FACTFILE
|
Born: |
25 Sep 1955 |
Caps: |
95 |
Goals: |
45 |
|
--
WORLD
CUP FACTFILE
|
Beaten
finalist
1982 and 1986
Participated
1978, 1982,
1986
Games/Goals
19/9
|
--
|
Karl-Heinz
Rummenigge
(West Germany)

Arguably Germany's greatest player in the post-Beckenbauer era,
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge followed in the footsteps of Helmut Rahn, Uwe Seeler and Gerd Müller
making sure West Germany's world class coverage up front was maintained. "Kalle" was born in Lippstadt
in 1955 and played for the local club Borussia Lippstadt until he was 18 years old and discovered
by Bayern Munich.
His move to Bayern forced him to give up his job as a bank clerk and concentrate fully on
football. It paid off. Rummenigge was a member of Bayern's 1976 European Cup champions and soon
earned a place on the national team squad. Coach Helmut Schön picked him for the World Cup in Argentina 1978 and
Kalle was one of few players who impressed in the tournament which saw West Germany bow out already in the
second phase.
By the 1982 World Cup in Spain, Rummenigge had established himself as one
of the superstars in the game. Twice European Player of the Year, 1980 and 1981, and member of
West Germany's European Championship winning team in 1980, most experts predicted Rummenigge - alongside
Maradona - to be the star of the tournament. Kneeproblems prevented him from performing up to his
full potential and manager Jupp Derwall used him sparingly. His memorable contribution when coming off the
bench in the classic semifinal against France was the highlight of that World Cup along with his
hat-trick against Chile. West Germany went from 3-1 down to equalize and later beat the French on penalties. Rummenigge
first reduced the lead to 3-2 and then featured in the attack which saw Klaus Fischer equalize. A
tired German team could not beat Italy in the final though and lost 3-1.
Rummenigge picked up his third league topscorer title in 1984
and moved south to Italy and Inter Milan after ten years with Bayern where he had netted 162
times in 314 Bundesliga appearances. Most world stars played
in Italy at the time and Rummenigge stayed for three years with mixed success.
The World Cup in 1986 would end his international career. Rummenigge was once again not fully
fit, but Franz Beckenbauer - now coach - was determined to bring him to Mexico. He featured in all
matches, mostly as a substitute, as West Germany once again reached the final. Kalle was captain (52nd time)
in his 95th and last international against Argentina in the Azteca stadium. Argentina ran out 3-2
winners - Rummenigge scored one of the West German goals - and became the first captain to lose
two World Cup finals. He spent the last couple of seasons in Switzerland with Servette Genf
before retiring in 1989.
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