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German football history holds a special place for Rudolf “Rudi” Völler, who was born on April 13, 1960. He is renowned for both his successful managerial career and his impressive playing career. Völler has had a remarkable path, characterized by accomplishments, perseverance, and a love for the beautiful game, from his playing days to his current position as director of the German national team.
Career
Starting with Kickers Offenbach, Völler played professionally until moving on to 1860 Munich, where he finished as the 2. Bundesliga’s top scorer in 1981–82. Werder Bremen saw his goal-scoring ability and signed him, where he wowed Bundesliga crowds and won the league’s top scorer award in the 1982–83 campaign.
After that, the Flying German extended his reach beyond Germany, having a significant influence on both Ligue 1 team Olympique Marseille and Serie A club Roma. He won the Coppa Italia with Roma and finished second in the UEFA Cup in the 1990–91 campaign.
He won both the French championship and the UEFA Champions League in the 1992–93 season after moving to Marseille. After finishing his playing career at Bayer Leverkusen, Völler returned to his own country in 1994.
Völler’s international career with the German national team, then known as West Germany, is etched in football history. Debuting in 1982, he represented his country at three FIFA World Cups and UEFA European Championships each. Notably, he played in two consecutive World Cup finals, securing the trophy in the historic 1990 tournament held in Italy.
His prolific goal-scoring ability contributed significantly to Germany’s success. Völler played a crucial role in the 1986 World Cup, scoring the equalizer against Scotland and netting in the semi-final against France. However, despite his efforts, Germany fell short in the final against Argentina.
Völler made a smooth transition from player to manager after retirement. He began his coaching career in 2000 when he was appointed sporting director of Bayer Leverkusen. To demonstrate his leadership skills, he also took on the position of temporary manager for twelve games.
He assumed the enormous responsibility of leading the German national team in 2000, even though he lacked official coaching credentials. As he guided Germany to the FIFA World Cup final in 2002, the choice proved wise.
Völler became the Germany national team’s director in February 2023. He was an obvious choice for the job because of his ongoing popularity and extensive football background. In September 2023, he also managed a friendly match against France in an acting capacity, and they won 2-1.
How much is Rudi Völler Worth?
Rudi Völler has an estimated net worth of about $1-5 million.
