Short International Careers, Part Ten

1- Didier Senac

RC Lens and French defender Didier Senac was part of the 1984 Olympic winning French squad. After his Olympics Manager Henri Michel was promoted as head coach he called up Senac to the national team.

He earned two of his first caps at the end of 1984. For his debut, he started on November 21st, 1984, in a World Cup qualifier vs. Bulgaria in Paris (1-0 win).

 He earned his second cap, a few weeks later, on December 8^th, 1984, in another World Cup qualifier in Paris vs. East Germany (2-0 win).

He was out of international reckoning for a few years. His last cap was three years later as a Bordeaux player, in a EC qualifier, on October 14, 1987 at Paris vs. Norway (1-1 tie).

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 78, September 1986

(Didier Senac)

2- Brian Stein

Luton forward Brian Stein earned his only cap for England in a Friendly vs. France in Paris on February 29, 1984 (0-2 France win).

For that match, he formed a striking partnership with clubmate Paul Walsh.

He was substituted in the 78^th minute by Tony Woodcock.

He was never called up again.

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 103, October 1988

(Brian Stein at French club Caen, 1988/89)

3- Michele Padovano

Italian striker Michele Padovano played for many clubs in his career. He was a useful squad member with Marcello Lippi’s Juventus when he was surprisingly called up by Cesare Maldini for a World cup Qualifier vs. Moldova at Trieste on March 29, 1997 (3-0 Italy win).

In that match he replaced fellow clubmate and debutante (and goalscorer) Christian Vieri in the 68^th minute. He was never called up again.

Photo From: Football Italia, May 1997

(Michele Padovano at Juventus)

4- Romeo Zondervan

Dutch midfielder Romeo Eugene Zondervan earned his only cap as a Twente Enschede player in a World cup qualifier vs. Cyprus at Groningen on February 22, 1981 (3-0 Holland win).

He was never called up again despite a long career in the English League with West Bromwich Albion (1982/84) and Ipswich town (1984/92).

Photo From: Voetbal International, September 15-20, 1980

(Romeo Zondervan)

5- Manfred Burgsmuller

1970s and 80s West German striker Manfred Burgsmüller is perhaps one of the most under-capped players in the history of West Germany.

His most successful spell was at Dortmund (1976/83) and his meager three caps were earned during this time.

His first cap was in a Friendly vs. Swizterland on November 16, 1977 at Stuttgart (4-1 German win).

His second cap was a month later at his home stadium in Dortmund vs. Wales (1-1 tie).

For his final cap on February 22,  1978 at Munich in a Friendly vs. England, he came on as a substitute for Heinz Flohe in the 33^rd minute.

He was never called up again. He did win the Bundesliga as a 38-year old striking reserve for Werder Bremen in 1988.

Photo From: Fussball Magazin, January February 1983

(Manfred Burgsmüller at Borussia Dortmund, 1982/83)