Ulf Kirsten

Last updated

Ulf Kirsten
Ulf Kirsten 2019.jpg
Kirsten in 2019
Personal information
Date of birth (1965-12-04) 4 December 1965 (age 58)
Place of birth Riesa, East Germany
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1972–1978 BSG Chemie Riesa
1978–1979 BSG Stahl Riesa
1979–1983 Dynamo Dresden
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1983–1990 Dynamo Dresden 154 (57)
1990–2003 Bayer Leverkusen 350 (181)
Total504(238)
International career
1984–1986 East Germany U21 10 (4)
1985–1990 East Germany 49 (14)
1990–2000 Germany 51 (20)
Managerial career
2003–2005 Bayer Leverkusen (assistant)
2005–2011 Bayer Leverkusen II
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ulf Kirsten (born 4 December 1965) is a German former professional footballer who played as a striker. [1] Nicknamed Der Schwatte (dialect for Der Schwarze, 'The Black One'), he is the first player in history to reach a total 100 caps playing with two different national teams (first for East Germany, then Reunified Germany). Kirsten's biggest success was the victory of the 1992–93 DFB-Pokal.

Contents

Club career

Dynamo Dresden

Kirsten began playing football for local team BSG Chemie Riesa in 1972. He joined BSG Stahl Riesa in 1978 before joining the youth academy of Dynamo Dresden in 1979. Dynamo Dresden was a center of excellence (German : Leistungszentrum) and the most prominent club in Bezirk Dresden. It was also the most successful club in East Germany at the time. Kirsten made his professional debut for Dynamo Dresden in the 1983–84 DDR-Oberliga season.

Kirsten played 154 matches and scored 57 goals for Dynamo Dresden in the DDR-Oberliga. He won the DDR-Oberliga with Dynamo Dresden in two consecutive seasons: 1988–88 and 1989–90. Kirsten became the Footballer of the Year in East Germany in 1990.

Kirsten had an unusual build: measuring only 172 cm (5'8"), but weighing 81 kg (179 lbs). He therefore had an unusually low centre of gravity, which enabled him to protect the ball in the box against much bigger defenders and turn around quickly for close-range shots. His playing style was often compared to that of Gerd Müller. In addition, despite his small height, Kirsten was also a feared header.

Bayer Leverkusen

Kirsten in 1997 Ulf Kirsten.jpg
Kirsten in 1997

Kirsten was one of the first East German men's footballers to enter the Bundesliga after the German reunification. In the German Bundesliga he played 350 matches for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and scored 182 goals (ranked #7 in the all-time top scorer list). He established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in the Bundesliga, but Bayer Leverkusen regularly ended as runner-up to either Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund. He stayed there until his retirement in 2003. He also played in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final, although his team lost to Real Madrid. In the 1999–2000 season, Kirsten won the EFFIFU award for being the most efficient striker in the league.

Off the pitch, Kirsten was famous for his strong beard growth, which earned him a sponsorship by Braun, who used him to advertise their electrical shavers.

International career

East Germany squad photo from 1986 - Kirsten is seated third from left in the front row Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1986-1119-031, Leipzig, Mannschaftsfoto DDR-Nationalmannschaft.jpg
East Germany squad photo from 1986 – Kirsten is seated third from left in the front row

Kirsten's 100 caps are almost evenly split: 49 for East Germany and 51 for the re-unified Germany in a career which spanned 15 years from 1985 until 2000, with the reunified team being formed in late 1990. [2]

Kirsten scored a total of 34 international goals, 14 of them for East Germany. His only major tournaments came late in his career; Kirsten played for his country at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups and Euro 2000.

Personal life

Kirsten's son Benjamin is also a footballer and has played as a goalkeeper for Dynamo Dresden and NEC Nijmegen. [3]

Along with several other teammates, Kirsten was allegedly implicated as an Stasi informant during his time at Dynamo Dresden through files recovered from the security service's archives after the fall of East Germany. [4] [5]

