Back
1.05.2023Bayer 04

Birthday boy of the month IV: Oliver Neuville turns 50

Oliver ‘Olli’ Neuville was born in Locarno in Switzerland on 1 May 1973. Talent was in his blood as his German father played for Alemannia Aachen and in Switzerland. Olli's first club was US Gambarogno. The diminutive but very quick striker joined FC Locarno in the National League B in 1991 and just a year later he moved up to the National League A when he signed for Servette. He won the Swiss league title with Servette in 1994 and he played an important part in that triumph with his contribution of 16 goals. After a total of three years in Geneva, he moved on to the Canary Island of Tenerife for a season where he played under coach Jupp Heynckes in 33 league matches and he scored five goals.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

He came to the Bundesliga at the age of 24 in 1997: Hansa Rostock secured the services of the striker. In his two years on the Baltic coast, Olli became a Germany international. He also came to the attention of Bayer 04 Leverkusen in those two years. He moved under the Bayer Cross in 1999 and went on to play 165 Bundesliga matches and scored 42 goals for the Werkself in five years. Olli was a Bundesliga runner-up in 2000 and 2002 and in the 2001/02 campaign he played in the DFB Cup final with Bayer 04 and was also in the line-up for the Black and Reds in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Glasgow.

He was a World Cup runner-up with Germany in 2002 and finished third in the World Cup in Germany four years later. He was also runner-up in the European Championships in 2008. With the last two honours he was playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach who he joined on a free in 2004.

crop_20011204_B04_DEP_0030.jpg

 

He was very successful there too and, as in Leverkusen, he scored 42 goals in 161 appearances. In July 2006 he scored a brilliant goal when, with his back to the goal, he jumped to back-heel the ball into the net. That strike was voted Goal of the Year 2006 by viewers of the ARD Sportschau.

He ended his playing career after a brief period in Bundesliga 2 at Arminia Bielefeld from the summer of 2010 to February 2011. But Olli stayed in football. Borussia Mönchengladbach secured his services in 2013 way became assistant coach to the U 23 team. He still works on the Lower Rhine as assistant coach at the Foals where he is able to pass on his experience in many languages. In addition to German, Olli Neuville also speaks Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

Tutto il meglio e rimanete in salute!

Related News

Von Eigl bis Calhanoglu | Tore des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Goals of the Month: From Eigl to Calhanoglu

In this video you can watch impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 in the month of October. It is not always about the beauty of the goals but also about remembering special games and players.

Show more
Vor 35 Jahren – Tabellenführung in München | Spiel des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Match of the month: 35 years ago – Top of the table in Munich, part two

The Werkself secured victory against Bayern Munich for the first time on 1 November 1986. On matchday 12, Bayer 04 beat the Bundesliga league leaders 3-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Munich and go top of the table.

Show more
Torben Hoffmann wird 50 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Birthday boy of the month five: Torben Hoffmann is 50

Torben Hoffman was born in Kiel on 27 October 1974. In his youth he played for TuS Schwarz-Weiß Elmschershagen. The qualified policeman joined Holstein Kiel in 1993. Two years later he moved on to VfB Lübeck in Bundesliga two. After relegation with Lübeck in 1997 he came to attention of SC Freiburg and they signed the defender. The team relegated from the Bundesliga went straight back up with Torben who moved under the Bayer Cross in 1999 after another year in the Bundesliga. However, he was unable to establish himself at Leverkusen making only sporadic appearances and he was rarely in the starting XI. He played in a total of 30 games for the Werkself.

Show more
Thomas Reichenberger wird 50 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Birthday boy of the month four: Thomas Reichenberger is 50

Thomas ‘Thommy’ Reichenberger was born in Bad Kreuznach on 14 October 1974. The son of a former Bundesliga player – his father Max made 38 Bundesliga appearances for 1860 Munich – played for Eintracht Bad Kreuznach as a youth player before moving up to the first team.

Show more
Manfred Pomp wird 60 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Birthday boy of the month three: Manfred Pomp is 60

Manfred ‘Manni’ Pomp was born in Aachen on 25 October 1964. His first football club was the Aachen police sports club (PSV) but he signed for Alemannia Aachen after a year.

Show more