German legend Rudi Voller was a complete striker and provided five years of loyal service to Roma, although his time as coach of the club would prove to be short lived as his tactical services were overshadowed by undoubted playing class.
Voller was born on April 13, 1960 in Hanau, West Germany. At the tender age of six he had been brought onto the books of TSV 1860 Hanau, his local club, and spent nine years there before moving to Kickers Offenbach in 1975. By 1977 he had signed his first professional contract and went on to make 73 appearances for the club.
His talent as a youngster soon attracted the big clubs and in 1980 he signed for 1860 Munich, but his time there was short lived and by 1982 he had moved on to Werder Bremen. The same year he won his first international cap for Germany and in the five years that he played for Bremen his reputation grew and grew.
By 1987, after a season where he finished as the Bundesliga’s top scorer foreign clubs began sniffing around. After scoring an impressive 97 goals in just 137 appearances Voller was signed by AS Roma.
Voller soon became a crucial star for the team and became a fans favourite. His terrifying pace earned him the nickname ‘il tedesco volante’ – the flying German. Roma fans were treated to seeing a complete striker week in week out.
Although a centre forward, Voller could drop to the wings and manipulate play from anywhere on the pitch, and his fighting spirit and work rate enamoured him to the fans. His excellent heading ability coupled with lethal shooting from either foot and skilful dribbling resulted in him being the club’s top scorer on several occasions.
He won the Coppa Italia in 1991 before being transferred to Marseille the following year. This was to allow Roma to bring in Claudio Caniggia as its third foreign player. Voller left the club having made 142 appearances and scoring 45 goals.
In a successful first season at Marseille, Voller won the Champions League, but after a bribery scandal hit the club they were stripped of their league title and were relegated at the end of 1994 despite finishing second.
After Marseille’s enforced relegation Voller left the club and returned to Germany to join Bayer Leverkusen, where he played until his retirement in 1996.
Voller soon moved into management. A disappointing Euro 2000 campaign for the German national side resulted in manager Erich Ribbeck leaving his post and being replaced by Voller.
Although intending to take the job for just a year he extended his contract after his planned successor Christoph Daum was involved in a drug scandal.
In the 2002 World Cup Voller enjoyed great success, leading the team to a surprise appearance in the final. The next big competition, Euro 2004, would go badly and after a first round exit Voller resigned as manager.
Voller wasn’t out of work for long. At the start of the 2004 season Roma coach Cesare Prandelli stepped down due to his wife’s ill health and a replacement was needed at short notice. Voller was happy to take the job but had a nightmare time in charge.
After his players’ bad behaviour at the start of the season Voller was so disgusted that he threatened to quit and return to Germany, ‘Stop this behaviour…we have to work together, on a positive season. If they won’t follow me in that, I might as well return to Germany.’ He was particularly enraged at striker Antonio Cassano’s sending off in a league game, fining him €100,000.
The following game, against Dinamo Kiev in the Champions League, defender Mexes was sent off for kicking an opponent. A Roma supporter then threw an object at referee Anders Frisk who postponed the game. Voller lasted only a month in charge, resigning after a run of poor results and high profile bust ups with players and taking only four points from a possible 12.
He returned to Germany and served on the backroom staff at Bayer Leverkusen before eventually becoming sporting director.
Voller enjoyed a glittering career for the Germany national side, making 90 appearances and scoring 47 goals.
He won the 1990 World Cup despite being sent off in the second round game against Holland.
He would return after the suspension to play a starring role in the semi final and final, where he won the penalty which Andreas Brehme converted to win the trophy.
Voller also played in Euro 88 and 92 as well as the 1994 World Cup, but he was kept out of the starting line up by Jurgen Klinsmann and Karl-Heinz Riedle.
In Germany Voller is still extremely popular and his time as manager is looked upon as quite a success, although that is merely a single drop compared to how greatly his skills as a footballer are still valued.
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