Career statistics

Club

Including only appearances and goals for Bayer Leverkusen
ClubSeasonLeague DFB-Pokal DFB-Ligapokal EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bayer Leverkusen 1990–91 Bundesliga 3211225 [lower-alpha 1] 23915
1991–92 2312112413
1992–93 3320734023
1993–94 2812314 [lower-alpha 2] 51 [lower-alpha 3] 13619
1994–95 2715109 [lower-alpha 1] 103725
1995–96 298322 [lower-alpha 4] 13411
1996–97 2922103022
1997–98 272232119 [lower-alpha 5] 24027
1998–99 311922213 [lower-alpha 1] 23824
1999–2000 271700226 [lower-alpha 5] 43523
2000–01 29122111433617
2001–02 3211531014 [lower-alpha 5] 45218
2002–03 30101050
Career total350181311785563311446237
  1. 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. Appearances in European Cup Winners' Cup
  3. Appearance in DFB-Supercup
  4. Appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup
  5. 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

International goals for East Germany

Score and results list East Germany's goal tally first. [6]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.19 February 1986 Estádio 1º de Maio, Braga, PortugalFlag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
2–0
3–1
Friendly
2.29 October 1986 Ernst-Thälmann-Stadion, Karl-Marx-Stadt, East GermanyFlag of Iceland.svg  Iceland
2–0
2–0
UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying
3.23 September 1987 Stadion der Freundschaft, Gera, East GermanyFlag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
2–0
2–0
Friendly
4.10 October 1987 Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, East Berlin, East GermanyFlag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1–0
1–1
UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying
5.28 October 1987 Ernst-Grube-Stadion, Magdeburg, East GermanyFlag of Norway.svg  Norway
1–0
3–1
6.
3–1
7.13 February 1989 Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, EgyptFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
1–0
4–0
Friendly
8.
3–0
9.20 May 1989 Zentralstadion, Leipzig, East GermanyFlag of Austria.svg  Austria
1–1
1–1
1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying
10.23 August 1989 Georgij-Dimitroff-Stadion, Erfurt, East GermanyFlag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
1–0
1–1
Friendly
11.28 March 1990Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, East Berlin, East GermanyFlag of the United States.svg  United States
1–0
3–2
12.
2–0
13.
3–1

International goals for Germany

Score and results list Germany's goal tally first. [7]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.14 April 1993 Ruhrstadion, Bochum, GermanyFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
1–1
6–1
Friendly
2.13 October 1993 Wildparkstadion, Karlsruhe, GermanyFlag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay
4–0
5–0
3.27 April 1994 Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesFlag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
1–0
2–0
4.16 November 1994 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, AlbaniaFlag of Albania.svg  Albania
2–1
2–1
UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
5.14 December 1994 Stadionul Republican, Chişinău, MoldovaFlag of Moldova.svg  Moldova
1–0
3–0
6.6 September 1995 Frankenstadion, Nuremberg, GermanyFlag of Georgia.svg  Georgia
3–1
4–1
7.2 April 1997 Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes, Granada, SpainFlag of Albania.svg  Albania
1–1
3–2
1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying
8.
2–1
9.
3–1
10.6 September 1997 Olympiastadion, Berlin, GermanyFlag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
1–1
1–1
11.10 September 1997 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, GermanyFlag of Armenia.svg  Armenia
4–0
4–0
12.25 March 1998 Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart, GermanyFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
1–1
1–2
Friendly
13.5 June 1998 Carl-Benz-Stadion, Mannheim, GermanyFlag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg
1–0
7–0
14.
4–0
15.14 October 1998Stadionul Republican, Chişinău, MoldovaFlag of Moldova.svg  Moldova
1–1
3–1
UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
16.
2–1
17.4 June 1999 BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany
2–0
6–1
18.26 April 2000 Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern, GermanyFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
1–1
1–1
Friendly
19.7 June 2000 Dreisamstadion, Freiburg, GermanyFlag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein
4–2
8–2
20.
6–2

Managerial statistics

As of 25 May 2012
TeamFromToRecord
GWDLGFGAGDWin %
Bayer Leverkusen II 1 July 200530 June 2011209725087292313−21034.45
Total209725087292313−21034.45

Honours

Club

Dynamo Dresden

Bayer Leverkusen

Individual

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Doll</span> German footballer (born 1966)

Thomas Jens Uwe Doll is a German professional football manager and a former football player. As a player, he played as an attacking midfielder for F.C. Hansa Rostock, BFC Dynamo, Hamburger SV, Lazio, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthias Sammer</span> German association football player and manager

Matthias Sammer is a German football official and former player and coach. He played as a defensive midfielder and later in his career as a sweeper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dynamo Dresden</span> German association football club based in Dresden

Sportgemeinschaft Dynamo Dresden e.V., commonly known as SG Dynamo Dresden or Dynamo Dresden, is a German association football club based in Dresden, Saxony. They were founded on 12 April 1953 as a club affiliated with the East German police and became one of the most popular and successful clubs in East German football, winning eight league titles.

