Karl-Heinz Riedle

3.1. Early career in Germany

After a single season with SpVgg Blau-Weiß 1890 Berlin, where he scored 10 goals despite the team's relegation, Riedle signed with SV Werder Bremen in 1987. Under the guidance of legendary coach Otto Rehhagel, he thrived, netting 18 goals in his first season (1987-88 Bundesliga), which was the second-highest in the league behind Jürgen Klinsmann. His contributions were instrumental in helping Werder Bremen secure the national title, their first in 23 years. Riedle later described Bremen as a "sensational club" with a strong reputation for developing young players, and credited Rehhagel for his growth as a player. During his three-year spell with the club, he scored 58 goals across all competitions and featured in back-to-back German Cup finals in 1989 and 1990, though both ended in defeat. He notably scored the opening goal in the 1989 final against Borussia Dortmund, which Werder Bremen eventually lost 4-1. He also made a significant impact in the 1989-90 UEFA Cup, scoring three goals across two legs against SSC Napoli.

3.2. Move to Italy: Lazio

In the summer of 1990, Riedle made a significant move to S.S. Lazio of Italy's Serie A for a transfer fee of 13.00 M DM, which was one of the highest transfer fees in European football at the time. During his three seasons with the Roman club, Lazio did not win any silverware or reach any major finals. His most productive season was the 1991-92 campaign, where he scored 13 goals in 29 appearances, contributing to a 10th-place finish in the league. For two of his three years at Lazio, he played alongside his countryman Thomas Doll. In the 1992-93 season, he helped the club achieve a fifth-place finish, their best performance since the 1970s, despite his playing opportunities being somewhat reduced due to the presence of four foreign players in the squad.

3.3. Success with Borussia Dortmund

Riedle returned to Germany in 1993, joining Borussia Dortmund for an estimated transfer fee between 8.50 M DM and 9.50 M DM. He quickly established himself as a regular starter, often forming an effective partnership with Stéphane Chapuisat in attack. Although he did not consistently score in double digits during his tenure, his presence was crucial to Dortmund's success. He played an important role in the club's consecutive Bundesliga championships in 1995 and 1996, scoring a combined 13 goals across these two title-winning seasons. His most iconic performance for Dortmund came in the 1996-97 UEFA Champions League final against Juventus. Riedle scored two goals in that final, leading his team to a memorable 3-1 victory and securing Dortmund's first-ever UEFA Champions League title.

3.4. Late career in England

In 1997, Riedle moved to England to join Liverpool F.C. in the Premier League. His time at Anfield saw him used irregularly, particularly after the emergence of the then 18-year-old Michael Owen, who began to establish himself as a key forward.

In late September 1999, at the age of 34, Riedle transferred to Fulham F.C. in the Football League First Division. At Fulham, he reunited with his former Liverpool manager, Roy Evans. Following the dismissal of manager Paul Bracewell in March 2000, Riedle took on a dual role as a player and caretaker manager alongside Evans for the remainder of the 1999-2000 season. In the following season, with Jean Tigana appointed as the official manager, Riedle returned to solely playing. He scored one goal in 14 appearances, contributing to Fulham's promotion to the Premier League. He announced his retirement from professional football at the end of that season. In January 2002, he attempted a comeback, training with FC Vaduz in Liechtenstein, but ultimately did not sign a contract.

4.1. Youth and Olympic teams

Riedle began his international career with the West Germany U-21 national team, making four appearances and scoring one goal between 1986 and 1987. In 1988, he was selected as part of the West German Olympic team, which included future stars like Jürgen Klinsmann and Thomas Häßler. He participated in the football tournament at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, where his team secured a bronze medal.

4.2. Senior national team

Riedle made his debut for the West Germany senior national team on 31 August 1988, during a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Finland. He played for 15 minutes and scored in a 4-0 away victory.

5.1. Managerial and administrative roles

Riedle's first foray into management came during his final playing season at Fulham F.C., where he served as a caretaker manager alongside former Liverpool manager Roy Evans from March 2000 until the end of the 1999-2000 season.

In November 2004, he took on the role of sports director for Swiss club Grasshopper Club Zürich. He held this position for nearly three years, resigning in April 2007 at the end of the 2006-07 season.

Riedle has also served as an ambassador for major football events and clubs. On 28 August 2014, UEFA announced him as the ambassador for the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League final, which was later held in Berlin. Furthermore, he was named an international ambassador for his former club Borussia Dortmund in November 2014, a role he continued to hold, notably serving alongside Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane as an ambassador for the 2024 UEFA Champions League final.

5.2. Other activities

Outside of his football-related roles, Riedle has established himself in other business ventures. He owned a hotel and operated a football academy in the village of Oberstaufen, located in the Allgäu region of southern Germany.

8.1. Club statistics

8.2. International statistics