Frank Mill
Encyclopedia
Frank Mill was a German
footballer and part of the 1990 FIFA World Cup
winning squad of West Germany. Further, he participated at the 1984
and at the 1988 Summer Olympics
, where he won the bronze medal with the German team.
in his prime, the son of a junk dealer
started his career at the age of six at local side Eintracht Essen before he joined the youth ranks of Essen
's biggest club, Rot-Weiss Essen
, in 1972. Starting job training to become a florist, his mother owned a flower shop, Mill signed his first professional contract with Rot-Weiss
in 1976. Essen was a Bundesliga
side in his debut season, a campaign in which those three goals he banged in total 19 appearances couldn't avoid their drop down to 2. Bundesliga Nord
. In that division he grew to a reliable hitman, scoring 71 goals for Rot-Weiss (at times alongside Horst Hrubesch
) until the end of the 1981 season, forty of those just in his 38 appearances of 1979–80. A tally that identified him as the topscorer of 2. Bundesliga Nord and easily made him a chased starlet. A move to Borussia Mönchengladbach
under manager Jupp Heynckes
brought him back to top level Bundesliga
in 1981.
At Mönchengladbach he kept on scoring, netting fourteen in his first year under contract. Only eight months into his life at Bökelberg he got called up by Jupp Derwall to represent Germany for the first time in his career. On 21 March 1982, he featured in a friendly against Brazil
in Rio de Janeiro
. A back injury forced him out of contention for the West German squad for the 1982 FIFA World Cup
tournament. The mentioned injury hampered his scoring spree slightly for just the then next season. During 1983–84 he was back on top of Mönchengladbach's scoring, firing nineteen goals past opposite goalkeepers in the Bundesliga. Missing out on the Bundesliga
title with his club just on the final day and only on goal difference, the striker had to deal with a second major blow as Mönchengladbach also lost the German Cup
final that summer, on penalties against Bayern Munich
(with his Bayern Munich
-bound team-mate Lothar Matthäus
failing to score from the spot in the shoot-out). Mill scored the only Mönchengladbach goal in normal time in that match.
Later that summer he participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics
and was still Borussia Mönchengladbach
's best striker when fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund
persuaded him to switch over to them at the end of the 1985–86 Bundesliga season. As Mönchengladbach was receiving adequate compensation (1.3 million DM) for his services, a transfer was worked out. Still, the move remained somewhat in the balance for a couple of weeks as troubled Dortmund had to go through three relegation play-off's that summer to ensure their Bundesliga future. Particularly Mill inspired Dortmund to a less troubled 1986–87 season, the striker's seventeen goals in thirty-one appearances in the Bundesliga that year helped Dortmund up to a fourth place finish and a berth in the UEFA Cup
the following season.
His scoring punch made him a popular figure at Westfalenstadion
immediately and subsequently earned him the role of team captain, outside his club he was part of the squad of the host nation at Euro 1988
. Increasingly popular and seen as a role model, a disagreement over his captaincy and his role within the Dortmund squad between the chairman, Dr. Gerd Niebaum, and the team manager, Reinhard Saftig
, resulted in a change of manager at the club with Saftig's successor, Horst Köppel
, leaving no doubt over him having the same point of view as the chairman regarding Mill's role for the club's first-team.
Mill looked a bit out of form after Köppel's take over, he had won bronze with Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in late summer 1988, and his once so impressive scoring quota faded. Still, he remained an important player for his club and was, kind of subsequently, part of the Dortmund team that lifted the German Cup
trophy in 1989, beating bookie-favourites Werder Bremen in the final. At that time Mill was kind of an ageing marksman, but somehow still recognized by Franz Beckenbauer
to still play a part in Die Nationalmannschaft and so he won a spot in the West German squad for the 1990 World Cup
. A shrewd taker of any blunder an opponent was willing to concede inside the penalty-box, his reputation as one of the best strikers of his time helped 'Frankie' being part of the German squad there. With proven Rudi Völler
and youngsters Jürgen Klinsmann
and Karlheinz Riedle
all well in front of him in Beckenbauer's striker thoughts, Mill stayed the unused fourth-choice striker in those successful Italian weeks of German football.
On club level his fading punch in front of the goal saw him going through a proper transformation from the scorer to the assist winner, but this couldn't stop him from getting more and more on the fringes of the Borussia Dortmund
first-team. In 1991, Köppel departed as manager and his successor at the helm of Dortmund's coaching, then fameless Ottmar Hitzfeld
, started to set his stamp on the development of the club. With Stephane Chapuisat and Flemming Povlsen
Hitzfeld's regular picks in the Dortmund frontline, Mill was more and more handed a sub-role and, at the end of Hitzfeld's debut season in charge of the club, missing out on the Bundesliga
title again. For the second time in his career and, again, just on goal difference and due to final day action.
