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Matthaeus pays tribute to Maradona
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March 6,2000. BERLIN,
Mar 5: Lother Mathaeus called Maradona the best player he ever faced as he
bid farewell to the Bundesliga Saturday, while saying he still burns with
an unquenchable “fire to play”, reports AP. Matthaeus,
who has won almost every title during a 21 year career, played 55 minutes
in his final Match for Bayern Munich,A 2-0 LOSS SATURDAY TO VfB Stuttgart.
He will join the New York- New Jersey Metro Stars on March 13. But
Matthaeus, 38 is probably as surprised as anyone that he still is a top
player after 464 Bundesliga Matches and two decades since his league debut
on Sep. 22, 1979 with Borussia Moencheng
ladbach. “The
fight to exist is getting tougher” matthaeus said in 1985. “At 32, the
career is over.” That
was before he led Germany to the World Cup title in 1990 and won two
straight awards as FIFA’s world player of the year. He also added two
UEFA Cup
crowns and six more league titles in Germany and Italy. With
his last match, congratulations poured in form all over Germany for the
outspoken Mathaeus, who has sometimes been a controversial figure during
his long career. Matthaeus
was an honest player who always gave the fans his best.” Said German
chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. “What I especially liked about him was his
free Kicks.” Matthaeus
said success hasn’t slaked his desire to play, that he still burns with
the hunger of 1992, when h said “I’m simply crazy about soccer, I love
it and I’ll do every thing for it.” The
midfielder-defender says his most memorable match was a 3-1 victory
against Yugoslavia in Germany’s 1990 World Coup opener, a contest in
which he scored twice. He believes the triumph paved the way for the
country’s title. The
Germans best Maradona and Argentina in the final, a rematch of the 1986
decider in which Argentina emerged with the World Cup crown. “Maradona
was, in the time I played, the biggest genius,” recalls Matthaeus.” He
owned the ball like no other. He acted like the ball belongs to him - and
you had to get it back.” Matthaeus,
who owns a host of international records like 144 caps for the national
team and 25 World Cup matches, will play one more contest for Munich. He
will face Real Madrid in the Champions Cup before heading to New York and
relative anonymity. That will be a big switch for a man who has never been
publicity-shy and has faced decade of seeing cameras wherever he turns. Not
everyone believe Matthaeus Bandesliga days are over the German star has
dangled the possibility of taking a lucrative offer to play in Dubai after
his ‘Metrostars’ stint. Then again, he’s hinted at a return to
Germany. “
Bye bye Loyher, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again.” Said
Christoph Daum, coach of Bundesliga rival Bayer Lever-Kusen. Matthaeus Factfile Factfile
on Luther Matthaeus who played his last Bundesliga game on Saturday: ˆ
1961: Born March 21 in Erlangen, Germany. ˆ
1979: Starts professional career with Borussia. ˆ
1980: Makes international debt against the Netherlands. ˆ
1984: Joins Bayern Munich ˆ
1988: Joins Inter Milan. ˆ
1990: Captains Germany to victory at the World Cup in Italy
(named European Footballer of the year. ˆ
1992: Returns to Bayern Munich ˆ
1998: Earns a recall in the Germany squad for the World Cup
in France. ˆ
2000: Feb 23 – Become the World’s most – capped player
with his 144 international appearance in friendly (against the Netherlands
in which Germany lose 2-1. March
4 – Makes his last Bundesliga appearance in a 2-0 Defeat
by VfB Stuttgart. International
record: European
Champion 1980 (did not play the final) World
Champion 1990 (Captained the
side) Made
World record 144th international appearance on February
23 – Against the Netherlands. Other
facts: Only
field player to have appeared in five World Cup finals (1982, 1986, 1990,
1994, 1998) Will
leave Bayern Munich later this month to join U.S Major League New York-new
Jersey Metrostars after playing his last game for Bayern next week at home
to Real Madrid in the Champion s League. Plans
to retire from international soccer after this year’s Euro 2000
championship in Belgium and the Netherlands. Source:
The Bangladesh Observer |