Jens Todt
Encyclopedia
Jens Todt is a retired German
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
. In 1991, he followed manager Volker Finke
to SC Freiburg
, in the second division
, and the two would eventually gain legendary status at the Black Forest
outfit. In his second season, he scored a career-best 11 goals in 42 games, being instrumental as the club promoted to the Bundesliga
for the first time ever.
Freiburg managed to maintain its top flight status in the following three seasons - finishing third in 1995 - with Todt scoring 14 league goals combined. In the 1996 summer, he signed for SV Werder Bremen
, as a replacement for ageing Dieter Eilts
(31) and Mirko Votava (40), managing to appear regularly for the club during his three-year spell, which ended with German Cup
conquest, with the player missing in the penalty shootout against FC Bayern Munich
(1–1 after 120 minutes) in the final.
Todt subsequently joined VfB Stuttgart
, rarely managing to appear due to injuries and loss of form. He retired in 2003 at the age of 33, with German top division totals of 208 games and 21 goals (plus 101/18 in the second level).
After retiring, Todt worked as a journalist
for Der Spiegel
, joining Hamburger SV
as youth team coordinator shortly after. He left HSV in June 2009, and took up a similar role with VfL Wolfsburg
seven months later.
, his debut coming on 12 October 1994, in a 0–0 friendly draw with Hungary
.
He was called-up to the squad just before the final
of UEFA Euro 1996 as a last-minute addition, due to injuries, but did not play for the eventual champions.
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 who played as a defensive midfielder.
Club career
Todt began playing professionally with TSV HavelseTSV Havelse
TSV Havelse is a German association football club based in Garbsen, Lower Saxony, near Hanover.-History:The club was founded in 1912 as FC Pelikan-Havelse by a group of thirteen young men from the small village of Havelse. They took their name from the maker's brand of the first football purchased...
. In 1991, he followed manager Volker Finke
Volker Finke
Volker Finke is a German football manager and former player. He managed SC Freiburg from July 1991 to May 2007. This made him the longest-serving manager in the history of professional football in Germany...
to SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009...
, in the second division
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...
, and the two would eventually gain legendary status at the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
outfit. In his second season, he scored a career-best 11 goals in 42 games, being instrumental as the club promoted 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...
for the first time ever.
Freiburg managed to maintain its top flight status in the following three seasons - finishing third in 1995 - with Todt scoring 14 league goals combined. In the 1996 summer, he signed for SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
, as a replacement for ageing Dieter Eilts
Dieter Eilts
Dieter Eilts was an acclaimed German footballer and was last the trainer of Hansa Rostock. His nickname was the Alemão of East Frisia, for his similarity with to Brazilian midfielder Alemão...
(31) and Mirko Votava (40), managing to appear regularly for the club during his three-year spell, which ended with 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...
conquest, with the player missing in the penalty shootout against FC 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....
(1–1 after 120 minutes) in the final.
Todt subsequently joined VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
, rarely managing to appear due to injuries and loss of form. He retired in 2003 at the age of 33, with German top division totals of 208 games and 21 goals (plus 101/18 in the second level).
After retiring, Todt worked as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
for Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
, joining Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
as youth team coordinator shortly after. He left HSV in June 2009, and took up a similar role with VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...
seven months later.
International career
Todt earned three caps for the German national teamGermany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
, his debut coming on 12 October 1994, in a 0–0 friendly draw with Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
.
He was called-up to the squad just before the final
UEFA Euro 1996 Final
The UEFA Euro 1996 Final was a football match played on 30 June 1996 at Wembley Stadium in London, England, to determine the winner of UEFA Euro 1996. The match featured tournament favourites, Germany, who knocked out hosts England in the previous round and Czech Republic, playing in only their...
of UEFA Euro 1996 as a last-minute addition, due to injuries, but did not play for the eventual champions.
Club
- Second Division2. 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...
: 1992–93 - German CupDFB-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...
: 1998–99