Wolfgang Rolff
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Rolff is a German
football manager and former player.
, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Bayer 05 Uerdingen, Karlsruher SC
and 1. FC Köln
. He further took part in 126 2nd Bundesliga
matches (23 goals) for OSC Bremerhaven and SC Fortuna Köln
, having a spell in France with RC Strasbourg for whom he scored 4 goals in 30 games in Ligue 2
. In his years with his clubs he won the German Bundesliga title with Hamburg in 1983 and was part of the Hamburg side that clinched the European Cup
against Juventus in Athens
the same summer, five years later he won the UEFA Cup
with Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 1988.
Reputed as a tireless midfielder
, Rolff debuted for West Germany in 1983 and was part of the 1984 UEFA European Football Championship and the 1988 UEFA European Football Championship squad of his nation. On both occasions he featured twice each in games of West Germany, making also two appearances for the West Germans in their runner-up campaign at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
in Mexico. In total he played in 37 caps until 1989.
appointed Rolff as assistant at Hamburger SV
in 1997. In 1998 Rolff took sole charge of SV Meppen
for six months until the clubs relegation from the 2nd Bundesliga
. He went on working as assistant to his former Karlsruhe
manager Winfried Schäfer at VfB Stuttgart
and was, shortly after, named caretaker manager of Die Schwaben. In 2000-2001 he worked in the coaching staff of former Germany
coach Berti Vogts
during Vogts' reign as manager of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, also one of Rolff's ex-clubs. Subsequent to Vogts' departure from Leverkusen in 2001, Rolff worked as assistant to Vogts after Vogts had been hired to guide Kuwait
. Rolff did not follow Vogts to Scotland
, indeed, and was in July 2004 employed by SV Werder Bremen
as assistant manager.
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...
football manager and former player.
Career as player
Wolfgang Rolff played in 356 Bundesliga matches (47 goals) for Hamburger SVHamburger 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...
, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Bayer 05 Uerdingen, Karlsruher SC
Karlsruher SC
Karlsruher SC is a German association football club, based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. KSC rose out of the consolidation of a number of predecessor clubs. They currently play in the 2...
and 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
. He further took part in 126 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...
matches (23 goals) for OSC Bremerhaven and SC Fortuna Köln
SC Fortuna Köln
SC Fortuna Köln is a German association football club playing in the city of Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia.-History:The club was formed as on 21 February 1948 through the merger of three local sides: Victoria Köln 1911 , Bayenthaler SV 1920, and Sparkassen-Verein Köln 1927...
, having a spell in France with RC Strasbourg for whom he scored 4 goals in 30 games in Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
. In his years with his clubs he won the German Bundesliga title with Hamburg in 1983 and was part of the Hamburg side that clinched the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
against Juventus in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
the same summer, five years later he won 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...
with Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 1988.
Reputed as a tireless midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, Rolff debuted for West Germany in 1983 and was part of the 1984 UEFA European Football Championship and the 1988 UEFA European Football Championship squad of his nation. On both occasions he featured twice each in games of West Germany, making also two appearances for the West Germans in their runner-up campaign at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
in Mexico. In total he played in 37 caps until 1989.
Career as manager
His former Hamburg team-mate Felix MagathFelix Magath
Wolfgang-Felix Magath is a former German football central midfielder and current manager of VfL Wolfsburg.-Playing career:...
appointed Rolff as assistant at 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...
in 1997. In 1998 Rolff took sole charge of SV Meppen
SV Meppen
SV Meppen is a German association football club playing in Meppen, Lower Saxony. The club was founded on 29 November 1912 as Amisia Meppen and joined Männer-Turnverein Meppen on 8 February 1920 to form TuS Meppen 1912...
for six months until the clubs relegation from 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...
. He went on working as assistant to his former Karlsruhe
Karlsruher SC
Karlsruher SC is a German association football club, based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. KSC rose out of the consolidation of a number of predecessor clubs. They currently play in the 2...
manager Winfried Schäfer at 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...
and was, shortly after, named caretaker manager of Die Schwaben. In 2000-2001 he worked in the coaching staff of former Germany
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....
coach Berti Vogts
Berti Vogts
Hans-Hubert "Berti" Vogts is a German former footballer. He played for Borussia Mönchengladbach and won the World Cup with West Germany in 1974. He later managed Germany , Scotland and Nigeria...
during Vogts' reign as manager of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, also one of Rolff's ex-clubs. Subsequent to Vogts' departure from Leverkusen in 2001, Rolff worked as assistant to Vogts after Vogts had been hired to guide Kuwait
Kuwait national football team
The Kuwait National Football Team is the national team of Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. They made one World Cup Finals appearance, in 1982, managing a draw with Czechoslovakia but losing to England and France. During the match against France, France scored a goal...
. Rolff did not follow Vogts to Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, indeed, and was in July 2004 employed by 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 assistant manager.
Honours
- European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 1982–83 winner - UEFA Super Cup: 1983 runner-up
- Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 19831983 Intercontinental CupThe 1983 Intercontinental Cup was a football match played on 11 December 1983 between Hamburg, winners of the 1982-83 European Cup, and Grêmio, winners of the 1983 Copa Libertadores. The match was played at the National Stadium in Tokyo, and the German team had only two players on the reserves'...
runner-up - UEFA Cup: 1987–88 winner
- FIFA 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...
: 19861986 FIFA World CupThe 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
runner-up