Matthias Sammer

Matthias Sammer (German pronunciation: [maˈtiːas ˈzamɐ]; born 5 September 1967) is a German football official and former player and coach. He played as a defensive midfielder and later in his career as a sweeper.

Matthias Sammer

Sammer in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth	(1967-09-05) 5 September 1967 (age 56)
Place of birth	Dresden, East Germany
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)^[1]
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder Sweeper
Youth career
1976–1985	Dynamo Dresden
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1985–1990	Dynamo Dresden	102	(39)
1990–1992	VfB Stuttgart	63	(20)
1992–1993	Inter Milan	11	(4)
1993–1998	Borussia Dortmund	115	(21)
Total		291	(84)
International career
1986–1990	East Germany	23	(6)
1990–1997	Germany	51	(8)
Managerial career
2000–2004	Borussia Dortmund
2004–2005	VfB Stuttgart
Medal record Men's Football Representing  Germany UEFA European Championship Winner 1996 England Runner-up 1992 Sweden Representing  East Germany FIFA U-20 World Cup 1987 Chile
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

With Borussia Dortmund as a player, Sammer won the Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup in 1995, the Bundesliga, DFL-Supercup, and European Footballer of the Year in 1996, and the UEFA Champions League and Intercontinental Cup in 1997. Germany won the UEFA Euro 1996 with Sammer as a player, where he was named the tournament's best player, and was subsequently awarded the Ballon d'Or later that year. Sammer retired with 74 total caps, 23 for East Germany and 51 for the unified side. Known for his exceptional defensive skills, including his ability to read the game, make interceptions, and tackle effectively, Sammer is regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time.^[2]

With Sammer as a manager, Borussia Dortmund won the Bundesliga in 2002.

Club career

Dynamo Dresden

 

Sammer with Dresden in 1990, holding the FDGB-Pokal trophy

Sammer started his career at Dynamo Dresden when he joined the club's youth team as a nine-year-old in 1976.^[3] He made his debut for the senior team under the management of his father, Klaus Sammer, in the 1985–86 season. Playing as a striker, he scored eight goals in his first season as Dynamo finished fifth in the DDR-Oberliga. After being moved to the left wing the following season by new manager Eduard Geyer, he eventually found his place in central midfield during the 1987–88 season.

In the 1988–89 season, Sammer was part of the Dynamo Dresden team which won the East German championship. The same season the club also reached the semi-final of the UEFA Cup where they were knocked out by West German club VfB Stuttgart. The following year Dynamo won the league and cup double, defending the DDR-Oberliga title and also winning the 1990 FDGB-Pokal.

Sammer was formally an officer of the Volkspolizei, as a player of Dynamo Dresden. He enrolled into the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment as a 19-year-old. Many players of Dynamo Dresden were assigned to the regiment for their military service. Sammer then served as a non-commissioned officer in the Guards Regiment for three years from 1987,^[4] holding the rank of sergeant in the Stasi.^[5] The President of SV Dynamo was the head of the Stasi Erich Mielke. Sammer has explained that he would not have been able to continue to play football for Dynamo Dresden if he had refused to serve with the Guards Regiment and that he never saw any weapon or took part in any military exercise. He has described his employment with the Guard Regiment as an alibi to play football to Dynamo Dresden.^[4]

VfB Stuttgart

In the summer of 1990, Sammer joined VfB Stuttgart of the Bundesliga. Sammer scored 11 times in his debut season as Stuttgart finished sixth in the Bundesliga. The following year Sammer scored nine goals, helping Stuttgart to become the first champions of the reunified Germany.

Inter Milan

After two seasons at Stuttgart, Sammer joined Italian club Inter Milan for the 1992–93 Serie A season. Though he was a success on the pitch, scoring four times in 11 appearances, including a goal against Juventus in the Derby d'Italia, Sammer failed to adapt to the Italian lifestyle and returned to Germany in January 1993.

Borussia Dortmund

In the winter break of the 1992–93 season, Sammer signed for Borussia Dortmund. He made 17 Bundesliga appearances in the second half of the season, scoring ten times.

The following season, Sammer was moved from midfield into the libero position by Dortmund coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. This move proved to be successful as Dortmund won back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 1994–95 and 1995–96, followed by the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League, with Sammer lifting the European Cup as captain after beating Juventus 3–1 in the final at Munich's Olympiastadion.

Soon after winning the Champions League, Sammer's career was cut short by injury. He made only three further Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund before suffering a serious knee injury which he failed to recover from and retired in 1998.^[6]

In addition to the two Bundesliga titles and one Champions League, Sammer also led Dortmund to two DFB-Supercups, in 1995 and 1996. Sammer himself was named Footballer of the Year (Germany) in both 1995 and 1996 and was named European Footballer of the Year in 1996, making him the first defender to win the Ballon d'Or since Franz Beckenbauer in 1976.

