Michael Zorc
Encyclopedia
Michael Zorc is a retired German
footballer who played as a central midfielder.
Nickname
d "Susi" in his early days because of his long hair, he spent his entire career with Borussia Dortmund
, appearing in nearly 600 official games in 17 seasons. Subsequently, he went on to serve as the team's general manager
.
games for Borussia Dortmund
(a club record) between 1981 and 1998, also being for many years the team's captain, and was hugely popular with the supporters. He also ranked, at one time, the club's second all-time top goalscorer, thanks in part to his excellent penalty
-taking ability. He made his professional debut on 24 October 1981, in a 0–2 loss at SV Werder Bremen
, becoming an automatic first-choice from his second season onwards.
The tail-end of Zorc's career saw also his greatest successes, as Dortmund were twice crowned national champions, as well as winning the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup
. He scored in double digits in seven seasons, including 15 apiece from 1994–96.
Zorc played seven times for the German national team
, but never made the squad for any international tournament. His debut came on 16 December 1992, at already 30, during a 1–3 friendly loss in Brazil
.
Upon retiring at nearly 36, Zorc became general manager
of Borussia Dortmund, still being in charge as the team won the national championship in 2011
, the first in nine years.
, played in the first division for VfL Bochum
(1971–73), and was an amateur international for Germany. He died in late 2007, one day shy of his 68th birthday.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
footballer who played as a central midfielder.
Nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "Susi" in his early days because of his long hair, he spent his entire career with Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
, appearing in nearly 600 official games in 17 seasons. Subsequently, he went on to serve as the team's general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
.
Football career
Zorc played 463 BundesligaFußball-Bundesliga
The 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...
games for Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
(a club record) between 1981 and 1998, also being for many years the team's captain, and was hugely popular with the supporters. He also ranked, at one time, the club's second all-time top goalscorer, thanks in part to his excellent penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
-taking ability. He made his professional debut on 24 October 1981, in a 0–2 loss at SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
, becoming an automatic first-choice from his second season onwards.
The tail-end of Zorc's career saw also his greatest successes, as Dortmund were twice crowned national champions, as well as winning the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
. He scored in double digits in seven seasons, including 15 apiece from 1994–96.
Zorc played seven times for the German national team
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....
, but never made the squad for any international tournament. His debut came on 16 December 1992, at already 30, during a 1–3 friendly loss in Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
.
Upon retiring at nearly 36, Zorc became general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of Borussia Dortmund, still being in charge as the team won the national championship in 2011
2010–11 Fußball-Bundesliga
The 2010–11 Fußball-Bundesliga was the 48th season of the Fußball-Bundesliga, Germany's premier football league. The season started on the weekend of 21 August 2010 with the traditional season opening match involving the defending champions and ended with the last games on 14 May 2011. The winter...
, the first in nine years.
Club
- UEFA 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...
: 1996–97 - Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 19971997 Intercontinental CupThe 1997 Intercontinental Cup was a football match played on 2 December 1997 between Borussia Dortmund, winners of the 1996-97 UEFA Champions League, and Cruzeiro, winners of the 1997 Copa Libertadores. The match was played at the neutral venue of the National Stadium in Tokyo in front of 46,953 fans... - German LeagueFußball-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...
: 1994–95, 1995–96 - German CupDFB-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...
: 1988–89 - UEFA Cup: Runner-up 1992–93
- UEFA Super Cup: Runner-up 19971997 UEFA Super CupThe 1997 UEFA Super Cup was a football match played on 8 January 1998 and 11 March 1998 between Borussia Dortmund of Germany, winner of the 1996-97 UEFA Champions League and Barcelona of Spain, winner of the 1996-97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup...
Country
- FIFA U-20 World CupFIFA U-20 World CupThe FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
: 19811981 FIFA World Youth ChampionshipThe 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship, the third edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in Australia from 3 to 18 October 1981. The tournament took place in six venues—where a total of 32 matches were played... - UEFA Under-19 ChampionshipUEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipThe European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
: 1981
Personal
Zorc's father, DieterDieter Zorc
Dieter Zorc was a German football defender. He was the father of Michael Zorc.-External links:...
, played in the first division for 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:...
(1971–73), and was an amateur international for Germany. He died in late 2007, one day shy of his 68th birthday.