Jürgen Klinsmann
World Cup winner and honorary captain of Germany, known for scoring in every major tournament from Euro 1988 to the 1998 World Cup.
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Jürgen Klinsmann is a German former player and manager. He was part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the unified German team that won the UEFA Euro 1996. Considered one of Germany's premier strikers during the 1990s, Klinsmann scored in all six major international tournaments he participated in for Germany, from UEFA Euro 1988 to the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In March 2004 he was named in the FIFA 100 list of the "125 Greatest Living Footballers". In 2016, he became the fifth player to be named as honorary captain of Germany.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 30 July 1964
- Birthplace
- Göppingen, West Germany
- Height
- 1.81 m / 5 ft 11 in
- Position
- Striker
Lore & Background
Klinsmann debuted for the West German senior squad on 12 December 1987 in a 1–1 friendly draw against Brazil. He was an important part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In the round of 16 against the Netherlands, after Rudi Völler was sent off in the 22nd minute, Klinsmann was forced to play as a lone striker. He scored the 1–0 opener, and German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote that "In the last decade, not a single forward of a DFB team has offered such a brilliant, almost perfect performance." After further victories over Czechoslovakia (1–0) and England (1–1 after extra time, 4–3 on penalties), he became a world champion after beating Argentina 1–0 in the final. Klinsmann is remembered for being fouled by Argentinian Pedro Monzón, who was sent off. In a 2004 interview, Klinsmann noted that the foul left a 15 cm gash on his shin. His last international tournament with Germany was the 1998 FIFA World Cup, in which they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Croatia.
Reader's Guide
Jürgen Klinsmann's international career spanned from his debut on 12 December 1987 to his final tournament at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He was an important part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup, scoring the opening goal in the round of 16 against the Netherlands while playing as a lone striker after Rudi Völler's red card. He also played for the unified German team that won the UEFA Euro 1996. Klinsmann scored in all six major international tournaments he participated in for Germany, from UEFA Euro 1988 to the 1998 FIFA World Cup. His last international tournament was the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where Germany was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Croatia.
Did You Know?
- In the 1990 World Cup round of 16, after Rudi Völler was sent off in the 22nd minute, Klinsmann played as a lone striker and scored the 1–0 opener against the Netherlands.
- Klinsmann noted in a 2004 interview that the foul by Pedro Monzón in the 1990 World Cup final left a 15 cm gash on his shin.
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