He became World Champion with Germany in 1990, finished as runner-up in the European Championship two years later and was part of the DFB squad who claimed the bronze medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He also won the Bundesliga title on three occasions, once with Werder Bremen (1988) and twice with Borussia Dortmund (1995, 1996). Most importantly, Karl-Heinz Riedle bagged a brace for BVB against Juventus in Munich to secure the club’s first ever Champions League title.
His impressive record is reason enough for UEFA to select the former Germany international, who was capped 42 times, as ambassador for the Champions League final in Berlin on the 6th June. Riedle spoke with DFB.de about his role as ambassador and how he rates FC Bayern München’s chances for the rest of the Champions League.
DFB.de: One of the highlights of your role as UEFA ambassador is that you got to be involved in the draw for the quarterfinals last Friday. What do you make of the ties?
Karl-Heinz Riedle: The most exciting draws are obviously the games between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, as well as Real against Atlético. They are going to be two cracking clashes. It was a good draw for Bayern, who will face Porto, and Juventus have every chance of progressing against Monaco.
DFB.de: FC Bayern are the favourites in the competition. Have they now got an even clearer run to the final?
Riedle: It’s not possible to consider Bayern as the sole frontrunners for the final. For me, Barcelona are also one of the top contenders considering the way that they’ve played over the past few weeks and especially their performance against Manchester City. Atlético shouldn’t be ruled out though as they are a tricky team to play against and Juve have also impressed me. However, it’s clear that Barca and Bayern are the best bet for the final.
DFB.de: So would Bayern against Barcelona be your dream final for the 6th June in the Olympiastadion?
Riedle: It would indeed be a dream final; however, Real against Bayern would also be something special.
DFB.de: How disappointed are you that the final in the capital won’t see Borussia Dortmund come up against Bayern?
Riedle: As an ex-Borussia player, I was disappointed when they were knocked out of the competition in the last 16. You have to be honest though and say that they simply weren’t good enough to successfully compete with the best this year. Dortmund didn’t really have a chance against Juventus, which was a real sobering moment for those involved. Their exit also caused a great deal of hurt. BVB now need to look forward and get back to a position where they’re able to be competitive again at the highest level.
DFB.de: What have you made of this year’s competition as a whole up to now?
Riedle: The fact that there are three Spanish clubs in the quarter-finals highlights the quality of football in Spain. Barcelona, thanks to Messi’s improvement in form and the fact that Suarez has suddenly hit a rich vein of goal scoring form, are getting back to their best. France is also well-represented with two teams in the quarter-finals. Hardly anyone would have thought that Monaco were capable of getting this far and not many would have believed that PSG could get past Chelsea.
DFB.de: How about the German clubs' performances?
Riedle: I didn’t expect Dortmund’s exit from the competition. Atletico are a top team who have some quality players in their squad and Leverkusen were unfortunate to go out to them on penalties. Schalke played exceptionally well against Real but unfortunately just couldn’t do enough. It was clear that Bayern would progress.
DFB.de: Before bowing out of the competition, the BVB fans put on a fantastic choreography which demonstrated that you haven’t been forgotten there. What was the atmosphere in the stadium like?
Riedle: It was tremendous. I can only thank the fans, also on behalf of Lars Ricken and our former manager Ottmar Hitzfeld who were both celebrated, for the fantastic performance.
DFB.de: The Champions League triumph was surely the greatest success in the Dortumund’s club history. Was it for you too, as a player?
Riedle: Absolutely. When you win the Champions League and score two goals in the final, then you shouldn’t beat around the bush. There’s not a lot that can beat that.
DFB.de: Even better than the World Cup win in 1990 with the German national side?
Riedle: Of course to win the World Cup with your country is amazing and tops it all off. In terms of prestige, the World Cup is the pinnacle of football, but as I didn’t play in the final in Rome, the Champions League win against Juventus in Munich was, for me personally, the greatest achievement.
DFB.de: Even though you scored the match winner in Munich in 1997, your career in the national team had already been over for three years. Why was that?
