Jörg Albertz
Encyclopedia
Jörg Albertz is a retired German
professional footballer
. Between 1996 and 1998 he played three international games for the German national football team
.
. His first professional contract was signed in 1990 for Fortuna Düsseldorf
, where he earned himself the nickname The Hammer for his powerful long range shots. When the team from the Rhineland were relegated to the second tier of the Bundesliga, Albertz moved to Hamburger SV
where he soon became the public hero of the team. Two seasons later he became the club captain.
In 1996 Albertz signed for Scottish Premier League
club Rangers
for £4m, and he helped them to their ninth championship title in a row and scored a famous free-kick against rivals Celtic
in January 1997. Albertz became a huge favourite with the Rangers fans; however, after the departure of manager Walter Smith
in June 1998, he was frequently left out of the starting line-up by the incoming Dick Advocaat
. At Rangers, Albertz became a Scottish championship winner in 1997, 1999, and 2000, before returning to Hamburger SV in 2001, later citing Advocaat as the main reason for his departure from Ibrox
. Despite the hype of his return, he was unable to live up to the hopes that people had on his shoulders, and before the beginning of season 2002–03 he transferred to Shanghai Shenhua
, a team from China
.
Having had a moderately successful spell in China, Albertz moved back to Germany in 2004, his re-initiation into the German game coming with Greuther Fürth
. On the receiving end of many injuries, he switched to Fortuna Düsseldorf
once again, where he retired at the end of the 2006–07 season.
On 11 March 2008, Albertz confirmed he was training with Clyde
with a view to a short-term move, to help out Clyde manager and former Rangers team-mate John Brown. Albertz signed for Clyde on 14 March 2008.
He made his debut the following day, scoring a trademark free kick in a 1–1 draw with Stirling Albion
. He scored Clyde's winning goal with another free kick in an important 2–1 victory over St Johnstone
on 25 March, to lift Clyde out of the relegation play-off zone. After helping Clyde stay in the Scottish First Division via the playoffs, Albertz went into retirement once again, after making eight appearances for the club, scoring twice.
In 2008 Albertz played for a Rangers
select 11 to play Northern Irish side Linfield
for the testimonial
of Linfield star William Murphy
.
Shanghai Shenhua
Clyde F.C.
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...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. Between 1996 and 1998 he played three international games for the German national football team
Germany 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....
.
Career
As both a youth player and apprentice he played for PSV Mönchengladbach and Borussia MönchengladbachBorussia 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...
. His first professional contract was signed in 1990 for 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...
, where he earned himself the nickname The Hammer for his powerful long range shots. When the team from the Rhineland were relegated to the second tier of the Bundesliga, Albertz moved to 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...
where he soon became the public hero of the team. Two seasons later he became the club captain.
In 1996 Albertz signed for Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
for £4m, and he helped them to their ninth championship title in a row and scored a famous free-kick against rivals Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in January 1997. Albertz became a huge favourite with the Rangers fans; however, after the departure of manager Walter Smith
Walter Smith
Walter Smith, OBE is a Scottish football manager. His most recent job was at Scottish Premier League club Rangers.Smith had a relatively modest playing career, consisting of two spells with Dundee United which was split by a short time at Dumbarton.A pelvic injury meant he moved in to coaching at...
in June 1998, he was frequently left out of the starting line-up by the incoming Dick Advocaat
Dick Advocaat
Dirk Nicolaas "Dick" Advocaat is a Dutch football manager and former player currently the manager of the Russia national football team.He has been moderately successful as a football player and as a coach, which included two stints with the Dutch national football team...
. At Rangers, Albertz became a Scottish championship winner in 1997, 1999, and 2000, before returning to Hamburger SV in 2001, later citing Advocaat as the main reason for his departure from Ibrox
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
. Despite the hype of his return, he was unable to live up to the hopes that people had on his shoulders, and before the beginning of season 2002–03 he transferred to Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai Shenhua is a professional Chinese football club currently playing in Chinese Super League. The club is currently owned by Zhu Jun , Shanghai SVA Group, SMEG and Huangpu Investment Ltd. . The current head coach is Dražen Besek...
, a team from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Having had a moderately successful spell in China, Albertz moved back to Germany in 2004, his re-initiation into the German game coming with Greuther Fürth
SpVgg Greuther Fürth
SpVgg Greuther Fürth is a German association football club based in Fürth, Bavaria. The club was formed when the senior football side of newcomer Turn- und Sportverein Vestenbergsgreuth joined traditional club Spielvereinigung Fürth on 1 July 1996...
. On the receiving end of many injuries, he switched to 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...
once again, where he retired at the end of the 2006–07 season.
On 11 March 2008, Albertz confirmed he was training with Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
with a view to a short-term move, to help out Clyde manager and former Rangers team-mate John Brown. Albertz signed for Clyde on 14 March 2008.
He made his debut the following day, scoring a trademark free kick in a 1–1 draw with Stirling Albion
Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
. He scored Clyde's winning goal with another free kick in an important 2–1 victory over St Johnstone
St Johnstone F.C.
St. Johnstone F.C. is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, the club did not play its first game until February 1885. The club's home since 1989 has been McDiarmid Park....
on 25 March, to lift Clyde out of the relegation play-off zone. After helping Clyde stay in the Scottish First Division via the playoffs, Albertz went into retirement once again, after making eight appearances for the club, scoring twice.
In 2008 Albertz played for a Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
select 11 to play Northern Irish side Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
for the testimonial
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
of Linfield star William Murphy
William Murphy (footballer)
William "Winkie" Murphy is a semi-professional footballer from Northern Ireland who plays for Linfield.-Early life:William was born in Belfast, and studied Electronic Engineering at Newtownabbey Technical College, prior to playing as a part-time footballer.-Club career:Murphy previously played...
.
Honours
RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
- Scottish League Championships (3):
- 1997, 1999, 2000
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
(2):- 1999, 2000
- Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
(2):- 1997, 1999
Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai Shenhua
Shanghai Shenhua is a professional Chinese football club currently playing in Chinese Super League. The club is currently owned by Zhu Jun , Shanghai SVA Group, SMEG and Huangpu Investment Ltd. . The current head coach is Dražen Besek...
- Chinese Jia-A LeagueChinese Jia-A LeagueThe National Football Jia A League , commonly known as Jia-A , was the highest tier of professional football in the People's Republic of China, during 1994 through 2003, operating under the auspices of the Chinese Football Association.The Chinese Professional Football League was established in 1994...
(1):- 2003, 2004
Clyde F.C.
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
- Scottish 1st Division Play-Off (1):
- 2007–08
Personal awards and achievements
- Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
Player of the Month: May 2001 - Chinese Jia-A LeagueChinese Jia-A LeagueThe National Football Jia A League , commonly known as Jia-A , was the highest tier of professional football in the People's Republic of China, during 1994 through 2003, operating under the auspices of the Chinese Football Association.The Chinese Professional Football League was established in 1994...
Player of the Year: 2003