| German footballer, defender and midfielder Date of Birth: 05.09.1967 Country: Germany |
Matthias Sammer is a former German football player and coach. He is known for his versatile play as a defender and midfielder. He represented both the German Democratic Republic (GDR) national team and the unified German national team.
Sammer began his career at Dynamo Dresden, joining the club's youth team at the age of nine in 1976. He made his debut for the senior team in the 1985/86 season under the guidance of his father, Klaus Sammer. Initially playing as a forward, he scored eight goals in his first season as Dynamo Dresden finished fifth in the GDR-Oberliga. In the following season, under new manager Eduard Geyer, he found his optimal position as a central midfielder.
In the 1988/89 season, Sammer was part of the Dynamo Dresden team that won the GDR championship. The team also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, where they were eliminated by Stuttgart. The following year, Dynamo Dresden won both the league title and the cup, successfully defending their championship. They also won the cup in 1990.
In the summer of 1990, Sammer joined Stuttgart. In his debut season in the Bundesliga, he scored 11 goals, finishing second in the team's goal-scoring chart and ranking in the top 10 of the league. Stuttgart finished sixth, earning a spot in the UEFA Cup. In the following season, Sammer scored nine goals as Stuttgart won the league title.
After two seasons at Stuttgart, Sammer joined Internazionale in Italy. Despite having a relatively successful spell with the club, scoring four goals in 11 matches, including a crucial goal against Juventus in the Derby d'Italia, he struggled to adapt to Italian football and returned to Germany in January 1993.
In the winter transfer window of the 1992/1993 Bundesliga season, Sammer signed with Borussia Dortmund. In the second half of the season, he played 17 matches and scored 10 goals. The team's manager, Ottmar Hitzfeld, moved Sammer from midfield to the libero position in the following season. In this role, Sammer spent the next five seasons. Dortmund became the strongest club in Germany in 1995 and 1996, and in 1997, they won the UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup. Under Sammer's leadership, Dortmund also won the German Super Cup in 1995 and 1996.
In 1995 and 1996, Sammer was named German Footballer of the Year and won the Golden Ball as the best player in Europe in 1996.
Unfortunately, Sammer's career was cut short due to a serious knee injury in the 1997/1998 season. After retiring as a player, he shifted his focus to coaching. He had a successful stint as the manager of Borussia Dortmund, leading the team to the Bundesliga title in 2002. They also reached the UEFA Cup final in the same year and the final of the DFB-Pokal in 2003.
Throughout his career, Sammer achieved numerous personal and team accolades. As a player, he won the GDR championship twice with Dynamo Dresden, the Bundesliga three times with Borussia Dortmund, and the UEFA Champions League with Dortmund in 1997. He also represented Germany in international competitions and won the UEFA European Championship in 1996.
Sammer was named German Footballer of the Year in 1995 and 1996 and received the prestigious Golden Ball award in 1996. He was also included in World Soccer magazine's list of the greatest footballers of the 20th century.
Interestingly, Sammer's father, Klaus Sammer, was also a professional footballer and played 17 matches for the GDR national team from 1970 to 1973. Matthias Sammer scored the last goals in the history of the GDR national team in a match against Belgium in September 1990.