Riedle: In 1995 I tore my cruciate ligament, but recovered quickly and well. Nevertheless, in Berti Vogts’ eyes I wasn’t fit enough for the European Championships in England in 1996, which I disagreed with. In any case, he chose a different striker instead. For me, that was pretty much it. It’s a shame, but I still had some wonderful years playing for the national team.
DFB.de: As a footballer from Allgäu, you enjoyed a fantastic career in the north with Werder Bremen and in the west with Borussia Dortmund. Was there ever any opportunity for you to move south and play for FC Bayern München?
Riedle: When I returned to Germany from Lazio in 1993, there were indeed talks with Bayern and Franz Beckenbauer had actually messaged me. I had already given word to Borussia Dortmund and I could already envisage something big happening there with teammates like Sammer, Reuter and Kohler. I was convinced that this would be the right step for me and it turns out it was, as in my four years at BVB we were twice German champions and we won the Champions League. I wouldn’t have won much more at Bayern.
DFB.de: Back to your current role as Champions League Ambassador. Were you surprised to be appointed by UEFA?
Riedle: I was more frequently involved with UEFA in the past and there has always been contact. I was handed the job at an internal meeting of the current people in charge at UEFA. It pleased me a lot and is an honour for me.
DFB.de: What were the criteria for you being appointed?
Riedle: The Champions League Ambassador has to come from the country in which the final will be held and should have a connection to the city where it will take place. This year it is Berlin and Germany. Wherever possible he should have also won the Champions League. That was the case in 2012 in Munich with Paul Breitner and it’s the same with me.
DFB.de: What specific jobs does the Champions League Ambassador undertake?
Riedle: Above all, you are the representative of the competition and are part of promoting it. I play an active role in the draws, I’ll come to the cup handover in Berlin after the draw for the semi-finals, I’ll take part in quite a number of PR meetings in the week before the final after the Champions League trophy arrives in Berlin and I’m always available if people at UEFA need me. I have a wonderful relationship with them and there are no problems whatsoever.
DFB.de: What relevance does this big event have for Berlin and German football?
Riedle: The final has such a strong presence and it gets such a big media coverage that the city, Germany and German football will be at the focus of attention. It’s a win-win situation for everyone that will be taking part and that has organised it.
DFB.de: Your short history of Berlin happened almost three decades ago now. What connection do you have with Berlin today and what memories to you have of your first year in the Bundesliga in 1986/1987 with Blau-Weis 90?
Riedle: I quite often visit Berlin. The annual DFB Cup final there is becoming a regular event for me. Berlin is a dream city that has developed well and is unique in Germany with everything it has to offer.
DFB.de: What were your memories of your time at Blau-Weiß 90?
Riedle: There were some great moments. We didn’t have a strong enough team to compete in the Bundesliga and we got relegated. As a 20-year-old from Allgäu, my first season in the Bundesliga in Berlin was a great experience. I made my Bundesliga debut there and scored my first Bundesliga goal. You never forget your first.
DFB.de: BVB were the first team to win what is now called the Champions League in 1997. How has the competition developed since then?
Riedle: The Champions League was already a great event back then. I can still remember the goosebumps I got when I played in the games. It wasn’t as professional as it is today. It’s turned into a brilliant even – financially, on the pitch and organisationally. Everything is run so professionally from the first minute of the group stage until the last minute of the final. It’s a perfect event. To be at the final on June 6th in Berlin as UEFA Ambassador will be an unforgettable experience, no matter which two sides are there.
DFB.de: Nevertheless, is it possible to have a Champions League final in Berlin without FC Bayern?
Riedle: I can’t picture Bayern München not being in the final and that’s not just because I have to be neutral as UEFA Ambassador for the Champions League. It’s desirable to have Bayern in the final and that’s what the majority of Germans will be hoping for even if they aren’t Bayern fans. Whatever happens, two big teams will be at the Olympiastadion on 6th June. It would be even better if Bayern were there. They know that they will have to take a step towards that over the next few weeks.
created by mmc/kr,jm&fs
He became World Champion with Germany in 1990, finished as runner-up in the European Championship two years later and was part of the DFB squad who claimed the bronze medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He also won the Bundesliga title on three occasions, once with Werder Bremen (1988) and twice with Borussia Dortmund (1995, 1996). Most importantly, Karl-Heinz Riedle bagged a brace for BVB against Juventus in Munich to secure the club’s first ever Champions League title.
