Introduction
Thomas Jürgen "Icke" Häßler ([ˈtoːmas ˈhɛslɐ]; born 30 May 1966) is a German former professional football player. He played as a midfielder throughout his career.
Häßler appeared over 100 times for the German national team. He was a member of the teams which won the 1990 FIFA World Cup (as West Germany) and UEFA Euro 1996. He also appeared at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, the 1992 and 2000 UEFA European Championships, and the 1988 Olympic Games.
Club career
1. FC Köln (1984–1990)
Häßler spent his early playing days in the youth team of Reinickendorfer Füchse. He began his professional career in 1984 with 1. FC Köln of the Bundesliga, for whom he played six successful years, helping the club to become Bundesliga Runners-up in 1989 and 1990.
Juventus (1990–1991), Roma (1991–1994)
Soon after winning the 1990 World Cup with the German national team in Italy, Häßler transferred to Juventus for a sum of DM15 million. He spent only one year in Turin before he decided to join another Italian club, A.S. Roma, for a fee of DM14 million. This time he stayed for three years, making 88 appearances and scoring 11 goals.
Karlsruher SC (1994–1998)
In 1994, however, Häßler wanted to return to the Bundesliga. Despite offers from some of the biggest German clubs, he decided to sign with Karlsruher SC in a DM7 milliondeal, the highest transfer sum the club has ever spent. In the following three years, Karlsruhe and its new key player achieved positions in the upper third of the table which resulted in UEFA Cup participations in 1996–97 and 1997–98.
By winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1996, Karlsruhe not only qualified for the UEFA Cup but also accomplished to throw out Häßler's former club AS Roma in the second round of the tournament. In the first leg of the third round, Häßler scored twice in his team's 3–1 win over Brøndby IF in Copenhagen. However, shortly after this win Häßler received the first big injury in his career when he broke his leg in a league match against Fortuna Düsseldorf. Without its captain, Karlsruhe played a catastrophic second leg and was eliminated from the tournament after a 0–5 home defeat. Following his recovery, Häßler returned for the last two games of the season and helped his team to finish in sixth place in the 1996–97 season, securing another year of international football competition. In the end, once again the club failed to survive the third round.
At the end of the 1997–98 season, the club's situation had worsened significantly. For the first time in his career, Häßler was confronted with a possible relegation. Feeling the pressure he once more showed his extraordinary skills and scored four goals in the last three games of the season. Despite Häßler's performances, Karlsruhe lost its last match in a dramatic season final and was relegated from the Bundesliga.
Borussia Dortmund (1998–1999)
Due to a contract clause, Häßler could leave Karlsruhe immediately on a free transfer. He decided to join Borussia Dortmund, which had won the UEFA Champions League in 1997. There he met the later assistant of the German national team, Michael Skibbe, then with 32 years the youngest head coach in the history of the Bundesliga. In the course of the season, there were some serious disputes between Häßler and Skibbe because the latter entrusted the midfield leadership to Andreas Möller. In the end, Häßler made only 18 appearances and never played over the full 90 minutes.
1860 Munich (1999–2003)
Disappointed about his season in Dortmund, Häßler left the club towards Bavaria and signed a contract with TSV 1860 Munich. He spent four very successful years in Munich and became an important part of the team. Already in his first season the club reached a sensational fourth place in the Bundesliga. After they failed to win against Leeds United in the qualification for the UEFA Champions League, Häßler and his team participated in the UEFA Cup. But also with 1860 Munich he failed to overcome the competition's third round. In the following two years, the club took part in the UEFA Intertoto Cup but didn't manage to succeed. After the 2002–03 season, Häßler left Munich to finish his career in Austria.
SV Salzburg (2003–2004)
In 2003, Häßler signed a one-year contract with the Austrian club SV Salzburg. He made 19 appearances and reached a seventh place in the 2003–04 season before he announced his retirement.
Overall, Häßler chalked up an entertaining 539 games and a total of 81 goals throughout a football career in which he was voted Germany's footballer of the year in 1989 and 1992. Although he is considered as one of the best German footballers of all time, he didn't win a single major club title, having lost the UEFA Cup final with 1. FC Köln in 1986, the Coppa Italia final with AS Roma in 1993 and the DFB-Pokal final with Karlsruhe in 1996.
International career
For Germany, Häßler was capped 101 times, scoring 11 goals. Other than the two major tournament wins at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the 1996 UEFA European Championship, he also played for his country at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, Euro 92, and Euro 2000.
He also won a bronze medal for West Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He was the dominant figure of the Euro 92, displaying performances that were reminiscent of Diego Maradona's 1986 World Cup exploits. He displayed a specialty for scoring spectacular free kicks, tireless stamina and dazzling dribbling sprees, as Germany went on to reach the final of the tournament.
Coaching career
Häßler was an assistant coach at 1. FC Köln. He previously served as an assistant coach to Berti Vogts when he was head coach of Nigeria but both were later sacked by the Nigerian FA.
Häßler interviewed for the managerial position at Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock in June 2010. On 24 May 2014, he was named as the assistant coach of newly Iran Pro League promoted club, Padideh. He will work with his long-time friend, Alireza Marzban.