International career

East Germany

 

Sammer (back row, third from right) in 1986, with the East German football team

Sammer represented the GDR at every age group. He was part of the East German squads which won the 1986 UEFA European Under-18 Football Championship and finished third at the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship.

In November 1986, he made his debut for the full East Germany national football team in a UEFA Euro 1988 qualifier against France at Zentralstadion in Leipzig.

On 12 September 1990, Sammer captained East Germany in its final match. He scored both goals as the GDR beat Belgium 2–0 in Brussels.^[7]

Germany

 

Sammer in 1990

On 19 December 1990, Sammer debuted for the newly formed unified Germany national football team, which was mostly made up of the West Germany team that had won the 1990 FIFA World Cup. The match was played at his home stadium in Stuttgart and Germany ran out 4–0 winners against Switzerland.

Sammer was a member of the German squad for UEFA Euro 1992, where the team was beaten in the final by Denmark. He was also selected for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, as Germany was surprisingly knocked out by the underdog Bulgaria at the quarter-final stage.

In UEFA Euro 1996, Sammer played in the libero role he had been converted to at Borussia Dortmund. He scored the opening goal in Germany's second group match against Russia and the winning goal against Croatia in the quarter-final. After Germany defeated the Czech Republic in the final, Sammer was named Player of the Tournament.^[8]

On 7 June 1997, Sammer played his final match for Germany in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in Kyiv. He did not take part at the 1998 FIFA World Cup due to injury.^[9]

Style of play

Sammer usually played as a sweeper during the height of his career, and in particular in later years, although he was also capable of playing in several midfield and offensive roles; indeed, he was often deployed further up the pitch earlier in his career, including in a holding role, as an attacking midfielder, as a central midfielder, as a left winger, as a deep-lying playmaker, or even as a striker on occasion, courtesy of his technique, stamina, passing ability, and vision. Although he was not the most physically gifted defender, due to his slender frame, he was regarded as a world class player in his position, in particular due to his intelligence and positional sense, while he was also able to improve his tackling ability as his career progressed. Despite his more defensive playing role, he was also a talented and energetic player, who was known for his eye for goal, athleticism, elegance, finesse, and offensive capabilities, and had a penchant for undertaking individual forward runs with the ball towards the opposing penalty area. Beyond his skills as a footballer, he was also known as an influential player and a commanding presence on the pitch, who stood out for his charismatic leadership qualities, determination, bravery, and composure under pressure. Despite his ability and reputation as one of the greatest sweepers of all time, however, he was also known to be prone to injuries, which ultimately forced him to retire from professional football at the age of 31.^[a]

Coaching and management career

Borussia Dortmund

After retirement, Sammer became head coach of Borussia Dortmund on 1 July 2000.^[20] Sammer led Borussia Dortmund to another Bundesliga title in 2002. His team reached the 2001–02 UEFA Cup final the same year but lost 2–3 against Feyenoord. Sammer was sacked at the end of the 2003–04 season after Dortmund finished in sixth place.

VfB Stuttgart

Sammer returned to VfB Stuttgart as head coach for the 2004–05 season.^[21] Despite finishing one point off a Champions League qualifying position, Sammer left the club on 3 June 2005.^[22]

German Football Association

On 1 April 2006, he was appointed technical director of German Football Association (DFB), on a five-year contract. The position was new in the DFB at the time and had been initiated by national coach Jürgen Klinsmann, who undertook major structural reforms in the DFB during his short time of two years as a coach, with an impact lasting much longer than his actual term. The position included responsibility for the national youth teams, focusing on young talents between the ages of eleven and eighteen, as well as incorporating the latest developments in sports science into the DFB's training theories. Sammer was also expected to work on a tactical system for all of Germany's national sides in close co-operation with national coach Joachim Löw. He is credited of having led the declining quality of German football from its worst era at the beginning of the 2000s to new success through several talented players developed in the restructured youth system.

Bayern Munich

On 2 July 2012, he took over as Sporting Director of Bayern Munich and replaced Christian Nerlinger, who had been released following Bayern's treble losses in Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League and because of his strained relationship with the club.^[23] As Sporting Director, Sammer was a member of the management board responsible for the professional playing staff of the club.^[23]

In his first season, Sammer orchestrated FC Bayern's turnaround to the first treble in club history by claiming the 2012–13 Bundesliga, the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League and the 2012–13 DFB-Pokal in record-setting fashion. His communicative abilities to never get satisfied, always stress some critical details, keep pressure high and not getting into delight even during the most superior periods were especially lauded to have contributed to the historic success. In the next years three consecutive Bundesliga championships and two cup wins followed.