Still the fan favourite at Westfalenstadion
, Mill saw out his deal with the club in 1994 to join promoted Fortuna Düsseldorf
in the 2nd Bundesliga
. There he enjoyed two more seasons in the game, scoring five times in his first season at Rheinstadion
, efforts that helped Fortuna
returning to the Bundesliga
. His final twelve months as a professional, the 1995–96 season, saw him having a bright start with two goals in the first three matches. He couldn't add any more in the final 26 appearances for Düsseldorf
and though his final Bundesliga total was 123 goals in 387 appearances for Borussia Mönchengladbach
, Borussia Dortmund
and Fortuna Düsseldorf
.
Short after the end of his career, Fortuna Düsseldorf
offered him a role as a director in their management. A role he later left by mutual consent following bad success.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
footballer and part of the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
winning squad of West Germany. Further, he participated at the 1984
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
and at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, where he won the bronze medal with the German team.
Biography
A clinical strikerStriker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
in his prime, the son of a junk dealer
Waste
Waste is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms, metabolic waste; such as urea, sweat or feces. Litter is waste which has been disposed of improperly...
started his career at the age of six at local side Eintracht Essen before he joined the youth ranks of Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
's biggest club, Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen is a German association football club based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- Early years :The club was formed as SV Vogelheim on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: SC Preussen and Deutsche Eiche. In 1910, Vogelheim came to an arrangement with Turnerbund...
, in 1972. Starting job training to become a florist, his mother owned a flower shop, Mill signed his first professional contract with Rot-Weiss
Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen is a German association football club based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- Early years :The club was formed as SV Vogelheim on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: SC Preussen and Deutsche Eiche. In 1910, Vogelheim came to an arrangement with Turnerbund...
in 1976. Essen was a Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
side in his debut season, a campaign in which those three goals he banged in total 19 appearances couldn't avoid their drop down to 2. Bundesliga Nord
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
. In that division he grew to a reliable hitman, scoring 71 goals for Rot-Weiss (at times alongside Horst Hrubesch
Horst Hrubesch
Horst Hrubesch is a retired German football player employed as a youth trainer at the German Football Association. His nickname was Das Kopfball-Ungeheuer for his heading skills.-Career:...
) until the end of the 1981 season, forty of those just in his 38 appearances of 1979–80. A tally that identified him as the topscorer of 2. Bundesliga Nord and easily made him a chased starlet. A move to Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
under manager Jupp Heynckes
Jupp Heynckes
Josef "Jupp" Heynckes is a German football coach and former player. As player he belonged to the core of the team of Borussia Mönchengladbach in its golden era of the 1960s and 1970s where he won many national championships and the Cup as well as the UEFA Cup...
brought him back to top level Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
in 1981.
At Mönchengladbach he kept on scoring, netting fourteen in his first year under contract. Only eight months into his life at Bökelberg he got called up by Jupp Derwall to represent Germany for the first time in his career. On 21 March 1982, he featured in a friendly against Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. A back injury forced him out of contention for the West German squad for the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
tournament. The mentioned injury hampered his scoring spree slightly for just the then next season. During 1983–84 he was back on top of Mönchengladbach's scoring, firing nineteen goals past opposite goalkeepers in the Bundesliga. Missing out on the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
title with his club just on the final day and only on goal difference, the striker had to deal with a second major blow as Mönchengladbach also lost the German Cup
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
final that summer, on penalties against Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
(with his Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
-bound team-mate Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Matthäus
Lothar Herbert Matthäus , is a German football manager and former player.In 1990, he was named European Footballer of the Year and World Soccer Player of the Year after captaining West Germany to victory in the 1990 World Cup...
failing to score from the spot in the shoot-out). Mill scored the only Mönchengladbach goal in normal time in that match.
Later that summer he participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
and was still Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
's best striker when fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
persuaded him to switch over to them at the end of the 1985–86 Bundesliga season. As Mönchengladbach was receiving adequate compensation (1.3 million DM) for his services, a transfer was worked out. Still, the move remained somewhat in the balance for a couple of weeks as troubled Dortmund had to go through three relegation play-off's that summer to ensure their Bundesliga future. Particularly Mill inspired Dortmund to a less troubled 1986–87 season, the striker's seventeen goals in thirty-one appearances in the Bundesliga that year helped Dortmund up to a fourth place finish and a berth in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
the following season.
His scoring punch made him a popular figure at Westfalenstadion
Westfalenstadion
Westfalenstadion is an association football stadium in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the home stadium of the Borussia Dortmund football team playing in the German Bundesliga....
immediately and subsequently earned him the role of team captain, outside his club he was part of the squad of the host nation at Euro 1988
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
. Increasingly popular and seen as a role model, a disagreement over his captaincy and his role within the Dortmund squad between the chairman, Dr. Gerd Niebaum, and the team manager, Reinhard Saftig
Reinhard Saftig
Reinhard Saftig is a German football manager.Saftig has served as head coach of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Hannover 96, VfL Bochum, and Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga.-Career:...
