Steffen Karl
Encyclopedia
Steffen Karl is a retired German
footballer, who played as a defensive midfielder.
and modest BSG Stahl Hettstedt. In January 1990, he moved to the Bundesliga
with Borussia Dortmund
, making his competition debut on 30 March, playing eight minutes in a 2–0 home win against SV Waldhof Mannheim
.
Almost always a backup at Borussia during his four 1/2-year spell (his best output conisted in 28 games in the 1991–92 season), Karl left the club in the 1994 summer, prior to the club's back-to-back league conquests; following a run-in with coach Ottmar Hitzfeld
, prior to this definitive release, he also played five months with Manchester City
, on loan.
Karl played one year in Switzerland
with FC Sion
, before returning to his country and represent Hertha BSC and FC St. Pauli
in the second division
. In his second season at the former, he played 30 matches en route to promotion, but never played again in the top division of his country. In the following three years, he moved abroad again, playing for Vålerenga Fotball (one year) and PFC Lokomotiv Sofia
(two).
In 2003, 33-year old Karl returned to Germany, playing with former East German sides. Two years later, whilst at Chemnitzer FC
- he also represented VfB Fortuna Chemnitz
until his final retirement in 2008 - he became the first player to be arrested in connection with Germany's match-fixing scandal, being suspected of helping manipulate the results of a May 2004 match between Chemnitz and SC Paderborn 07
. He was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence for his role in the affair, and banned for eight months by the German Football Association
.
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 defensive midfielder.
Football career
Karl started his professional career in East Germany, representing Hallescher FCHallescher FC
Hallescher FC is a German association football club based in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt.-History:The club's roots are in the 1946 formation of SG Glaucha in Soviet-occupied East Germany around the core of Hallescher Fußball-Club Wacker which was founded in 1900...
and modest BSG Stahl Hettstedt. In January 1990, he moved to the Bundesliga
Fußball-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...
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...
, making his competition debut on 30 March, playing eight minutes in a 2–0 home win against 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:...
.
Almost always a backup at Borussia during his four 1/2-year spell (his best output conisted in 28 games in the 1991–92 season), Karl left the club in the 1994 summer, prior to the club's back-to-back league conquests; following a run-in with coach Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld is a German former football player and manager, nicknamed der General ....
, prior to this definitive release, he also played five months with Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, on loan.
Karl played one year in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
with FC Sion
FC Sion
FC Sion is a Swiss football team from the city of Sion. The club was founded in 1909, and play their home games at the Stade Tourbillon. They have won the Swiss Super League twice, and the Swiss Cup in each of their twelve appearances in the final, the most recent being in 2011.The first team also...
, before returning to his country and represent Hertha BSC and FC St. Pauli
FC St. Pauli
Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that also has Rugby Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that...
in the second division
Fußball-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...
. In his second season at the former, he played 30 matches en route to promotion, but never played again in the top division of his country. In the following three years, he moved abroad again, playing for Vålerenga Fotball (one year) and PFC Lokomotiv Sofia
PFC Lokomotiv Sofia
PFC Lokomotiv Sofia is a Bulgarian football club from the capital city of Sofia, which currently competes in Bulgaria's top football league, the A PFG. It was founded on September 2, 1929 by a group of railway workers under the name Railway Sports Club . The club's home ground is the Lokomotiv...
(two).
In 2003, 33-year old Karl returned to Germany, playing with former East German sides. Two years later, whilst at Chemnitzer FC
Chemnitzer FC
Chemnitzer FC is a German association football club based in Chemnitz, Saxony.The roots of the club go back to its establishment as Chemnitzer BC 1933 in 1933 after the collapse of former Chemnitzer BC 1899....
- he also represented VfB Fortuna Chemnitz
VfB Fortuna Chemnitz
VfB Fortuna Chemnitz is German association football club from Chemnitz, Saxony. The club was formed in 2005 out of the fusion of VfB Chemnitz and SV Fortuna Furth Glösa.-History:...
until his final retirement in 2008 - he became the first player to be arrested in connection with Germany's match-fixing scandal, being suspected of helping manipulate the results of a May 2004 match between Chemnitz and SC Paderborn 07
SC Paderborn 07
SC Paderborn 07 is a German association football club based in Paderborn, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the 2. Bundesliga.-History:...
. He was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence for his role in the affair, and banned for eight months by the German Football Association
German Football Association
The German Football Association is the governing body of football in Germany. A founding member of both FIFA and UEFA, the DFB organises the German football leagues, including the national league, the Bundesliga, and the men's and women's national teams. The DFB is based in Frankfurt and is...
.