Matthias Sammer

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Matthias Sammer (born September 5, 1967 in Dresden) is a former German football player who is now a coach. He played as a midfielder, and later in his career as a sweeper.

He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1996, the year he led Germany to victory in the European Championship. Sammer retired with 74 total caps, 23 for East Germany and 51 for the unified side.

[edit] Career

Sammer played for Dynamo Dresden (1987-1990), the club of his native city, and was one of the first notable East German players to join a Western club after German re-unification when he signed with VfB Stuttgart in 1990 (the first was Andreas Thom, who joined Bayer Leverkusen from BFC Dynamo). He then went on to play with Inter Milan (1992-1993), and Borussia Dortmund (1993-1998). He won two East German championships with Dynamo Dresden (1989, 1990), and three German championships, (1992 with VfB Stuttgart, 1995 and 1996 with Borussia Dortmund). During his time in Dortmund he also won the UEFA Champions League in 1997. Sammer also scored the last ever goal for the East Germany football team before re-unification.

After a serious knee injury forced him to retire in 1998, Sammer became head coach for Borussia Dortmund in 2000, leading the team to another German championship in 2002. His team reached the UEFA Cup final the same year but lost 2:3 against Feyenoord. Sammer coached VfB Stuttgart for the 2004-05 season, but left after only one year with the club.

On 1 April 2006, he was appointed technical director of German Football Association (DFB), on a five year contract. The position is new in the DFB. It includes responsibility for the national youth teams, focusing on young talents between the ages of eleven and eighteen, as well as incorporating the latest developments in sports science into the DFB's training theories. Sammer is also expected to work on a tactical system for all of Germany's national sides in close co-operation with national coach Jürgen Klinsmann (who has been succeeded by Joachim Löw). Meanwhile, the DFB will offer national hockey coach Bernhard Peters, who had been touted for the technical director's post, a role within the association.

In the summer of 2008 Sammer was linked to being the new manager of Turkish giants Galatasaray.

Sammer is married and has three children, Sarah, Marvin, and Leon.

[edit] Honours

[edit] As a player

• DDR-Oberliga (2): 1989, 1990
• FDGB Pokal (1): 1990
• Bundesliga (3): 1992, 1995, 1996
• DFB-Supercup (3): 1992, 1995, 1996
• European Championship (1): 1996; Runner-up 1992
• UEFA Champions League (1): 1997
• Intercontinental Cup (1): 1997
• European Super Cup: Runner-up 1997

[edit] Awards

• German Footballer of the Year (2): 1995, 1996
• European Footballer of the Year (1): 1996

[edit] As a manager

• Bundesliga (1): 2002
• UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2002
• DFB Liga-Pokal Runner-up 2003

[edit] External links

• Bundesliga stats at fussballdaten.de

v • d • e Germany squad - UEFA Euro 1992 Runners-up 1 Illgner • 2 Reuter • 3 Brehme • 4 Kohler • 5 Binz • 6 Buchwald • 7 Möller • 8 Häßler • 9 Völler • 10 Doll • 11 Riedle • 12 Köpke • 13 Thom • 14 Helmer • 15 Frontzeck • 16 Sammer • 17 Effenberg • 18 Klinsmann • 19 Schulz • 20 Wörns • Coach: Vogts

v • d • e Germany squad - 1994 FIFA World Cup 1 Illgner • 2 Strunz • 3 Brehme • 4 Kohler • 5 Helmer • 6 Buchwald • 7 Möller • 8 Häßler • 9 Riedle • 10 Matthäus • 11 Kuntz • 12 Köpke • 13 Völler • 14 Berthold • 15 Gaudino • 16 Sammer • 17 Wagner • 18 Klinsmann • 19 Kirsten • 20 Effenberg • 21 Basler • 22 Kahn • Coach: Vogts

v • d • e Germany squad - UEFA Euro 1996 Winners (3rd title) 1 Köpke • 2 Reuter • 3 Bode • 4 Freund • 5 Helmer • 6 Sammer • 7 Möller • 8 Scholl • 9 Bobic • 10 Häßler • 11 Kuntz • 12 Kahn • 13 Basler • 14 Babbel • 15 Kohler • 16 Schneider • 17 Ziege • 18 Klinsmann • 19 Strunz • 20 Bierhoff • 21 Eilts • 22 Reck • Coach: Vogts