German football executive and former player
Karl-Heinz "Kalle" Rummenigge (German: [ˌkaʁlˈhaɪnts ˈkalə ˈʁʊmənɪɡə]; born 25 September 1955) is a German football 5️⃣ executive and former professional player. Considered one of the greatest German footballers, he was also the longtime Chairman of Executive 5️⃣ Board of FC Bayern München AG, a daughter company of German Bundesliga team Bayern Munich.
As a player, Rummenigge had his 5️⃣ greatest career success with Bayern Munich, where he won the Intercontinental Cup, two European Cups, as well as two league 5️⃣ titles and two domestic cups. He also won two Ballon d'Or awards, in 1980 and 1981.
A member of the West 5️⃣ Germany national team, Rummenigge won the 1980 European Championship and was part of the squad that finished runner-up in the 5️⃣ 1982 FIFA World Cup and at the 1986 World Cup.
Rummenigge is a former chairman of the European Club Association, serving 5️⃣ in that capacity from 2008 until 2024.
Club career [ edit ]
Rummenigge with Bayern Munich in 1982
Rummenigge was born in Lippstadt, 5️⃣ North Rhine-Westphalia.
He joined Bayern Munich in 1974, coming from the Westphalian amateur side Borussia Lippstadt, for a transfer fee of 5️⃣ ca. €10,000. He immediately showed great strength as a dribbler. His scoring qualities were initially insignificant, but would find great 5️⃣ improvement in later years, particularly after the arrival of coach Pal Csernai in 1979. In 1979–80, he scored 26 goals 5️⃣ and became for the first time the Bundesliga's top striker, a feat he repeated in 1981 and 1984 with 29 5️⃣ and 26 goals, respectively.
With Bayern he won the European Cup in 1975 and 1976. In 1975, he did not take 5️⃣ part in the final of the competition, whilst in the year thereafter a glass of brandy sufficiently prepared the nervous 5️⃣ Rummenigge to contribute to the defeat of AS Saint-Étienne. In the same year he became also part of the team 5️⃣ that prevailed in the Intercontinental Cup finals against Cruzeiro EC from Belo Horizonte.
In the era of coach Csernai he found 5️⃣ in midfielder Paul Breitner a congenial partner and he formed such a formidable one-two-punch that they were only called Breitnigge 5️⃣ (name invented by German newspaper Bild).
The club, then often dubbed as "FC Breitnigge", won in this period the Bundesliga title 5️⃣ in 1980 and 1981, and the DFB-Pokal in 1982 and 1984. A renewed triumph in the European Cup was denied, 5️⃣ when the club lost the 1982 final narrowly against Aston Villa. In the season before Rummenigge was top-scorer in this 5️⃣ competition with 6 goals.
His substantial contribution to the successes of the club and the Germany national football team found also 5️⃣ expression in personal honours. In 1980, he was named German Footballer of the Year and in 1980–1981 the European Footballer 5️⃣ of the Year.
In 1984, aged 29, he was sold for a record fee of €5.7m[1] to Inter Milan. Despite a 5️⃣ notable beginning, in which he helped the team to compete until the end for the 1984–85 Scudetto, Rumenigge's career in 5️⃣ Italy was mostly marred by injury problems. At the end of his contract in 1987, Rummenigge moved on to Swiss 5️⃣ first division club Servette FC in Geneva, where he saw his career out. In his last season, 1988–89, he had 5️⃣ his last success, becoming top scorer in the Swiss league with 24 goals.
International career [ edit ]
With the West Germany 5️⃣ national team he took part in the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, 1982 World Cup in Spain and the 1986 5️⃣ World Cup in Mexico. In 1978, West Germany exited in the second group stage of the tournament. In 1982 and 5️⃣ 1986, the team was runner-up behind Italy and Argentina, giving him the unique distinction of captaining the senior team to 5️⃣ two silver medals in the FIFA World Cup.[2]
Rummenigge also took part in two European Championship tournaments. In the 1980 competition 5️⃣ in Italy, West Germany defeated Belgium in the final by 2–1 to win their second UEFA Euro.
Altogether, between 1976 and 5️⃣ 1986, Rummenigge amassed 95 caps and scored 45 goals for West Germany, including one in extra-time in the 1982 World 5️⃣ Cup semi-final victory over France, and one in the losing 1986 World Cup final match against Argentina. He also scored 5️⃣ a hat-trick in a group stage game against Chile during the 1982 World Cup.