, resulted in a change of manager at the club with Saftig's successor, Horst Köppel
Horst Köppel
Horst Köppel is a German football manager and former player, who last worked as Head coach for FC Ingolstadt 04.-Player:* UEFA Euro 1972 winner.* European Cup runner-up: 1977.* UEFA Cup winner: 1975, 1979....
, leaving no doubt over him having the same point of view as the chairman regarding Mill's role for the club's first-team.
Mill looked a bit out of form after Köppel's take over, he had won bronze with Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in late summer 1988, and his once so impressive scoring quota faded. Still, he remained an important player for his club and was, kind of subsequently, part of the Dortmund team that lifted the German Cup
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
trophy in 1989, beating bookie-favourites Werder Bremen in the final. At that time Mill was kind of an ageing marksman, but somehow still recognized by Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
to still play a part in Die Nationalmannschaft and so he won a spot in the West German squad for the 1990 World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
. A shrewd taker of any blunder an opponent was willing to concede inside the penalty-box, his reputation as one of the best strikers of his time helped 'Frankie' being part of the German squad there. With proven Rudi Völler
Rudi Völler
Rudolf 'Rudi' Völler is a German former international football striker, and a former manager of the German national team...
and youngsters Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann is a German football manager and former player who is currently the coach of the United States Men's National Team. As a player, Klinsmann played for several prominent clubs in Europe and was part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the German one that...
and Karlheinz Riedle
Karlheinz Riedle
Karl-Heinz "Air" Riedle is a former German professional footballer, who won the FIFA World Cup with West Germany in 1990 and the UEFA Champions League in 1997 with Borussia Dortmund. Riedle ended his international career with 42 caps and 16 goals.Riedle's youth clubs are TSV Ellhofen and SV Weiler...
all well in front of him in Beckenbauer's striker thoughts, Mill stayed the unused fourth-choice striker in those successful Italian weeks of German football.
On club level his fading punch in front of the goal saw him going through a proper transformation from the scorer to the assist winner, but this couldn't stop him from getting more and more on the fringes of the Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
first-team. In 1991, Köppel departed as manager and his successor at the helm of Dortmund's coaching, then fameless Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld is a German former football player and manager, nicknamed der General ....
, started to set his stamp on the development of the club. With Stephane Chapuisat and Flemming Povlsen
Flemming Povlsen
Flemming Søgaard Povlsen is a Danish former professional football player who most notably played as a striker for Borussia Dortmund in Germany.-Career:...
Hitzfeld's regular picks in the Dortmund frontline, Mill was more and more handed a sub-role and, at the end of Hitzfeld's debut season in charge of the club, missing out on the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
title again. For the second time in his career and, again, just on goal difference and due to final day action.
Still the fan favourite at Westfalenstadion
Westfalenstadion
Westfalenstadion is an association football stadium in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the home stadium of the Borussia Dortmund football team playing in the German Bundesliga....
, Mill saw out his deal with the club in 1994 to join promoted Fortuna Düsseldorf
Fortuna Düsseldorf
' is a German association football club based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the second tier of German league football, the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga...
in the 2nd Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
. There he enjoyed two more seasons in the game, scoring five times in his first season at Rheinstadion
Rheinstadion
The Rheinstadion was a multi-purpose stadium, in Düsseldorf, Germany. The stadium was built, near the Rhine, in 1926 and held 55,900 people, at the end of its life....
, efforts that helped Fortuna
Fortuna Düsseldorf
' is a German association football club based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the second tier of German league football, the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga...
returning to the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
. His final twelve months as a professional, the 1995–96 season, saw him having a bright start with two goals in the first three matches. He couldn't add any more in the final 26 appearances for Düsseldorf
Fortuna Düsseldorf
' is a German association football club based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the second tier of German league football, the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga...
and though his final Bundesliga total was 123 goals in 387 appearances for Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
, Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
and Fortuna Düsseldorf
Fortuna Düsseldorf
' is a German association football club based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the second tier of German league football, the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga...
.
Short after the end of his career, Fortuna Düsseldorf
Fortuna Düsseldorf
' is a German association football club based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the second tier of German league football, the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga...
offered him a role as a director in their management. A role he later left by mutual consent following bad success.
Honours
- DFB-PokalDFB-PokalThe DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
(1): 1988–89; Runner-up 1983–84 - World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
(1): 19901990 FIFA World CupThe 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated... - UEFA Cup: Runner-up 1992–93
- OlympicsFootball at the Summer OlympicsAssociation football, usually known simply as football or soccer, has been included in every Olympiad except 1896 and 1932 as a men's competition sport. Women's football was added to the official programme in 1996.-Early history:...
: Bronze Medal: 1988Football at the 1988 Summer OlympicsFinal results for the football competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics. The tournament was held from September 17, 1988 to October 1, 1988.-Medal summary:...