Stefan Effenberg

3.1. Borussia Mönchengladbach (first spell)

Effenberg began his professional career with Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1987. During his initial period with the club, he quickly rose to prominence, becoming a guaranteed starter by the time he was 20 years old. Across three seasons, he made 73 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals, before attracting the attention of larger clubs.

3.2. Bayern Munich (first spell)

In 1990, Effenberg transferred to FC Bayern Munich, one of the giants of the Bundesliga. He was reportedly acquired to fill the void left by Lothar Matthäus. In his first two seasons with Bayern, Effenberg scored 19 goals in 65 appearances. Despite his personal scoring contributions, the club did not win any major silverware during this period. His relationships with coaches and other players were reportedly not always smooth, and he struggled to gain full support from the club's fanbase.

3.3. Fiorentina

Following the return of Lothar Matthäus to Bayern in 1992, Effenberg moved to Italy, joining ACF Fiorentina. He arrived as part of a team reform that also saw the acquisition of players like Brian Laudrup and Gabriel Batistuta. Fiorentina had high expectations for Effenberg, hoping he would provide leadership on and off the pitch, similar to Dunga who had previously played for the club. However, his performance was deemed lackluster, and in his first season (1992-93), Fiorentina was relegated from Serie A. Despite initially indicating he would refuse to play in the second tier, Effenberg remained with the club for the 1993-94 season in Serie B, helping them secure promotion back to Serie A at the first attempt.

3.4. Borussia Mönchengladbach (second spell)

In the summer of 1994, Effenberg made a return to his former club, Borussia Mönchengladbach. During his second spell with the team, he played in 118 league matches, scoring 23 goals. His consistent performances once again drew the attention of Bayern Munich.

3.5. Bayern Munich (second spell)

Effenberg re-signed with FC Bayern Munich in 1998, initiating a significantly more successful period in his career. Under coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, he was appointed captain and enjoyed his most prolific spell. He secured three consecutive Bundesliga titles with Bayern (1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01).
Bayern reached two UEFA Champions League finals during this time. The first was the 1999 final, where they suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, an event famously dubbed "the Camp Nou tragedy" in some circles. Two years later, Bayern returned to the final in 2001 with Effenberg as captain. He scored Bayern's equalizing goal from the penalty spot in their victory over Valencia CF (1-1), which was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout win. After leading his team to this triumph, Effenberg was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2000-01 UEFA Champions League season. Following his departure in 2002, Bayern fans voted him as one of the eleven greatest players in the club's history. In total across his two spells with Bayern, Effenberg made 95 appearances, scoring 16 goals.

3.6. Later Career

After his highly successful second stint at Bayern Munich, Effenberg moved to VfL Wolfsburg for the 2002-03 season. His time there was largely unsuccessful, and he left the club prematurely. He then concluded his professional playing career in Qatar with Al-Arabi Sports Club during the 2003-04 season, where he was notably teammates with his former Fiorentina colleague, Gabriel Batistuta. Effenberg played 15 matches for Al-Arabi, scoring 4 goals. His career culminated in a retirement match on July 22, 2005, where he scored his first career hat-trick. After retiring as a player, he occasionally appeared as a color commentator for German television.

4.1. Early International Career and Euro 1992

Effenberg made his debut for the Germany national team on June 5, 1991, in a Euro 1992 qualifier against Wales, playing the final 18 minutes of a 1-0 away loss. He became a regular fixture during the final stages of UEFA Euro 1992, even scoring in the second group stage match, a 2-0 win over Scotland. Germany advanced to the final of the tournament but were defeated by Denmark. Earlier in his career, he had been removed from the Germany U-21 team by then-coach Berti Vogts due to his attitude.

4.2. 1994 FIFA World Cup Controversy

Effenberg's international career was abruptly cut short due to a controversial incident during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. In a group stage match against South Korea at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, in 95 °F ^{(35 °C)} heat, Effenberg was substituted after a subpar performance. At the time of his substitution, Germany, which had led 3-0, was only one goal ahead after conceding twice. As he left the field, Effenberg responded to booing German fans by making an inappropriate gesture, widely recognized as "the finger". This provocative act deeply angered German coach Berti Vogts, who immediately expelled Effenberg from the squad. Vogts publicly declared that Effenberg's career as an international player was finished on the spot. This incident drew widespread condemnation and was a major point of criticism regarding his conduct and professionalism as a representative of the national team.