Style of play [ edit ]
One of 5️⃣ the most talented attacking players of his generation, Rummenigge was often lauded as a highly versatile forward, capable of playing 5️⃣ as a second striker, winger, or flat-out centre forward. His main strengths were his pace, dribbling, heading and goalscoring ability, 5️⃣ from both close range and from outside the box. He also had a penchant for scoring from awkward situations.
Rummenigge was 5️⃣ also praised for his both-footedness, leadership and physical strength. However, his later career was greatly affected by injuries, in particular 5️⃣ after his move to Inter Milan.
Bayern Munich management [ edit ]
Rummenigge (right) with Uli Hoeneß in 2013
In autumn 1991, Bayern 5️⃣ Munich invited Franz Beckenbauer and Rummenigge to return to the club as vice presidents. Rummenigge held this position until February 5️⃣ 2002, when he was appointed Chairman of Executive Board of the newly corporatised football department of the club (FC Bayern 5️⃣ München AG).[3] According to the club, "in his role as chairman he is responsible for external relations, new media, board 5️⃣ affairs and representing the holding company on national and international bodies."
During his tenure, Bayern Munich managed to move to their 5️⃣ new stadium, Allianz Arena.[4] Oliver Kahn took over his CEO position at Bayern Munich from 1 July 2024.[5] Rummenigge was 5️⃣ appointed a member of the supervisory board on 30 May 2024.[6]
Miscellaneous [ edit ]
In April 1983, the British pop duo 5️⃣ Alan & Denise recorded a tribute song about his "sexy knees" in the song "Rummenigge". The single reached number 43 5️⃣ in German charts.[7]
From 1990 until 1994, Rummenigge worked as a TV co–commentator for matches of the Germany national team.
In March 5️⃣ 2004, he was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers.
His brother Michael Rummenigge was also 5️⃣ a noteworthy footballer. He played as forward for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund from 1982 to 1988 and 1988 to 5️⃣ 1994, respectively. He also represented Germany on two occasions between 1983 and 1986.
Rummenigge and his wife Martina have three sons 5️⃣ and two daughters born between 1980 and 1991.[8]
Rummenigge supports ending the 50+1 rule.[9]
Career statistics [ edit ]
Club [ edit ]
Appearances 5️⃣ and goals by club, season and competition[10][11][12][13] Club Season League Cup[a] Continental[b] Other[c] Total Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps 5️⃣ Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Bayern Munich 1974–75 Bundesliga 21 5 3 1 4 0 — 28 6 1975–76 32 5️⃣ 8 7 2 9 3 2 0 50 13 1976–77 31 12 5 2 6 1 4 0 46 15 5️⃣ 1977–78 29 8 3 0 6 6 — 38 14 1978–79 34 14 2 0 — 36 14 1979–80 34 5️⃣ 26 3 5 10 5 47 36 1980–81 34 29 3 4 8 6 45 39 1981–82 32 14 7 5️⃣ 7 9 6 48 27 1982–83 34 20 2 0 6 1 42 21 1983–84 29 26 7 4 6 5️⃣ 2 42 32 Total 310 162 42 25 64 30 6 0 422 217 Inter Milan 1984–85 Serie A 26 5️⃣ 8 9 5 9 5 — 44 18 1985–86 24 13 6 2 9 3 39 18 1986–87 14 3 5️⃣ 5 2 5 1 24 6 Total 64 24 20 9 23 9 — 107 42 Servette 1987–88 Super League 5️⃣ 28 10 — — 28 10 1988–89 32 24 4 0 36 24 Total 60 34 4 0 — 64 5️⃣ 34 Career total 434 220 62 34 91 39 6 0 593 293
International [ edit ]
Appearances and goals by national 5️⃣ team and year[14] National team Year Apps Goals Germany 1976 2 0 1977 6 1 1978 12 4 1979 8 5️⃣ 5 1980 10 4 1981 11 9 1982 13 9 1983 10 8 1984 8 1 1985 6 3 1986 5️⃣ 9 1 Total 95 45
Scores and results list West Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rummenigge 5️⃣ goal.
Honours [ edit ]
Rummenigge in 1982
Bayern Munich
West Germany
Individual
Notes [ edit ]
