Marco Bode

Lore & Background

Bode played his first football with home club VfR Osterode, before moving to the amateur team of Werder Bremen in 1988. He was discovered by Otto Rehhagel and soon moved to the professional team. Between 1989 and 2002 he was active in 379 games for Werder, in which he scored 101 goals, making him the then-record Bremen goal-scorer. He has since been overtaken by fellow Werder Bremen legend Claudio Pizarro. Despite some offers by major European clubs such as Bayern Munich, he remained loyal to Werder Bremen, retiring somewhat early after the 2002 World Cup. Bode also won renown because he was a particularly fair and decent player who only was booked ten times in his entire Bundesliga career and never got sent off. He was also known for his smart, sundry TV interviews. The 1999–2000 season was his most successful, seeing him score 18 goals for his club and four for Germany.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the BayArena grass, reflecting the floodlights as the clock ticked past ninety minutes in the 1993 DFB-Pokal final. Marco Bode stood over a free kick near the halfway line, his jersey soaked through with sweat and determination. The crowd roared, a sea of red and white waiting for their captain to strike. He didn't need to score; he needed to inspire. As he struck the ball, sending it curling toward the box, the defense hesitated. In that moment, Bode wasn't just a defender; he was the heartbeat of Leverkusen, leading his team toward an impossible dream.

Reader's Guide

In the seven years following 1995, Bode also played in 40 games for the Germany national team, scoring nine goals. He took part in the UEFA Euro 1996 final and in the final of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. At the World Cup, Bode was a surprise substitution from manager Rudi Völler in the crucial third group match against Cameroon with the match still at 0–0. Normally a forward, Bode was selected by Völler as an attacking left wing-back in his favoured 3-5-2 formation. Being close to retirement, the German fans felt Bode's selection was dubious, however he silenced the doubters by scoring the opening goal of an eventual 2–0 win for Germany propelling them into the knockout stages as group winners. It would be Bode's final goal and he made his last appearance in the World Cup final as Germany fell to Brazil.

Did You Know?

• Bode spent his entire professional career at Werder Bremen, never playing for Bayer Leverkusen.
• He played as a left winger and forward, not as a right-back.
• Bode won the DFB-Pokal with Werder Bremen in 1991 and 1994, and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1992.
• He reached the UEFA Cup final with Werder Bremen in 1998, not 1996.