_(cropped).JPG) Häßler in 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Thomas Jürgen Häßler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1966-05-30)30 May 1966 (age 59) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | West Berlin,West Germany | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976–1979 | BFC Meteor 06 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979–1984 | Reinickendorfer Füchse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1990 | 1. FC Köln | 149 | (17) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1991 | Juventus | 32 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1994 | Roma | 88 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1998 | Karlsruher SC | 118 | (28) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | Borussia Dortmund | 18 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2003 | 1860 Munich | 115 | (21) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | SV Salzburg | 19 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 539 | (81) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1988 | West Germany Olympic | 11 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–2000 | West Germany/Germany | 101 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Nigeria (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | 1. FC Köln (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Padideh (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2019 | Berlin United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019– | BFC Preussen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas Jürgen "Icke"Häßler (German pronunciation:[ˈtoːmasˈhɛslɐ];[1] born 30 May 1966) is a German former professionalfootballer who played as anattacking midfielder. At club level, he made a century of appearances for four teams:1. FC Köln,Karlsruher SC and1860 Munich in Germany andRoma in Italy, and spent a season apiece withJuventus,Borussia Dortmund andSV Salzburg. Häßler alsoappeared over 100 times for theGermany national team.
He was a member of the teams which won the1990 FIFA World Cup (asWest Germany) andUEFA Euro 1996. He also appeared at the1994 and1998FIFA World Cups, the1992 and2000UEFA European Championships, and the1988 Olympic Games.
Born inWest Berlin, Häßler spent his early playing days in the youth team ofReinickendorfer Füchse. He began his professional career in 1984 with1. FC Köln of theBundesliga, for whom he played six successful years,[2] helping the club to become Bundesliga runners-up in 1989 and 1990.
Soon after winning the1990 World Cup with the Germany national team in Italy, Häßler transferred toJuventus for a sum ofDM15 million. He spent only one year inTurin before he decided to join another Italian club,A.S. Roma, for a fee ofDM14 million. This time he stayed for three years, making 88 appearances and scoring 11 goals.
In 1994, however, Häßler wanted to return to theBundesliga. Despite offers from some of the biggest German clubs, he decided to sign withKarlsruher SC in aDM7 million deal, the highest transfer sum the club has ever spent. In the following three years, Karlsruhe and its new key player achieved positions in the upper third of the table which resulted inUEFA Cup participations in1996–97 and1997–98.
By winning theUEFA Intertoto Cup in 1996, Karlsruhe not only qualified for theUEFA Cup but also accomplished to throw out Häßler's former club AS Roma in the second round of the tournament. In the first leg of the third round, Häßler scored twice in his team's 3–1 win overBrøndby IF inCopenhagen. However, shortly after this win Häßler received the first big injury in his career when he broke his leg in a league match againstFortuna Düsseldorf. Without its captain, Karlsruhe played a catastrophic second leg and was eliminated from the tournament after a 0–5 home defeat.Following his recovery, Häßler returned for the last two games of the season and helped his team to finish in sixth place in the1996–97 season, securing another year of international football competition. In the end, once again the club failed to survive the third round.
At the end of the1997–98 season, the club's situation had worsened significantly. For the first time in his career, Häßler was confronted with a possible relegation. Feeling the pressure he once more showed his extraordinary skills and scored four goals in the last three games of the season. Despite Häßler's performances, Karlsruhe lost its last match in a dramatic season final and was relegated from the Bundesliga.
Due to a contract clause, Häßler could leave Karlsruhe immediately on a free transfer. He decided to joinBorussia Dortmund, which had won theUEFA Champions League in 1997. There he met the later assistant of the Germany national team,Michael Skibbe, then with 32 years the youngest head coach in the history of the Bundesliga. In the course of the season, there were some serious disputes between Häßler and Skibbe because the latter entrusted the midfield leadership toAndreas Möller. In the end, Häßler made only 18 appearances and never played over the full 90 minutes.
Disappointed about his season in Dortmund, Häßler left the club towards Bavaria and signed a contract withTSV 1860 Munich. He spent four very successful years inMunich and became an important part of the team. Already in his firstseason the club reached a sensational fourth place in the Bundesliga. After they failed to win againstLeeds United in the qualification for theUEFA Champions League, Häßler and his team participated in the UEFA Cup. But also with 1860 Munich he failed to overcome the competition's third round. In the following two years, the club took part in the UEFA Intertoto Cup but didn't manage to succeed. After the2002–03 season, Häßler left Munich to finish his career inAustria.
In 2003, Häßler signed a one-year contract with the Austrian clubSV Salzburg. He made 19 appearances and reached a seventh place in the2003–04 season before he announced his retirement.
Overall, Häßler chalked up an entertaining 539 games and a total of 81 goals throughout afootball career in which he was votedFootballer of the Year (Germany) in 1989 and 1992. Although he is considered one of the best German footballers of all time, he did not win a single major club title, having lost theUEFA Cup final with1. FC Köln in 1986, theCoppa Italia final withAS Roma in 1993 and theDFB-Pokal final withKarlsruhe in 1996.
