Rudi Völler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rudi Völler

Völler in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Rudolf Völler
Date of birth	(1960-04-13) 13 April 1960 (age 65)
Place of birth	Hanau, West Germany
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Germany (director)
Youth career
1966–1975	TSV Hanau
1975–1977	Kickers Offenbach
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1977–1980	Kickers Offenbach	79	(23)
1980–1982	1860 Munich	74	(49)
1982–1987	Werder Bremen	174	(119)
1987–1992	Roma	198	(68)
1992–1994	Marseille	73	(28)
1994–1996	Bayer Leverkusen	75	(31)
Total		673	(318)
International career
1979–1982	West Germany U21	19	(10)
1980	West Germany B	3	(0)
1982–1994	West Germany/Germany	90	(47)
Managerial career
1996–2000	Bayer Leverkusen (sporting director)
2000	Bayer Leverkusen
2000–2004	Germany
2004	Roma
2005	Bayer Leverkusen
2005–2022	Bayer Leverkusen (sporting director)
2023–	Germany (director)
2023	Germany (caretaker)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Germany FIFA World Cup Winner 1990 Italy Runner-up 1986 Mexico UEFA European Championship 1992 Sweden
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rudolf "Rudi" Völler (born 13 April 1960) is a famous German football manager and former player. He is currently a director for the German national team. People in Germany sometimes call him "Tante Käthe" (Aunt Kathy). In Italy, fans of Roma called him "Il tedesco volante" (The flying German).

Rudi Völler played as a forward. He started his career at Kickers Offenbach. Later, he joined 1860 Munich and was the top scorer in the 2. Bundesliga in the 1981–82 season. He then played for Werder Bremen, where he scored many goals. He was the top scorer in the Bundesliga in the 1982–83 season.

Völler moved to play in other countries. He played for Serie A club Roma in Italy and then for Ligue 1 club Olympique Marseille in France. With Roma, he won the Coppa Italia cup. He also reached the final of the UEFA Cup in 1991. With Marseille, he won the French league title and the Champions League in 1993. However, Marseille later faced a controversial situation and lost their league title. They were also moved down to a lower division in 1994. After this, Völler returned to Germany. He finished his playing career at Bayer Leverkusen.

Rudi Völler first played for the German national team, then called West Germany, in 1982. He played in three FIFA World Cups and three UEFA European Championships. This was a very successful time for the German team. Völler played in two World Cup finals in a row, both against Argentina. He helped Germany win the World Cup trophy in 1990. When he stopped playing in 1994, he was Germany's second-highest goal scorer.

After he stopped playing, Völler became a manager and director. He managed the German national team and led them to the 2002 FIFA World Cup final. He is one of only a few people to reach a World Cup final as both a player and a manager.

Playing Career Highlights

Rudi Völler began his football journey with 1860 Hanau. He then played for teams in the second division, Kickers Offenbach and TSV 1860 Munich. In 1982, he joined Bundesliga club Werder Bremen. This was also the year he first played for West Germany.

Success in Germany

Völler had a great season in 1982–83. He was the top scorer in the Bundesliga. This made many foreign clubs interested in him. He was known for scoring many goals consistently.

Moving to Italy and France

In 1987, Völler moved to Roma in Italy. He became a very important player for the team. Fans gave him the nickname "Il tedesco volante," meaning "the flying German." He won the Coppa Italia with Roma in 1991. He was also the top scorer for the club many times.

In 1992, Völler joined Marseille in France. He helped them win the UEFA Champions League in 1993. This was a huge achievement for the club. However, Marseille later faced a controversial situation. They were stripped of their 1993 league title and moved down to a lower division in 1994. Völler scored 24 league goals for Marseille before he left. He then returned to Germany and joined Bayer Leverkusen in 1994. He finished his playing career there in 1996.

International Career Highlights

Rudi Völler played 90 times for the German national team. He scored 47 goals for his country. Eight of these goals were scored in World Cup tournaments.