In spring 2016, he had a "minute circulatory disorder in the brain"^[24] and had to take a break from his work. During his recovery, he gained a new perspective on his work and family life and asked FC Bayern to release him from his position as sporting director which they granted.^[25][26] Afterwards Munich continued working without any sporting director for a year before they presented Hasan Salihamidžić as his replacement.

Following this he effectively retired, initially working as a pundit for Eurosport for a while but ruling out to continue this in the future. In 2018, he started to work part-time as an adviser for Borussia Dortmund, meeting with the club for talks every two weeks, and is regularly seen sitting next to Dortmund's management during matches.

Personal life

Sammer is married and has three children, Sarah, Marvin, and Leon. He lives in Munich, Germany.^[27] He is the son of Klaus Sammer, a former player and manager of Dynamo Dresden.^[28]

Career statistics

Club

Club performance^[29]			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
East Germany			League		FDGB-Pokal		League Cup		Europe		Total
1985–86	Dynamo Dresden	DDR-Oberliga	18	8	4	6	-	-	6	2	28	16
1986–87			20	7	3	2	-	-	-	-	23	9
1987–88			19	8	3	1	-	-	2	0	24	9
1988–89			25	6	3	1	-	-	10	0	38	7
1989–90			20	9	5	4	-	-	2	0	27	13
Germany			League		DFB-Pokal		DFB Ligapokal		Europe		Total
1990–91	VfB Stuttgart	Bundesliga	30	11	3	1	-	-	-	-	33	12
1991–92			33	9	3	1	-	-	3	1	35	11
Italy			League		Coppa Italia		League Cup		Europe		Total
1992–93	Inter Milan	Serie A	11	4	1	0	-	-	-	-	12	4
Germany			League		DFB-Pokal		DFB Ligapokal		Europe		Total
1992–93	Borussia Dortmund	Bundesliga	17	10	-	-	-	-	-	-	17	10
1993–94			29	4	2	0	-	-	8	0	39	4
1994–95			28	4	1	1	-	-	7	0	36	5
1995–96			22	3	3	1	-	-	6	0	31	4
1996–97			21	0	1	0	-	-	5	0	27	0
1997–98			3	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	6	0
Country	East Germany		102	38	18	14	-	-	20	2	140	54
	Germany		183	41	14	4	1	0	30	1	228	46
	Italy		11	4	1	0	-	-	-	-	12	4
Total			296	83	33	18	1	0	50	3	380	104

International

East Germany national team statistics

East Germany national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1986	1	0
1987	0	0
1988	6	1
1989	11	2
1990	5	3
Total	23	6

Germany national team statistics

Germany national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1990	1	0
1991	3	0
1992	9	1
1993	6	0
1994	12	2
1995	6	2
1996	11	3
1997	3	0
Total	51	8

International goals

Goals for East Germany

Scores and results table. Germany's goal tally first:^[30]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	31 August 1988	Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, Berlin, East Germany	Greece	1–0	1–0	Friendly
2.	6 September 1989	Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland	Iceland	1–0	3–0	1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying
3.	8 October 1989	Stadion an der Gellertstraße, Karl-Marx-Stadt, East Germany	Soviet Union	2–1	2–1	1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying
4.	11 April 1990	Stadion an der Gellertstraße, Karl-Marx-Stadt, East Germany	Egypt	2–0	2–0	Friendly
5.	12 September 1990	Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Belgium	1–0	2–0	Friendly
6.	12 September 1990	Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Belgium	2–0	2–0	Friendly

Goals for Germany

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	16 December 1992	Estádio Olímpico Monumental, Porto Alegre, Brazil	Brazil	1–2	1–3	Friendly
2.	2 June 1994	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Austria	1–0	5–1	Friendly
3.	8 June 1994	Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Canada	Canada	1–0	2–0	Friendly
4.	8 October 1995	Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion, Leverkusen, Germany	Moldova	3–0	6–1	UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
5.	8 October 1995	Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion, Leverkusen, Germany	Moldova	6–0	6–1	UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
6.	4 June 1996	Carl-Benz-Stadion, Mannheim, Germany	Liechtenstein	5–0	9–1	Friendly
7.	16 June 1996	Old Trafford, Manchester, England	Russia	1–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 1996
8.	23 June 1996	Old Trafford, Manchester, England	Croatia	2–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 1996

Coaching statistics

As of 30 January 2014

Team	From	To	Record
			G	W	D	L	Win %	Ref.
Borussia Dortmund	1 July 2000^[31]	30 June 2004^[31]	183	89	46	48	048.63	^[31]
VfB Stuttgart	1 July 2004^[32]	3 June 2005^[32]	47	25	8	14	053.19	^[32]
Total			230	114	54	62	049.57	—