His impressive record is reason enough for UEFA to select the former Germany international, who was capped 42 times, as ambassador for the Champions League final in Berlin on the 6th June. Riedle spoke with DFB.de about his role as ambassador and how he rates FC Bayern München’s chances for the rest of the Champions League.
DFB.de: One of the highlights of your role as UEFA ambassador is that you got to be involved in the draw for the quarterfinals last Friday. What do you make of the ties?
Karl-Heinz Riedle: The most exciting draws are obviously the games between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, as well as Real against Atlético. They are going to be two cracking clashes. It was a good draw for Bayern, who will face Porto, and Juventus have every chance of progressing against Monaco.
DFB.de: FC Bayern are the favourites in the competition. Have they now got an even clearer run to the final?
Riedle: It’s not possible to consider Bayern as the sole frontrunners for the final. For me, Barcelona are also one of the top contenders considering the way that they’ve played over the past few weeks and especially their performance against Manchester City. Atlético shouldn’t be ruled out though as they are a tricky team to play against and Juve have also impressed me. However, it’s clear that Barca and Bayern are the best bet for the final.
DFB.de: So would Bayern against Barcelona be your dream final for the 6th June in the Olympiastadion?
Riedle: It would indeed be a dream final; however, Real against Bayern would also be something special.
DFB.de: How disappointed are you that the final in the capital won’t see Borussia Dortmund come up against Bayern?
Riedle: As an ex-Borussia player, I was disappointed when they were knocked out of the competition in the last 16. You have to be honest though and say that they simply weren’t good enough to successfully compete with the best this year. Dortmund didn’t really have a chance against Juventus, which was a real sobering moment for those involved. Their exit also caused a great deal of hurt. BVB now need to look forward and get back to a position where they’re able to be competitive again at the highest level.
DFB.de: What have you made of this year’s competition as a whole up to now?
Riedle: The fact that there are three Spanish clubs in the quarter-finals highlights the quality of football in Spain. Barcelona, thanks to Messi’s improvement in form and the fact that Suarez has suddenly hit a rich vein of goal scoring form, are getting back to their best. France is also well-represented with two teams in the quarter-finals. Hardly anyone would have thought that Monaco were capable of getting this far and not many would have believed that PSG could get past Chelsea.
DFB.de: How about the German clubs' performances?
Riedle: I didn’t expect Dortmund’s exit from the competition. Atletico are a top team who have some quality players in their squad and Leverkusen were unfortunate to go out to them on penalties. Schalke played exceptionally well against Real but unfortunately just couldn’t do enough. It was clear that Bayern would progress.
DFB.de: Before bowing out of the competition, the BVB fans put on a fantastic choreography which demonstrated that you haven’t been forgotten there. What was the atmosphere in the stadium like?
Riedle: It was tremendous. I can only thank the fans, also on behalf of Lars Ricken and our former manager Ottmar Hitzfeld who were both celebrated, for the fantastic performance.
DFB.de: The Champions League triumph was surely the greatest success in the Dortumund’s club history. Was it for you too, as a player?
Riedle: Absolutely. When you win the Champions League and score two goals in the final, then you shouldn’t beat around the bush. There’s not a lot that can beat that.
DFB.de: Even better than the World Cup win in 1990 with the German national side?
Riedle: Of course to win the World Cup with your country is amazing and tops it all off. In terms of prestige, the World Cup is the pinnacle of football, but as I didn’t play in the final in Rome, the Champions League win against Juventus in Munich was, for me personally, the greatest achievement.
DFB.de: Even though you scored the match winner in Munich in 1997, your career in the national team had already been over for three years. Why was that?
