Thomas Häßler

Thomas Jürgen "Icke" Häßler (German pronunciation: [ˈtoːmas ˈhɛslɐ];[1] born 30 May 1966) is a German former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder throughout his career. At club level, he made a century of appearances for four teams: 1. FC Köln, Karlsruher SC and 1860 Munich in Germany and Roma in Italy, and spent a season apiece with Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and SV Salzburg.

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 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1976–1979 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 Munich 115 (21)
2003–2004 SV Salzburg 19 (1)
Total 539 (81)
National team
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– Berlin United
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Häßler also 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)

Born in West Berlin, 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,[2] helping the club to become Bundesliga runners-up in 1989 and 1990.

Juventus (1990–1991), 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, A.S. 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 Munich (1999–2003)

Disappointed about his season in Dortmund, Häßler left the club towards Bavaria and signed a contract with TSV 1860 Munich. 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.

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]

Style of play

A world-class playmaker,[5] who was considered to be one of the best German players of the 1990s,[6][7] Häßler was a talented, dynamic, and creative midfielder, with quick feet and a good right foot, who stood out for his speed, energy, and constant movement across the pitch. A diminutive player, despite not being particularly physically gifted, he was known for his technique and dribbling skills, as well as his ability to score goals or provide assists for teammates;[8][9][10][11][12] he was also a free kick specialist, and stood out for his leadership throughout his career.[6][7] He usually played as an offensive-minded central midfielder – known as the mezzala position, in Italy,[8][11] although he was also capable of playing as a right winger,[8][9][13] or even as a number 10, in either an attacking midfield role behind the forwards or as a second striker, a position in which he was tasked with playing between the lines and linking up the midfield with the attack;[6][8][9][10][14] he was also used in a creative, holding midfield role on occasion.[11] During his time in Italy, he was nicknamed "Tommasino" and "Pollicino" (Hop-o'-My-Thumb, in Italian), due to his short stature,[11][13] while he was instead nicknamed "Icke" in Germany.[6]

Coaching career
Häßler as an assistant coach for Köln, 2008

Häßler was an assistant coach at 1. FC Köln.[15] He previously served as an assistant coach to Berti Vogts when he was head coach of Nigeria[15] but both were later sacked by the Nigerian FA.

Häßler interviewed for the managerial position at Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock in June 2010.[15] 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.[16]

Trivia

Häßler's nickname "Icke" was given to him for his pronunciation of "Ich" (German for "I") in typical Berlin dialect.

Häßler founded the music label MTM Music in March 1996. He participated in the 2016 season of German dance show Let's Dance. In 2017, Häßler participated in German television show Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!.

Career statistics

Club

[17]

Club Season League Cup Other Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1. FC Köln1984–85Bundesliga6000–1070
1985–8621000–70280
1986–8721120––231
1987–8834520––365
1988–8933521–60416
1989–9034630–100476
Total 14917910024018218
Juventus1990–91Serie A3211081412
Roma1991–92Serie A3231060393
1992–93266–72338
1993–94302––302
Total 88111013210213
Karlsruher SC1994–95Bundesliga33341––374
1995–9634864–624614
1996–9717541–943010
1997–9834122120634416
Total 118281672021915744
Borussia Dortmund1998–99Bundesliga18211––193
1860 Munich1999–00Bundesliga33820––358
2000–01327301081448
2001–0229631–62389
2002–0321031–00241
Total 115211121014314126
SV Salzburg2003–04Austrian Bundesliga19100–31222
Career total 53981371150831666497

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

International
Source:[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.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.15 November 1989Müngersdorfer Stadion, Cologne, Germany Wales2–12–1FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifying
2.18 December 1991Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion, Leverkusen, Germany Luxembourg4–04–0UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
3.22 April 1992Stadion Eden, Prague, Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia1–01–1Friendly
4.12 June 1992Idrottsparken, Norrköping, Sweden CIS1–11–1UEFA Euro 1992
5.21 June 1992Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden Sweden1–03–2UEFA Euro 1992
6.20 December 1992Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay Uruguay3–04–1Friendly
7.23 June 1995Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, Switzerland  Switzerland1–02–1Friendly
8.15 November 1995Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany Bulgaria2–13–1UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
9.9 October 1996Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia Armenia1–05–1FIFA World Cup 1998 qualifying
10.9 October 1996Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia Armenia3–05–1FIFA World Cup 1998 qualifying
11.10 September 1997Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany Armenia3–04–0FIFA World Cup 1998 qualifying

Honours

Club

1. FC Köln

Juventus

Roma

Karlsruher SC

International

Germany

Individual
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See also

References
  1. Krech, Eva-Maria; Stock, Eberhard; Hirschfeld, Ursula; Anders, Lutz Christian (2009). Deutsches Aussprachewörterbuch [German Pronunciation Dictionary] (in German). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 59, 570, 984. ISBN 978-3-11-018202-6.
  2. Arnhold, Matthias (26 July 2012). "Thomas Häßler - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  3. 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. "Player to Watch: Renate Lingor". FIFA.com. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  6. "Scholl, Basler, Calhanoglu and the Bundesliga's best ever free-kick takers". Bundesliga. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  7. "Thomas Haessler". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  8. Bedeschi, Stefano (30 May 2019). "Gli eroi in bianconero: Thomas HASSLER" (in Italian). Tutto Juve. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  9. Chesi, Sergio (11 October 2010). "Speciale Goal.com - Quando nella botte piccola c'è il vino buono: Maradona&co, i campioni tascabili che han fatto la storia" (in Italian). Goal.com. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  10. Pastore, Giuseppe (1 August 2019). "Tra Maifredi e la Juventus non poteva funzionare" (in Italian). Ultimo Uomo. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  11. Chiappini, Paolo (20 July 2015). "Gotze alla Juve nel segno della tradizione" (in Italian). TuttoCalciatori. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  12. "Top Five: Roma-Juve clashes from the last 30 years". A.S. Roma. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  13. Rizzo, Sergio. "HASSLER, Thomas" (in Italian). Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  14. "Germany top Nigeria". BBC Sport. 3 May 1998. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  15. Barnes, John (11 June 2010). "Thomas Hassler holds Kilmarnock manager talks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  16. "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.
  17. "Häßler, Thomas" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  18. "Bundesliga Historie 1987/88" (in German). kicker.
  19. "Bundesliga Historie 1988/89" (in German). kicker.
  20. "Bundesliga Historie 1989/90" (in German). kicker.
  21. "Bundesliga Historie 1998/96" (in German). kicker.
  22. "World Cup 1994 – Statistics". Planetworldcup.com. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  23. "Van Basten pips Stoichkov and Hassler". FIFA.com. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  24. FIFA XI´s Matches - Full Info
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