Honours

Player

Dynamo Dresden

• DDR-Oberliga: 1988–89, 1989–90
• FDGB-Pokal: 1989–90

VfB Stuttgart

• Bundesliga: 1991–92

Borussia Dortmund

• Bundesliga: 1994–95, 1995–96
• DFL-Supercup: 1995, 1996
• UEFA Champions League: 1996–97

Germany

• UEFA European Championship: 1996; Runner-up: 1992
• U.S. Cup: 1993

Individual

• kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 1990–91, 1994–95^[33][34]
• ESM Team of the Year: 1994–95
• Footballer of the Year in Germany: 1995, 1996
• kicker Bundesliga-best libero: 1995, 1996
• kicker Bundesliga-best midfielder: 1993
• UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament: 1996
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1996
• Onze de Bronze: 1996
• Ballon d'Or: 1996
• World Soccer: The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time

Manager

Borussia Dortmund

• Bundesliga: 2001–02
• DFB-Ligapokal: Runner-up 2003
• UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2002

Notes

1. See^{[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]}

References

1. "Matthias Sammer – Spielerprofil – DFB" (in German). dfb.de. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
2. "20 Best defenders of all time". sportskeeda. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
3. Wittmann, Gerry (2 July 2012). "Sammer replaces Nerlinger at Bayern München". bundesligafanatic. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
4. Leimert, Jochen (21 December 2017). "Dynamo und die Stasi: Warum Matthias Sammer nur zwei Tage "diente"". Sportbuzzer (in German). Hannover: Sportbuzzer GmbH. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
5. "Warum Matthias Sammer in seiner Stasi-Akte als Täter geführt wird". FOCUS Online (in German). München: FOCUS Magazin Verlag GmbH. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
6. "Euro Legends: Matthias Sammer". 26 May 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
7. Mansel, Tim (28 December 2015). "The East German team that refused to die". BBC. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
8. "Euro 1996 Legends: Matthias Sammer, Germany". Goal. 4 June 2012.
9. Jones, Grahame L. (17 May 1998). "Quotes Already Kick-Starting World Cup '98". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
10. Mocciaro, Gaetano (2 April 2013). "Sammer, il pallone d'oro allergico all'Italia" (in Italian). tuttomercatoweb.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
11. Bradley, Cain (26 February 2017). "Forgotten Superstars-Matthias Sammer". The False 9. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
12. Gautam, Bimersha (8 May 2012). "World Football 101: An Introduction to Player's Positions". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
13. Whitney, Clark (4 October 2013). "The 20 Most Intimidating Defenders in Bundesliga History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
14. "German order falls to Philipp Lahm". ESPN. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
15. Valdiserri, Luca. "SAMMER, Matthias in "Enciclopedia dello Sport"" (in Italian). treccani.it. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
16. Hughes, Rob (14 July 2014). "On This Day, 'Miracle Boy' Götze Was Better Than Messi". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
17. "Key Player – Matthias Sammer". BBC News. 3 May 1998. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
18. . FIFA. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
19. "From skinny striker to world-class sweeper". bundesliga.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
20. "Matthias Sammer wird neuer Chef-Coach". kicker (in German). 30 May 2000. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
21. "Perfekt: Sammer beerbt Magath". kicker (in German). 31 May 2004. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
22. "VfB trennt sich von Sammer". kicker. 3 June 2005. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
23. "Matthias Sammer appointed Sport Director". FC Bayern Munich. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
24. "Sporting director Matthias Sammer". FC Bayern Munich. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
25. "Matthias Sammer leaves FC Bayern at his own request". FC Bayern Munich. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
26. "Matthias Sammer und Bayern München beenden Zusammenarbeit". dfb.de. 10 July 2016.
27. ""Das ist Lebensfreude - trotz aller Anstrengung"". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 13 July 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
28. "Klaus Sammer: Glaube nicht, dass Matthias es machen würde". Die Welt (in German). 29 June 2018.
29. Matthias Sammer at National-Football-Teams.com
30. Arnhold, Matthias (3 October 2004). "Matthias Sammer – International Appearances" (in German). Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
31. "Borussia Dortmund" (in German). kicker. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
32. "VfB Stuttgart" (in German). kicker. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
33. "Bundesliga Historie 1990/91" (in German). kicker.
34. "Bundesliga Historie 1994/95" (in German). kicker.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matthias Sammer.

• Matthias Sammer at fussballdaten.de (in German)
• Matthias Sammer 19 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine FC Inter Milan stats at archivio.inter.it (in Italian)