In February 2016 Häßler joined eighth division Bezirksliga side Club Italia Berlin as their new coach with the self-declared aim of eventual promotion to the 3. Liga.
Other information
Häßler's nickname is "Icke" – awarded to him for his pronunciation of "Ich" (German for "I") in typical Berlin dialect. He founded the music label MTM Music in March 1996. He participated in the 2016 season of German dance show Let's Dance. In 2017, he participated in German tv-show Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!|.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| 1. FC Köln | 1984–85 | Bundesliga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1985–86 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |||
| 1986–87 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 23 | 1 | ||||
| 1987–88 | 34 | 5 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 36 | 5 | ||||
| 1988–89 | 33 | 5 | 2 | 1 | – | 6 | 0 | 41 | 6 | |||
| 1989–90 | 34 | 6 | 3 | 0 | – | 10 | 0 | 47 | 6 | |||
| Total | 149 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 182 | 18 | ||
| Juventus | 1990–91 | Serie A | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 41 | 2 | ||
| Roma | 1991–92 | Serie A | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 3 | ||
| 1992–93 | 26 | 6 | – | 7 | 2 | 33 | 8 | |||||
| 1993–94 | 30 | 2 | – | – | 30 | 2 | ||||||
| Total | 88 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 102 | 13 | ||||
| Karlsruher SC | 1994–95 | Bundesliga | 33 | 3 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 37 | 4 | ||
| 1995–96 | 34 | 8 | 6 | 4 | – | 6 | 2 | 46 | 14 | |||
| 1996–97 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 1 | – | 9 | 4 | 30 | 10 | |||
| 1997–98 | 34 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 44 | 16 | ||
| Total | 118 | 28 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 9 | 157 | 44 | ||
| Borussia Dortmund | 1998–99 | Bundesliga | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 19 | 3 | ||
| 1860 Munich | 1999–00 | Bundesliga | 33 | 8 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 35 | 8 | ||
| 2000–01 | 32 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 44 | 8 | ||
| 2001–02 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 1 | – | 6 | 2 | 38 | 9 | |||
| 2002–03 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |||
| Total | 115 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 141 | 26 | ||
| SV Salzburg | 2003–04 | Austrian Bundesliga | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | 1 | 22 | 2 | |
| Career total | 539 | 81 | 37 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 83 | 16 | 664 | 97 | ||
Note: Häßler appeared in the following European club competitions - UEFA Intertoto Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Cup Winner's Cup, UEFA Champions League qualification
International
- Source:
| Germany national team | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 6 | 1 |
| 1990 | 12 | 0 |
| 1991 | 5 | 1 |
| 1992 | 13 | 4 |
| 1993 | 7 | 0 |
| 1994 | 14 | 0 |
| 1995 | 10 | 2 |
| 1996 | 14 | 2 |
| 1997 | 5 | 1 |
| 1998 | 9 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 101 | 11 |
International goals
- Scores and results table. Germany's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 15 November 1989 | Müngersdorfer Stadion, Cologne, Germany |  Wales |
2–1 | 2–1 | FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifying |
| 2. | 18 December 1991 | Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion, Leverkusen, Germany |  Luxembourg |
4–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying |
| 3. | 22 April 1992 | Stadion Eden, Prague, Czechoslovakia |  Czechoslovakia |
1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 4. | 12 June 1992 | Idrottsparken, Norrköping, Sweden |  CIS |
1–1 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 1992 |
| 5. | 21 June 1992 | Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden |  Sweden |
1–0 | 3–2 | UEFA Euro 1992 |
| 6. | 20 December 1992 | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay |  Uruguay |
3–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 7. | 23 June 1995 | Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, Switzerland |  Switzerland |
1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 8. | 15 November 1995 | Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany |  Bulgaria |
2–1 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 9. | 9 October 1996 | Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia |  Armenia |
1–0 | 5–1 | FIFA World Cup 1998 qualifying |
| 10. | 9 October 1996 | Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia | Armenia |
3–0 | 5–1 | FIFA World Cup 1998 qualifying |
| 11. | 10 September 1997 | Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany | Armenia |
3–0 | 4–0 | FIFA World Cup 1998 qualifying |
Honours
Club
1. FC Köln
- UEFA Cup runner-up: 1985–86
- Bundesliga runner-up: 1988–89, 1989–90
Juventus
- Supercoppa Italiana runner-up: 1990
Roma
- Coppa Italia runner-up: 1992–93
- Supercoppa Italiana runner-up: 1991
Karlsruher SC
- DFB-Pokal runner-up: 1995–96
International
Germany
- FIFA World Cup: 1990
- UEFA European Championship: 1996
- UEFA European Championship Runner-up: 1992
- Summer Olympic Games: Bronze medal 1988
Individual
- kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1995–96
- German Footballer of the Year: 1989, 1992
- FIFA World Cup Most Assists: 1994
- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1992
- FIFA World Player of the Year: Bronze Award 1992
- FIFA XI: 1999