ForGermany, Häßler was capped 101 times, scoring 11 goals. Other than the two major tournament wins at the1990 FIFA World Cup and the1996 UEFA European Championship, he also played for his country at the1994 and1998 FIFA World Cups,Euro 92, andEuro 2000.[3]
He also won a bronze medal for West Germany at the1988 Summer Olympics. He was the dominant figure of the Euro 92, displaying performances that were reminiscent ofDiego Maradona's1986 World Cup exploits. He displayed a specialty for scoring spectacularfree kicks, tireless stamina and dazzling dribbling sprees, as Germany went on to reach the final of the tournament.[4]
A world-classplaymaker,[5] who was considered to be one of the best German players of the 1990s,[6][7] Häßler was a talented, dynamic, and creative midfielder, with quick feet and a good right foot, who stood out for his speed, energy, and constant movement across the pitch. A diminutive player, despite not being particularly physically gifted, he was known for his technique anddribbling skills, as well as his ability to score goals or provideassists for teammates;[8][9][10][11][12] he was also afree kick specialist, and stood out for his leadership throughout his career.[6][7] He usually played as an offensive-mindedcentral midfielder – known as themezzala position, in Italy,[8][11] although he was also capable of playing as aright winger,[8][9][13] or even as anumber 10, in either anattacking midfield role behind the forwards or as asecond striker, a position in which he was tasked with playing between the lines and linking up the midfield with the attack;[6][8][9][10][14] he was also used in acreative,holding midfield role on occasion.[11] During his time in Italy, he was nicknamed "Tommasino" and "Pollicino" (Hop-o'-My-Thumb, in Italian), due to his short stature,[11][13] while he was instead nicknamed "Icke" in Germany for his pronunciation of "Ich" (German for "I") in typicalBerlin dialect.[6]
Häßler was an assistant coach at1. FC Köln.[15] He previously served as an assistant coach toBerti Vogts when he washead coach ofNigeria[15] but both were later sacked by the Nigerian FA.
Häßler interviewed for themanagerial position atScottish Premier League clubKilmarnock in June 2010.[15] On 24 May 2014, he was named as the assistant coach of newlyIran Pro League promoted club,Padideh. He will work with his long-time friend,Alireza Marzban.
In February 2016 Häßler joined eighth divisionBezirksliga sideClub Italia Berlin as their new coach with the self-declared aim of eventual promotion to the3. Liga.[16]
Häßler founded the music labelMTM Music in March 1996. He participated in the 2016 season of German dance showLet's Dance. In 2017, Häßler participated in German television showIch bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!.
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental[a] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| 1. FC Köln | 1984–85 | Bundesliga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 7 | 0 | |
| 1985–86 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | – | 28 | 0 | |||
| 1986–87 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 23 | 1 | ||||
| 1987–88 | 34 | 5 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 36 | 5 | ||||
| 1988–89 | 33 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | – | 41 | 6 | |||
| 1989–90 | 34 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | – | 47 | 6 | |||
| Total | 149 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 182 | 18 | ||
| Juventus | 1990–91 | Serie A | 32 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
| Roma | 1991–92 | Serie A | 32 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 3 |
| 1992–93 | 26 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 2 | – | 42 | 9 | |||
| 1993–94 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 32 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 88 | 11 | 16 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 118 | 14 | ||
| Karlsruher SC | 1994–95 | Bundesliga | 33 | 3 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 37 | 4 | ||
| 1995–96 | 34 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 2 | – | 46 | 14 | |||
| 1996–97 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 4 | – | 30 | 10 | |||
| 1997–98 | 34 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 16 | ||
| Total | 118 | 28 | 16 | 8 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 157 | 44 | ||
| Borussia Dortmund | 1998–99 | Bundesliga | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 19 | 3 | ||
| 1860 Munich | 1999–00 | Bundesliga | 33 | 8 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 35 | 8 | ||
| 2000–01 | 32 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 8 | ||
| 2001–02 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | – | 38 | 9 | |||
| 2002–03 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 | 1 | |||
| Total | 115 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 141 | 26 | ||
| SV Salzburg | 2003–04 | Austrian Bundesliga | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | 21 | 2 | |
| Career total | 539 | 81 | 57 | 13 | 83 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 685 | 110 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 6 | 1 | |
| 1990 | 12 | 0 | |
| 1991 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1992 | 13 | 4 | |
| 1993 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1994 | 14 | 0 | |
| 1995 | 10 | 2 | |
| 1996 | 14 | 2 | |
| 1997 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 9 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 101 | 11 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 November 1989 | Müngersdorfer Stadion,Cologne, West Germany |  Wales | 2–1 | 2–1 | FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifying |
| 2 | 18 December 1991 | Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion,Leverkusen, Germany |  Luxembourg | 4–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying |
| 3 | 22 April 1992 | Stadion Eden,Prague,Czechoslovakia |  Czechoslovakia | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 4 | 12 June 1992 | Idrottsparken,Norrköping, Sweden |  CIS | 1–1 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 1992 |
| 5 | 21 June 1992 | Råsunda Stadium,Stockholm, Sweden |  Sweden | 1–0 | 3–2 | UEFA Euro 1992 |
| 6 | 20 December 1992 | Estadio Centenario,Montevideo, Uruguay |  Uruguay | 3–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 7 | 23 June 1995 | Wankdorf Stadium,Bern, Switzerland |  Switzerland | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 8 | 15 November 1995 | Olympic Stadium,Berlin, Germany |  Bulgaria | 2–1 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 9 | 9 October 1996 | Hrazdan Stadium,Yerevan, Armenia |  Armenia | 1–0 | 5–1 | FIFA World Cup 1998 qualifying |
| 10 | 3–0 | |||||
| 11 | 10 September 1997 | Westfalenstadion,Dortmund, Germany | Armenia | 3–0 | 4–0 | FIFA World Cup 1998 qualifying |
1. FC Köln
Juventus
Roma
Karlsruher SC
Germany
Individual
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