A legend turns 65: Happy Birthday, Rudi!

And how good that the fears of Freiburg's former coach Christian Streich have not come to pass. "There's definitely nobody in football in Germany who will not miss Rudi Völler," said the now retired coach at the official farewell to Völler that took place at the final game of the season against SC Freiburg at the BayArena in May 2022.

a decision based on a gut feeling

Völler does not have to be missed as he continues to take a leading role in German football as the Germany sporting director. His withdrawal from the management at Bayer 04 only ended a chapter – even if a long one – in his unique career. A short review is apt at this point. That the 1990 World Cup winner and one of the most popular footballers in the country ended his playing career at Leverkusen counted as a surprise. Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Köln amongst others were after his services in 1994. But Völler, who was born in Hanau and came through the ranks at Kickers Offenbach, opted for Bayer 04.

"I felt there was a plain image I needed to disappear and that the management would do something to get out of the situation. In the end I made a decision based on a gut feeling." That's how the world star, who was the first German to win the Champions League with Olympique Marseille in 1993, explained his move to the Bayer Cross. He never regretted it.

a man for all seasons

Albeit he soon went through a tricky phase in Leverkusen. The then 34 year-old played for the Werkself for two years scoring 26 goals in 62 games. But one of the greatest German footballers was almost relegated in his last season. "The football gods just couldn't let it happen," Peter Hermann once said in the crucial phase of the season when he was the Bayer 04 coach. A 1-1 draw against Kaiserslautern avoided relegation at the last moment. Völler was relieved to be able to bid farewell as a player. And his second career started in Leverkusen. First as sporting director, later as sporting managing director and for a short time as a member of the shareholders committee and as club ambassador. From time to time as a caretaker coach if required. That did happen.

Where would Bayer 04 be without Rudi Völler? A hypothetical question to which there is no answer. There is no doubt that the player Völler made his way into the hearts of the Bayer 04 fans with his goals and tricks, with his style of play and battling approach. He scored in his first game for the Black and Reds against Eintracht Frankfurt shortly after coming off the bench. "The whole crowd rose and applauded. A goosebumps moment," recalled Peter Hermann. Rudi Völler took Bayer 04 by storm. The club benefited from the charisma of his name alone. And after his playing career also from his great knowledge of football, his insight into human nature and his fine touch for the right personnel. Shortly after starting as the Bayer 04 sporting director, Völler’s words were important in securing the services of Christoph Daum in 1996. "Without his support in this issue it would have been difficult for me to bring Daum to the club," said the then club boss Reiner Calmund in highlighting the influence of Völler on the significant change of direction.

"A representative of real football"

How many highly talented players from home and abroad later moved under the Bayer Cross because the worldwide respected Rudi Völler was working in the Werkself management remains unknown. But there is no question that his ability to attract, his credibility and honesty played a big role in all transfers. "Rudi was worth his weight in gold for us as an international legend and he helped convince lads like Emerson, Zé Roberto, Michael Ballack and Bernd Schneider to sign for Bayer 04," said Calmund. "In addition, he again and again introduced changes over the course of the years and the current outstanding infrastructure of the club on the sporting side is primarily his lifetime achievement."

If it's about football there is scarcely anybody else who understands all aspects of this sport as well as Rudi Völler. His former Germany teammate Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also knows from his time as the chairman of the board at Bayern Munich: "When we battled together for the interests of our clubs, Rudi was always a representative of real football while other clubs more and more integrated finance people. He is pro football and not always pro finance or pro marketing, he knows exactly what is dangerous for our sport."

THe National team as a labour of love

And Rudi Völler was again and again in demand as a coach and team boss conversely because he also knew exactly what's good for football. When German football went through a bad time after the Euros in 2000 he took over as the Germany coach as a short-term replacement for Christoph Daum originally. Völler won 190 caps for Germany from 1982 to 1994 and he was a World Cup winner in Italy in 1990, runner-up in Mexico in 1986 and European Championship runner-up in Sweden in 1992. Ten years later he led Germany as the team boss at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea and took them to the final against Brazil. Germany finished as runners-up completely out of the blue.

When the DFB parted company with Hansi Flick in September 2023, the previously appointed sporting director Rudi Völler jumped in again for six months. German football was once again not in a good position. And the interim coach brought about a change in mood. "Völler here, crisis over: Germany celebrate turnaround against France," was the headline on sportschau.de after the 2-1 win against the Équipe de France. After the successful restart, Völler turned his attention to appointing a new coach. And he also demonstrated his magic touch. Germany regained lots of support at the 2024 Euros on home turf under Julian Nagelsmann with exciting football.

So it is no surprise that the DFB extended the contract with sporting director Rudi Völler by two years to 2028 four days ago. He will be on board for the next big tournaments, the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico as well as the 2028 Euros in Great Britain and Ireland. Very good news for German football. The national side and the whole team at the DFB have grown close to his heart Völler said after the contract extension. "Of course, the exciting European Championships at home but above all working with Julian Nagelsmann played a crucial role. I'm very much looking forward to continuing along the chosen path to the next Euros with Julian and his team – and back to sporting success and into the hearts of fans in Germany. We've already taken a big step forwards."

On this Sunday, Rudi Völler celebrates his 65th birthday with his family. Dear Rudi, Bayer 04 wish you many happy returns and all the best for the future and further success! We'll see you again soon at the BayArena.