Klaus Toppmöller
Encyclopedia
Klaus Toppmöller is a former football player and the coach of Georgia national football team
from 2006 to April 1, 2008.
He earned 3 caps and scored 1 goal during his international career for Germany
.
from summer 1987 to 18 April 1988 when he became coach of SSV Ulm 1846
until February 1989. After his dismissal, Toppmöller coached DDR-Oberliga
side FC Erzgebirge Aue
from 28 November 1990 to 30 June 1991. He then transferred back to the Federal league with SV Waldhof Mannheim
from 19 September 1991 to 30 June 1993.
In light of his success, Toppmöller became coach of Eintracht Frankfurt
, with whom he had a very successful start. But after failures with the squad relationship and resultantly missing the championship he was dismissed on 10 April 1994. Toppmöller then joined VfL Bochum
on 9 November 1994, with whom in the 1997/98 season reached the last sixteen of the UEFA cup
. On 30 June 1999 Toppmöller left his position as coach of VfL Bochum, but was eventually dismissed on 29 November 2000.
From 1 July 2001 Toppmöller was coach with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, whom in his first season led to the final of the UEFA Champions League
, as well as second place in federal league and the German cup final. Toppmöller was resultantly declared by German sports journalists as "football coach of the year" for 2002. However, in the following season Leverkusen performed poorly, and in light of a poor league position which could have led to relegation, Toppmöller was sacked on the 16 February 2003.
Toppmöller became coach of Hamburger SV
on 23 October 2003. However, after the team fell to last place in the league, and Toppmöller used strange tactics, formations and out of position players (such as midfielder
Sergej Barbarez
in defence), he was sacked on the 17 October 2004.
On 1 February 2006 Toppmöller became national coach of the Georgia national football team
, with Ralf Minge
as assistant coach. He was dismissed on April 1, 2008.
Georgia national football team
The Georgia national football team is the national association football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major...
from 2006 to April 1, 2008.
He earned 3 caps and scored 1 goal during his international career for Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
.
Coaching career
Toppmöller became coach of FSV SalmrohrFSV Salmrohr
FSV Salmrohr is a German association football club in the village of Salmrohr, Rhineland-Palatinate. Founded in 1921, the small club has limited resources and has relied largely on local talent, but still managed two decades of play in the tier III Amateur Oberliga Südwest and Regionalliga...
from summer 1987 to 18 April 1988 when he became coach of SSV Ulm 1846
SSV Ulm 1846
SSV Ulm 1846 is a German association football club from Ulm, Baden-Württemberg and is one of the country's largest and oldest sports clubs with over 12,000 members in more than twenty different departments. The modern-day club was formed out of 5 May 1970 merger of TSG Ulm 1846 and 1...
until February 1989. After his dismissal, Toppmöller coached DDR-Oberliga
DDR-Oberliga
The DDR-Oberliga was, prior to German reunification in 1990, the elite level of football competition in the DDR , being roughly equivalent to the Oberliga or Bundesliga in West Germany.-Overview:Following World...
side FC Erzgebirge Aue
FC Erzgebirge Aue
FC Erzgebirge Aue is a German football club based in Aue, Saxony. The former East German side was a charter member of the 3. Liga in 2008–09, after being relegated from the 2. Bundesliga in 2007–08. The city of Aue has a population of about 18,000 making it one of the smallest cities to ever...
from 28 November 1990 to 30 June 1991. He then transferred back to the Federal league with SV Waldhof Mannheim
SV Waldhof Mannheim
SV Waldhof Mannheim is a German association football club, located in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg. The club today has a membership of over 2,400.-History:...
from 19 September 1991 to 30 June 1993.
In light of his success, Toppmöller became coach of Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :...
, with whom he had a very successful start. But after failures with the squad relationship and resultantly missing the championship he was dismissed on 10 April 1994. Toppmöller then joined VfL Bochum
VfL Bochum
Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft, commonly referred to as simply VfL Bochum, is a German association football club based in the city of Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia.-Founding to World War II:...
on 9 November 1994, with whom in the 1997/98 season reached the last sixteen of the UEFA cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. On 30 June 1999 Toppmöller left his position as coach of VfL Bochum, but was eventually dismissed on 29 November 2000.
From 1 July 2001 Toppmöller was coach with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, whom in his first season led to the final of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, as well as second place in federal league and the German cup final. Toppmöller was resultantly declared by German sports journalists as "football coach of the year" for 2002. However, in the following season Leverkusen performed poorly, and in light of a poor league position which could have led to relegation, Toppmöller was sacked on the 16 February 2003.
Toppmöller became coach of Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
on 23 October 2003. However, after the team fell to last place in the league, and Toppmöller used strange tactics, formations and out of position players (such as midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Sergej Barbarez
Sergej Barbarez
Sergej Barbarez is a former football attacking midfielder from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He played for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga from 2006 to 2008. He finished his career after the season 2007–08...
in defence), he was sacked on the 17 October 2004.
On 1 February 2006 Toppmöller became national coach of the Georgia national football team
Georgia national football team
The Georgia national football team is the national association football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major...
, with Ralf Minge
Ralf Minge
Ralf Minge is a German former footballer, later a coach, who currently works as head coach of the Germany national under-20 football team....
as assistant coach. He was dismissed on April 1, 2008.
As a player
- DFB-PokalDFB-PokalThe DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
finalist: 1976. - BundesligaFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
3rd place: 1979, 1980.
As a coach
- Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
finalist: 2002. - BundesligaFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
runner-up: 2002. - DFB-PokalDFB-PokalThe DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
finalist: 2002.