Early International Success

In 1982, Völler played for West Germany's Under-21 team. He was named the best player of the 1982 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He scored four goals in that tournament, and Germany finished second.

He made his first appearance for the senior West Germany team in 1982. This was during a qualifying match for the UEFA Euro 1984. He scored his first national team goal in the next qualifying game. At the Euro 1984 tournament, he scored both goals in Germany's 2–1 win against Romania.

World Cup Finals

At the 1986 FIFA World Cup, Völler scored a goal against Scotland in the group stage. He also scored a goal against France in the semi-final, helping Germany win 2–0. In the final against Argentina, he scored a goal to tie the game 2–2. However, Germany eventually lost 3–2.

Germany hosted the UEFA Euro 1988. Völler scored two goals in a 2–0 win against Spain. But the team lost to the Netherlands in the semi-final.

Völler was a key player in the team that won the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He scored three goals in the tournament. This included one goal against Yugoslavia and two goals against the United Arab Emirates.

The Rijkaard Incident

During a match against the Netherlands in the 1990 World Cup, Völler and Dutch player Frank Rijkaard were both sent off. There was a misunderstanding between them. Rijkaard later said it was his fault and apologized to Völler. They even appeared in a funny advertisement together years later, showing they had no hard feelings.

Völler was chosen for the UEFA Euro 1992 but had to leave early due to an injury. At the 1994 World Cup, he scored two goals in a 3–2 win against Belgium. His last game for the national team was on 10 July 1994, in a quarter-final loss to Bulgaria.

Managerial Career

Völler signing a book in his hometown, Hanau, in 2002.

After the UEFA Euro 2000 tournament, Rudi Völler was appointed as the new manager for the German national team. Even though he didn't have much coaching experience, he took on the role. He was initially meant to be a temporary manager. However, he stayed on because of good results and other events.

Leading Germany to the World Cup Final

Despite some tough matches, Völler successfully led the German team to the final of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. This was a big surprise to many. Germany played against Brazil in the final but lost. Völler is one of only a few people who have reached a World Cup final as both a player and a manager.

After Germany exited the UEFA Euro 2004 in the group stage, Völler resigned as manager.

Return to Club Management and Director Roles

After leaving the national team, Völler had a short time as manager for his former club, Roma, in 2004. He later returned to Bayer Leverkusen. He was briefly an interim manager there again in 2005. After that, he became the club's sporting director for the second time. He held this position until 2022.

Völler in 2009

Rudi Völler has always been very popular in Germany. Even when the national team didn't have the best results, people still liked him. They knew he was doing his best with the players he had. In February 2023, Völler was appointed as the director of the Germany national team. In September 2023, he briefly stepped in as interim manager for a friendly match against France, which Germany won 2–1.

Personal Life

Rudi Völler has two children with his first wife, Angela. One of his children, Marco, is a basketball executive and former professional player. In 1995, Rudi married a woman from Rome, Italy. He adopted her daughter and they had another son together.

Honours

Rudi Völler achieved many great things in his football career, both as a player and as a manager.

Player Achievements

• Roma

* Coppa Italia: 1990–91 * UEFA Cup runner-up: 1990–91

• Marseille

* UEFA Champions League: 1992–93

• Germany

* FIFA World Cup: 1990 (Winner); 1986 (Runner-up) * UEFA European Championship runner-up: 1992

Individual Awards

• UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Golden Player: 1982
• 2. Bundesliga Top Goalscorer: 1981–82
• Bundesliga Top Goalscorer: 1982–83
• Footballer of the Year (Germany): 1983
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 1984
• UEFA Cup Top Goalscorer: 1990–91
• AS Roma Hall of Fame: 2014

Manager Achievements

• Germany

* FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2002

Images for kids

• 

  Völler signing a book in his hometown, Hanau, in 2002.

• 

  Völler in 2009

See also

In Spanish: Rudi Völler para niños