Soccer
Stefan Effenberg bids his final farewell
By Ulli Bruenger
Jul 21, 2005, 4:10 GMT

Moenchengladbach, Germany - He captained Bayern Munich to the 2001 Champions League title but is probably most remembered for an obscene gesture which all but ended his national team career in 1994.

The two events mark the contrasts in the footballing career of Stefan Effenberg, who on Friday makes his official farewell match in the stadium of one of his former clubs, Borussia Moenchengladbach.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung once named Effenberg an "egotist and team player" which arguably is the best description of the playmaker.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung said: "The football public knows many eccentrics on the pitch, but Effenberg's combative character split the nation."

Effenberg was never adored in the same way as other great German footballers such as Franz Beckenbauer or Uwe Seeler, but he was still very successful.

The midfielder won three Bundesliga titles and the 2001 Champions League with Munich, played a total 370 Bundesliga matches for Moenchengladbach, Munich and VfL Wolfsburg, played in Italy at Fiorentina and in Qatar.

But he only managed 35 caps for Germany.

Effenberg was famously sent home during the 1994 World Cup after raising his middle finger at jeering fans when he was substituted during a game. He briefly re-appeared in 1998 but quit again.

Further escapades marred his career but the 36-year-old has no regrets.

"Of course I made mistakes in my life, in Gladbach, Munich and elsewhere. Everyone makes mistakes, that's only human. You can only learn from them. And I have no regrets," he says.

Effenberg was never seriously bothered by his image, all that counted for the imposing player was success on the field.

"It would be awful if I hadn't won a title in all those years and I would only be remembered for 370 Bundesliga matches," he said.

Now comes his farewell on Friday to which the likes of Rudi Voeller, Gabriel Batistuta, Lothar Matthaeus, Mario Basler and Juergen Kohler are invited.

Effenberg was also delighted that Munich club manager Uli Hoeness released Oliver Kahn, Bixente Lizarazu, Mehmet Scholl and other active players from pre-season training for the game.

But there was never any doubt that the farewell match itself would take place in Moenchengladbach, where his Bundesliga career started.

"Borussia comes from the heart, my time in Munich stands for success," said Effenberg.

"It will be a great event. It is very special to me to play with long-time team-mates. I am really looking forward to the game."

Effenberg said he may obtain his coaching licence in the future, but his family, which he has always managed to keep out of the spotlight despite the big number of headlines, comes first.

Effenberg lives in Florida with his second wife Claudia (formerly married to Bayern Munich team-mate Thomas Strunz), with his ex-wife Martina and their children close by as well.

"I always tried to protect my family and my children," he said. America was always a dream of mine. That's where my children are, I could not live without them," he said.

It is the final irony that the U.S. now marks a happy period for Effenberg, 11 years after he suffered his darkest Germany hour there.