Riedle: In 1995 I tore my cruciate ligament, but recovered quickly and well. Nevertheless, in Berti Vogts’ eyes I wasn’t fit enough for the European Championships in England in 1996, which I disagreed with. In any case, he chose a different striker instead. For me, that was pretty much it. It’s a shame, but I still had some wonderful years playing for the national team.
DFB.de: As a footballer from Allgäu, you enjoyed a fantastic career in the north with Werder Bremen and in the west with Borussia Dortmund. Was there ever any opportunity for you to move south and play for FC Bayern München?
Riedle: When I returned to Germany from Lazio in 1993, there were indeed talks with Bayern and Franz Beckenbauer had actually messaged me. I had already given word to Borussia Dortmund and I could already envisage something big happening there with teammates like Sammer, Reuter and Kohler. I was convinced that this would be the right step for me and it turns out it was, as in my four years at BVB we were twice German champions and we won the Champions League. I wouldn’t have won much more at Bayern.
DFB.de: Back to your current role as Champions League Ambassador. Were you surprised to be appointed by UEFA?
Riedle: I was more frequently involved with UEFA in the past and there has always been contact. I was handed the job at an internal meeting of the current people in charge at UEFA. It pleased me a lot and is an honour for me.
DFB.de: What were the criteria for you being appointed?
Riedle: The Champions League Ambassador has to come from the country in which the final will be held and should have a connection to the city where it will take place. This year it is Berlin and Germany. Wherever possible he should have also won the Champions League. That was the case in 2012 in Munich with Paul Breitner and it’s the same with me.
DFB.de: What specific jobs does the Champions League Ambassador undertake?
Riedle: Above all, you are the representative of the competition and are part of promoting it. I play an active role in the draws, I’ll come to the cup handover in Berlin after the draw for the semi-finals, I’ll take part in quite a number of PR meetings in the week before the final after the Champions League trophy arrives in Berlin and I’m always available if people at UEFA need me. I have a wonderful relationship with them and there are no problems whatsoever.
DFB.de: What relevance does this big event have for Berlin and German football?
Riedle: The final has such a strong presence and it gets such a big media coverage that the city, Germany and German football will be at the focus of attention. It’s a win-win situation for everyone that will be taking part and that has organised it.
DFB.de: Your short history of Berlin happened almost three decades ago now. What connection do you have with Berlin today and what memories to you have of your first year in the Bundesliga in 1986/1987 with Blau-Weis 90?
Riedle: I quite often visit Berlin. The annual DFB Cup final there is becoming a regular event for me. Berlin is a dream city that has developed well and is unique in Germany with everything it has to offer.
DFB.de: What were your memories of your time at Blau-Weiß 90?
Riedle: There were some great moments. We didn’t have a strong enough team to compete in the Bundesliga and we got relegated. As a 20-year-old from Allgäu, my first season in the Bundesliga in Berlin was a great experience. I made my Bundesliga debut there and scored my first Bundesliga goal. You never forget your first.
DFB.de: BVB were the first team to win what is now called the Champions League in 1997. How has the competition developed since then?
Riedle: The Champions League was already a great event back then. I can still remember the goosebumps I got when I played in the games. It wasn’t as professional as it is today. It’s turned into a brilliant even – financially, on the pitch and organisationally. Everything is run so professionally from the first minute of the group stage until the last minute of the final. It’s a perfect event. To be at the final on June 6th in Berlin as UEFA Ambassador will be an unforgettable experience, no matter which two sides are there.
DFB.de: Nevertheless, is it possible to have a Champions League final in Berlin without FC Bayern?
Riedle: I can’t picture Bayern München not being in the final and that’s not just because I have to be neutral as UEFA Ambassador for the Champions League. It’s desirable to have Bayern in the final and that’s what the majority of Germans will be hoping for even if they aren’t Bayern fans. Whatever happens, two big teams will be at the Olympiastadion on 6th June. It would be even better if Bayern were there. They know that they will have to take a step towards that over the next few weeks.