The 1991–92 Bundesliga was the 29th season of the Bundesliga, Germany's premier football league. It began on 2 August 1991 and ended on 16 May 1992. 1. FC Kaiserslautern were the defending champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1. FC Magdeburg</span> German football club

1. FC Magdeburg is a German Association football club based in Magdeburg. The club was founded in 1965 from the football department of the sports club SC Magdeburg and has been one of the top teams in the DDR-Oberliga, winning three championships and seven cup titles. By winning the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1974, the club became the only East German club to win a European trophy and also achieved the greatest success in its history. After German reunification, the club fell on hard times but returned to professional football in 2015 with the promotion to the 3. Liga. Afterwards the team managed in 2018 to climb up to the second division, in which the team plays today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olaf Marschall</span> German footballer (born 1966)

Olaf Marschall is a German former professional footballer who played as a forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torsten Gütschow</span> German footballer and manager

Torsten Gütschow is a German football manager and former player who played as a striker. He is most associated with Dynamo Dresden, with whom he had two successful spells, playing top level football in East Germany and after reunification. In between these he played for three other German clubs, and spent six months with Galatasaray of the Turkish Süper Lig. A strong and instinctive goalscorer, Gütschow was top scorer in each of the last three seasons of the DDR-Oberliga, and was the last East German Footballer of the Year. He won three international caps for East Germany, scoring two goals between 1984 and 1989. Since retiring he has taken up coaching, and has been manager of TuS Heeslingen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans-Jürgen Dörner</span> East German footballer and coach (1951–2022)

Hans-Jürgen "Dixie" Dörner was a German football player and coach. He distinguished himself during his career by being named East Germany's player of the year three times – the only East German player to do this besides goalkeeper Jürgen Croy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reinhard Häfner</span> German footballer (1952–2016)

Reinhard Häfner was a German football player and coach.

The 1973–74 DDR-Oberliga was the 25th season of the DDR-Oberliga, the first tier of league football in East Germany.

Rocco Milde is a German former professional footballer who played as a forward. Milde had a much-travelled career, but is best remembered as a Dynamo Dresden player, having had three separate spells with the club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralf Minge</span> German footballer and manager

Ralf Minge is a German footballer former coach and player who works as sporting director of Dynamo Dresden.

The 1972–73 DDR-Oberliga was the 24th season of the DDR-Oberliga, the first tier of league football in East Germany.

The 1975–76 DDR-Oberliga was the 27th season of the DDR-Oberliga, the first tier of league football in East Germany.

The 1983–84 DDR-Oberliga was the 35th season of the DDR-Oberliga, the first tier of league football in East Germany.

The 1988–89 DDR-Oberliga was the 40th season of the DDR-Oberliga, the first tier of league football in East Germany.

The 1989–90 DDR-Oberliga was the 41st season of the DDR-Oberliga, the first tier of league football in East Germany. It was the last season of the league under the name of DDR-Oberliga as it played as the NOFV-Oberliga in the following season. East Germany saw great political change during the 1989–90 season with the opening of borders in October 1989, free elections in March 1990 and the eventual German reunification later in the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jörg Stübner</span> German footballer (1965–2019)

Jörg Stübner was a German professional footballer who amassed 47 international caps for East Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Andrich</span> German footballer

Robert Andrich is a German professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Germany national team.

References

  1. "Kirsten, Ulf" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  2. "Ulf Kirsten – International Appearances". RSSSF . Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  3. "Kirsten vor 3. Liga-Debüt" (in German). kicker.de. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  4. "Mielkes Rächer unbestraft - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). 16 November 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  5. McDougall, Alan, ed. (2014), "Football and the Stasi", The People's Game: Football, State and Society in East Germany, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 123–146, doi:10.1017/CBO9781107280311.007, ISBN   978-1-107-05203-1 , retrieved 23 February 2023
  6. "Ulf Kirsten (Player)". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  7. "Ulf Kirsten (Player)". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  8. "Bundesliga Historie 1996/97" (in German). kicker.
  9. "Bundesliga Historie 1998/99" (in German). kicker.