals |
|
1981/82 |
Stuttgarter Kickers |
6 |
1 |
|
1982/83 |
Stuttgarter Kickers |
20 |
2 |
|
1983/84 |
Stuttgarter Kickers |
35 |
19 |
|
1984/85 |
VfB Stuttgart |
32 |
15 |
|
1985/86 |
VfB Stuttgart |
33 |
16 |
|
1986/87 |
VfB Stuttgart |
32 |
16 |
|
1987/88 |
VfB Stuttgart |
34 |
19 |
|
1988/89 |
VfB Stuttgart |
25 |
13 |
|
1989/90 |
Internazionale |
31 |
13 |
|
1990/91 |
Internazionale |
33 |
14 |
|
1991/92 |
Internazionale |
31 |
7 |
|
1992/93 |
AS Monaco |
35 |
19 |
|
1993/94 |
AS Monaco |
30 |
10 |
|
1994/95 |
Tottenham Hotspur |
41 |
20 |
|
1995/96 |
Bayern Munich |
32 |
16 |
|
1996/97 |
Bayern Munich |
33 |
15 |
|
1997/98 |
Sampdoria |
8 |
2 |
|
1997/98 |
Tottenham Hotspur |
15 |
9 |
Germany - 108 matches, 47 goals