Pierre Littbarski

Pierre Michael Littbarski (born 16 April 1960 in Berlin) is a former German football player and current manager of FC Vaduz. He is best known for his brilliant dribbling abilities. He was a FIFA World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990. He was also runner–up twice in 1982 and 1986 with West Germany.

Playing career

Littbarski spent most of his playing career at 1. FC Köln, winning the German Cup once, in 1983, and was three times runner up in the Bundesliga (1982, 1989 and 1990). He has also played for Racing Club de Paris in Ligue 1 as well as for JEF United and Brummel Sendai in Japan. In his career, he was initially used as a deep-lying striker before being utilised as an attacking midfielder. "Litti", as he was nicknamed by German fans, was widely known for his excellent dribbling abilities and humorous attitude, being one of the fan favourites in German Bundesliga during this decade. In 1985 his goal versus Werder Bremen was elected "Goal of the Year".

International career

Littbarski earned his first cap for West Germany on October 14, 1981 in the 1982 World Cup qualification against Austria. West Germany manager Jupp Derwall started him in a three-man front line alongside Klaus Fischer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Littbarski's international career got off to a promising start, as he scored both the opening and the second goals in that game. His third international goal came at the 1982 World Cup, in the second round match against Spain, a 2–1 victory. Against France in the semi-final, Littbarski scored the opening goal and, later, on a penalty kick in the deciding post-overtime shoot-out. The now legendary match ended in a 3–3 draw, with the Germans eventually winning 5–4 on penalties. Littbarski was also involved in the dramatic equalizer, crossing to Horst Hrubesch, who headed to Fischer, who in turn scored with an overhead bicycle kick.West Germany lost 3–1 to Italy in the final. Littbarski played the whole match, receiving a yellow card in the 88th minute.

At the UEFA Euro 1984, West Germany, with Littbarski, were eliminated in the group stage after a string of poor performances. The 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, while successful for West Germany, proved less so for Littbarski personally. He was benched by manager Franz Beckenbauer, and had to watch the semi–finals and the finals from the bench. Eventually, West Germany finished again as runners–up, this time losing 3–2 to Argentina.

The German players had high hopes for the UEFA Euro 1988 on their home soil. However, the hosts lost 2-1 to the Netherlands in the semi–finals. Littbarski did not score any goals in the tournament. In 1990, Littbarski enjoyed a successful final appearance at the FIFA World Cup, as West Germany won their third title, defeating Argentina 1–0 in the final in Rome. Littbarski scored his only goal in the group stage against Colombia but started three of the four games at the knockout stage, including the final.

Managerial career

In 1999 he started his coaching career with Yokohama FC of Japan Football League and he led the club to the promotion to J. League Division 2. He has also been the manager of Yokohama FC (twice), as well as assistant manager of Bayer 04 Leverkusen and manager of MSV Duisburg.

Sydney FC

He was manager of Australian A-League side Sydney FC between 2005 and 2006, and lead them to the FIFA Club World Championship in 2005, and a win in the inaugural A-League Championship.

He was famous amongst Sydney FC supporters and the media for his stylish brown suits. Sydney under Littbarski were criticised for boring football, but the results could seldom be argued with and Sydney FC went on to claim the inaugural A-League Championship under his reign. Littbarski and Sydney FC severed ties on Wednesday, 5 May 2006, with Littbarski announcing he would not re-sign for the club following disputes over a cut-price contract offer^[1].

Avispa Fukuoka

In December 2006, Littbarski was appointed the manager of Avispa Fukuoka, a J-League side that was newly demoted to the second division after the 2006 season. In July 2008, he left the club and was replaced by Yoshiyuki Shinoda.^[2]

Saipa FC

On 26 July 2008 it was announced that he became the new manager of Iranian side Saipa F.C.^[3] He left on 8 October 2008 after nine games.

FC Vaduz

On 4 November 2008 he signed a contract as head coach and team manager of FC Vaduz.^[4]

Career statistics

Honours

73 internationals for West Germany - 18 goals.

• 1982 World Cup:  Runners Up
• 1984 European Championship:  First Round
• 1986 World Cup:  Runners Up
• 1988 European Championship:  Semi Finalists
• 1990 World Cup:  Champions
• UEFA Cup: Runner-up 1986

German U21 side: 21 internationals

References

External links

• The full internationals of Pierre Littbarski
• The league matches of Pierre Littbarski season by season
• TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen's Who's Who

Sporting positions
Preceded by Inaugural Manager	Yokohama FC manager 1999-00	Succeeded by Yoshikazu Nagai
Preceded by ?	MSV Duisburg manager 2001-02	Succeeded by Bernard Dietz (caretaker)
Preceded by Katsuyoshi Shindo	Yokohama FC manager 2003-04	Succeeded by Yusuke Adachi
Preceded by Inaugural Manager	Sydney FC manager 2005-2006	Succeeded by Terry Butcher
Preceded by Ryoichi Kawakatsu	Avispa Fukuoka manager 2006-2008	Succeeded by Yoshiyuki Shinoda

v • d • e West Germany squad – 1982 FIFA World Cup Runners-up 1 Schumacher • 2 Briegel • 3 Breitner • 4 K. Förster • 5 B. Förster • 6 Dremmler • 7 Littbarski • 8 Fischer • 9 Hrubesch • 10 Müller • 11 Rummenigge • 12 Hannes • 13 Reinders • 14 Magath • 15 Stielike • 16 T. Allofs • 17 Engels • 18 Matthäus • 19 Hieronymus • 20 Kaltz • 21 Franke • 22 Immel • Coach: Derwall

v • d • e West Germany squad – UEFA Euro 1984 1 Schumacher • 2 Briegel • 3 Strack • 4 K. Förster • 5 B. Förster • 6 Rolff • 7 Brehme • 8 K. Allofs • 9 Völler • 10 Meier • 11 Rummenigge • 12 Burdenski • 13 Matthäus • 14 Falkenmayer • 15 Stielike • 16 Bruns • 17 Littbarski • 18 Buchwald • 19 Bommer • 20 Roleder • Coach: Derwall

v • d • e West Germany squad – 1986 FIFA World Cup Runners-up 1 Schumacher • 2 Briegel • 3 Brehme • 4 Förster • 5 Herget • 6 Eder • 7 Littbarski • 8 Matthäus • 9 Völler • 10 Magath • 11 Rummenigge • 12 Stein • 13 Allgöwer • 14 Berthold • 15 Augenthaler • 16 Thon • 17 Jakobs • 18 Rahn • 19 K. Allofs • 20 Hoeneß • 21 Rolff • 22 Immel • Coach: Beckenbauer

v • d • e West Germany squad – UEFA Euro 1988 semi-finalists 1 Immel • 2 Buchwald • 3 Brehme • 4 Kohler • 5 Herget • 6 Borowka • 7 Littbarski • 8 Matthäus • 9 Völler • 10 Thon • 11 Mill • 12 Illgner • 13 Wuttke • 14 Berthold • 15 Pflügler • 16 Eckstein • 17 Dorfner • 18 Klinsmann • 19 Sauer • 20 Rolff • Coach: Beckenbauer

v • d • e West Germany squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup Winners (3rd Title) 1 Illgner • 2 Reuter • 3 Brehme • 4 Kohler • 5 Augenthaler • 6 Buchwald • 7 Littbarski • 8 Häßler • 9 Völler • 10 Matthäus • 11 Mill • 12 Aumann • 13 Riedle • 14 Berthold • 15 Bein • 16 Steiner • 17 Möller • 18 Klinsmann • 19 Pflügler • 20 Thon • 21 Hermann • 22 Köpke • Coach: Beckenbauer