4.3. Later International Appearances

Following the 1994 World Cup incident, Effenberg did not play another international match for four years. His brief return to the national team came in September 1998, when he was called up for a couple of friendly matches in Malta. These matches coincidentally marked the final two games for Berti Vogts as the national team coach. Effenberg's appearances in Malta turned out to be his last for Germany, effectively bringing his international career to an end.

7.1. Notable Incidents

Effenberg had a history of attracting attention and controversy through his behavior and public statements. In 1991, prior to a UEFA Cup match against then-semi-professional Cork City, Effenberg publicly stated his confidence in a victory, remarking that Cork City midfielder Dave Barry was "like (his) grandfather." Barry notably scored the opening goal in the ensuing match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, providing a direct on-field response to Effenberg's arrogant pre-match comments.

In the late 1990s, Effenberg caused a sensation when his affair with Claudia Strunz, the wife of his former club and national teammate Thomas Strunz, was revealed. This incident generated significant animosity and was widely covered in tabloids. Further stirring public reaction, Effenberg published a controversial autobiography. This book became notorious for its blunt and often inflammatory content, particularly for its public criticisms and harsh remarks directed at various football professionals, including his former teammate Lothar Matthäus.

In 2001, Effenberg faced legal trouble when he was found guilty of assaulting a woman in a nightclub, leading to a fine. The following year, he sparked another significant controversy by making highly insensitive remarks about unemployed people in Germany. In an interview published in Playboy, Effenberg implied that unemployed individuals were "too lazy to look for work" and advocated for cuts to their social benefits. This statement drew widespread criticism for its lack of empathy and disregard for the systemic challenges faced by the unemployed, highlighting a problematic social stance.

7.2. Personal Relationships and Family

Stefan Effenberg's personal life, particularly his relationships, often garnered public attention. After his highly publicized affair with Claudia Strunz, the estranged wife of his former teammate Thomas Strunz, Effenberg eventually married Claudia in 2004. He has three children from his first marriage. Following their marriage, Effenberg and Claudia relocated to Florida, United States.

8.1. Club

8.2. International

Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Effenberg goal.

8.3. Managerial

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Paderborn 07		13 October 2015	2 March 2016	2|6|7|13.33
Total				2|6|7|13.33

9.1. Club Honours

Bayern Munich

• Bundesliga: 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01
• DFB-Pokal: 1999-2000
• UEFA Champions League: 2000-01
• Intercontinental Cup: 2001
• DFB-Supercup: 1990
• DFB-Ligapokal: 1998, 1999, 2000

Fiorentina

• Serie B: 1993-94

Borussia Mönchengladbach

• DFB-Pokal: 1994-95

9.2. International Honours

Germany

• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 1992
• U.S. Cup: 1993

9.3. Individual Honours

• kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 1990-91, 1991-92, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1999-2000
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1992
• FIFA XI: 1997
• ESM Team of the Year: 1998-99
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2001
• Bayern Munich All-time XI: 2005

10.1. Positive Reception

Effenberg is widely regarded as one of Germany's most talented and influential midfielders of his generation. His powerful presence, exceptional passing range, and tactical intelligence made him a formidable force in the midfield. He is particularly celebrated for his second spell at FC Bayern Munich, where his strong leadership as captain was instrumental in guiding the club to multiple Bundesliga titles and, most notably, the UEFA Champions League title in 2001. His performance in that final, where he scored the equalizer, cemented his place in the club's history. Bayern fans consistently acknowledged his immense contributions by voting him into the club's all-time greatest XI. He was also recognized individually, earning the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award in 2001 and being named to the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament in 1992.

10.2. Criticism

Despite his footballing brilliance, Effenberg's career was frequently overshadowed by his temperamental and controversial personality, which drew considerable criticism from fans, managers, and the public. His often confrontational behavior included public disputes with teammates, such as Lothar Matthäus, as detailed in his autobiography, which was widely seen as unprofessional. The infamous "finger gesture" towards German fans at the 1994 FIFA World Cup led to his immediate expulsion from the national team, highlighting a significant lapse in professionalism and disrespect for supporters.

Beyond the pitch, Effenberg faced legal consequences for an assault in a nightclub in 2001, demonstrating a concerning pattern of behavior. Most notably, his comments in a 2002 interview implying that unemployed individuals were "too lazy to look for work" and demanding benefit cuts were widely condemned. These remarks were seen as deeply insensitive and showed a profound lack of empathy for social issues and the struggles of vulnerable populations, contributing to a public perception of him as arrogant and socially irresponsible. Such actions and statements significantly tarnished his image, underscoring a legacy that combines immense talent with a controversial and often problematic public persona.