Thomas Strunz
Encyclopedia
Thomas Strunz is a retired German
footballer who played mostly as a defensive midfielder.
, but moved to FC Bayern Munich
aged 21. He made his German first division
debut on 31 August 1989, in a 4–0 home smashing of Hamburger SV
, and proceeded to score five in 20 matches in his debut season.
After two more seasons, he joined VfB Stuttgart
in 1992–93, scoring five goals in his first season, before returning to Bayern after three years. In his two spells with the Bavaria
n outfit, Strunz won five championship medals and two German cups
, adding the 1995–96 UEFA Cup, in which he scored two goals in nine games. In his final two seasons, he barely played due to recurrent injuries, and retired during the 2000–01 season, as Bayern won back-to-back league titles.
After retiring, Strunz served as general manager at VfL Wolfsburg
for nearly a year, being fired on 19 December 2005. Together with head coach Holger Fach
, who was also fired the same day, he was awarded €
2.750.000 as compensation. In April 2008, he enrolled in the same capacity at lowly Rot-Weiss Essen
, being fired on 12 September of the following year.
on 10 October 1990, in a 3–1 friendly win in Sweden
. He went on to represent the nation at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
and the victorious UEFA Euro 1996.
During the latter competition, he appeared in five of Germany's six matches (being sent off
against Italy
and subsequently suspended for the quarter-final), converting his penalty shootout attempt in the semifinals and playing the entire final, against Czech Republic
.
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 mostly as a defensive midfielder.
Club career
Strunz started his career playing for hometown club MSV DuisburgMSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg is a German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed "the Zebras" for their traditional striped jerseys, the club was one of the original members of the Bundesliga when it was formed in 1963.-Early years:...
, but moved to FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
aged 21. He made his German first 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...
debut on 31 August 1989, in a 4–0 home smashing 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...
, and proceeded to score five in 20 matches in his debut season.
After two more seasons, he joined VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
in 1992–93, scoring five goals in his first season, before returning to Bayern after three years. In his two spells with the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n outfit, Strunz won five championship medals and two German cups
DFB-Pokal
The 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...
, adding the 1995–96 UEFA Cup, in which he scored two goals in nine games. In his final two seasons, he barely played due to recurrent injuries, and retired during the 2000–01 season, as Bayern won back-to-back league titles.
After retiring, Strunz served as general manager at VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...
for nearly a year, being fired on 19 December 2005. Together with head coach Holger Fach
Holger Fach
Holger Fach is a former German footballer and a current manager for Lokomotiv Astana. Mainly a defensive midfielder, he could also pitch in at centre back.-Football career:...
, who was also fired the same day, he was awarded €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
2.750.000 as compensation. In April 2008, he enrolled in the same capacity at lowly Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen is a German association football club based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- Early years :The club was formed as SV Vogelheim on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: SC Preussen and Deutsche Eiche. In 1910, Vogelheim came to an arrangement with Turnerbund...
, being fired on 12 September of the following year.
International career
Strunz made his debut for GermanyGermany 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....
on 10 October 1990, in a 3–1 friendly win in Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
. He went on to represent the nation at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
and the victorious UEFA Euro 1996.
During the latter competition, he appeared in five of Germany's six matches (being sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
and subsequently suspended for the quarter-final), converting his penalty shootout attempt in the semifinals and playing the entire final, against Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
.
Personal
- Strunz's wife, Claudia, left him for fellow German international Stefan EffenbergStefan EffenbergStefan Effenberg is a retired German footballer. A central midfielder, he possessed leadership skills, powerful shooting ability, physical strength, but also a fearsome and controversial character....
.
- On 10 March 1998, he was one of the main targets in a furious press conference held by then Bayern manager Giovanni TrapattoniGiovanni TrapattoniGiovanni Trapattoni , sometimes known as "Trap" or "Il Trap", is an Italian football coach and former player, considered the most successful club coach in the history of Serie A. As a player he was part of Italy's squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup....
, who addressed the mediaNews mediaThe news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
in (broken) GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
.
Club
- 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...
: 1989–90, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01 - UEFA Cup: 1995–96
- German Cup: 1997–98, 1999–2000; Runner-up 1998–99
- German League CupDFB-LigapokalThe DFB-Ligapokal, or German League Cup, was a German football competition that took place before the start of the Bundesliga season, featuring the top five teams of the previous Fußball-Bundesliga season and the winners of the DFB-Pokal in Germany...
: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 - 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...
: Runner-up 1998–99