Thorsten Legat
Encyclopedia
Thorsten Legat is a former German
footballer, who played as a midfielder
.
, making his debuts on September 6, 1987 (not yet 19), in a 1–1 home draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach
, and became an essential first-team member in the following seasons.
After a spectacular 1990–91 - 31 matches, seven goals, crucial in helping Bochum retain its first division
status - Legat signed with SV Werder Bremen
; facing stiffer competition, he still managed to appear nearly 100 times officially, in three seasons. He also helped the side win the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
in his debut season, although he did not play in the final, against AS Monaco FC
.
Legat then spent one season at Eintracht Frankfurt
, playing as a defensive complement to playmaker
Augustine Okocha
, then moved south for VfB Stuttgart
; with the latter, he began suffering from injuries, undergoing two Achilles tendon
surgeries.
Additionally, he was involved in a racist
incident with Guinea
n Pablo Thiam
, a teammate, in early 1999; he was immediately released, only appearing 40 times in four years combined, and spent two more injury-ravaged years at FC Schalke 04
, subsequently retiring.
In 2005–06, Legat spent one year coaching Werder's U19. The following year, he would be involved in another incident, in which he brandished a samurai sword
to a group of youngsters after being threatened alongside his wife, slightly hitting one in the head.
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 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...
.
Football career
Legat started professionally at hometown's VfL BochumVfL 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:...
, making his debuts on September 6, 1987 (not yet 19), in a 1–1 home draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
, and became an essential first-team member in the following seasons.
After a spectacular 1990–91 - 31 matches, seven goals, crucial in helping Bochum retain its 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...
status - Legat signed with 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...
; facing stiffer competition, he still managed to appear nearly 100 times officially, in three seasons. He also helped the side win the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
in his debut season, although he did not play in the final, against AS Monaco FC
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
.
Legat then spent one season at 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 :...
, playing as a defensive complement to playmaker
Playmaker
In association football, a playmaker is a player who controls the flow of the team's offensive play, and is often involved in passing moves which lead to goals....
Augustine Okocha
Jay-Jay Okocha
Augustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is known for his stepovers, skill, technique, and being 'so good that they named him twice'...
, then moved south for 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...
; with the latter, he began suffering from injuries, undergoing two Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
surgeries.
Additionally, he was involved in a racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
incident with Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
n Pablo Thiam
Pablo Thiam
Pablo Thiam is a retired Guinean football defensive midfielder. He holds a German passport.-Career:Thiam grew up as the son of a Guinean diplomat in the former German capital Bonn. He started his football career in MSV Bonn. At the age of 15, he went to 1. FC Köln, for whom he debuted in the...
, a teammate, in early 1999; he was immediately released, only appearing 40 times in four years combined, and spent two more injury-ravaged years at FC Schalke 04
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
, subsequently retiring.
In 2005–06, Legat spent one year coaching Werder's U19. The following year, he would be involved in another incident, in which he brandished a samurai sword
Katana
A Japanese sword, or , is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese swords, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture.-Description:...
to a group of youngsters after being threatened alongside his wife, slightly hitting one in the head.
Honours
- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1991–92, Runner-up 1997–98 - 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...
: 1992–93 - 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...
: 1993–94, 1996–97, 2000–01; Runner-up 1987–88 - 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 - UEFA Super Cup: Runner-up 1992