Lars Ricken facts for kids
Ricken in 2014
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 10 July 1976 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Dortmund, West Germany | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m | |||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Borussia Dortmund (CEO for Sport) | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1982–1986 | TuS Eving-Lindenhorst | |||||||||||||||
| 1986–1990 | Eintracht Dortmund | |||||||||||||||
| 1990–1993 | Borussia Dortmund | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||
| 1993–2007 | Borussia Dortmund | 301 | (49) | |||||||||||||
| 2003–2009 | Borussia Dortmund II | 39 | (8) | |||||||||||||
| Total | 340 | (57) | ||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1998 | Germany U21 | 17 | (8) | |||||||||||||
| 1997–2002 | Germany | 16 | (1) | |||||||||||||
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Honours
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Lars Ricken (born July 10, 1976) is a famous German former football player. He spent his entire professional career playing for Borussia Dortmund. He was a talented attacking midfielder known for his powerful shots and clever passes.
Ricken won many important titles with Borussia Dortmund, including three German league titles (Bundesliga) and the UEFA Champions League. He even scored a memorable goal in the Champions League final. After retiring as a player, he continued to work for the club. He was the youth coordinator for many years and is now the managing director for sport at Borussia Dortmund.
Contents
Lars Ricken's Football Journey
Lars Ricken was born in Dortmund, Germany. He joined the local club, Borussia Dortmund, when he was very young. He quickly showed great talent.
Early Career and Bundesliga Debut
Ricken made his first appearance in the Bundesliga, Germany's top football league, on March 8, 1994. He was not even 18 years old yet! This made him the youngest player to ever play for Borussia Dortmund in an official match at the time. He soon became a regular player for the team.
Champions League Hero
One of Ricken's most famous moments happened in the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League final. Borussia Dortmund was playing against the strong Italian team, Juventus FC. Ricken came into the game as a substitute. Just 16 seconds later, he scored an amazing long-distance goal! This goal helped Dortmund win the Champions League trophy, which was a huge achievement for the club. He also helped his team win two German league titles in a row (1994–1996).
Playing for Germany
Ricken also played for the Germany national football team. He earned his first cap (played his first game) for Germany in September 1997. He was part of the German squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Germany reached the final of that tournament, but Ricken did not get to play in any matches.
Challenges and Retirement
After the World Cup, Ricken faced some tough times with injuries. These injuries made it difficult for him to play consistently. In 2007, he announced that he was retiring from professional football. He even tried to play in the United States for a short time, but decided to return to Dortmund.
Life After Playing: A New Role at Dortmund
Even after he stopped playing, Lars Ricken remained a very important part of Borussia Dortmund. In 2008, he became the youth coordinator for the club. In this role, he helped develop young football talents. He worked in this position for many years, guiding the next generation of players.
In April 2024, Lars Ricken was given an even bigger role. He became the CEO for Sport at Borussia Dortmund. This means he now helps lead the club's sports decisions and future plans.
Honours and Achievements
Lars Ricken achieved many great things during his football career.
Borussia Dortmund
- Bundesliga:
- 1994–95
- 1995–96
- 2001–02
- DFB-Supercup:
- 1995
- 1996
- UEFA Champions League: 1996–97
- Intercontinental Cup: 1997
- UEFA Cup runner-up: 2002
Germany
- FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2002
Images for kids
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Ricken training with Borussia Dortmund in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Lars Ricken para niños
- List of one-club men
