Soccer Memories-Part 60: East Germans in the Unified German National Team-Part 3 (1998-99)

 

Note:

For part 1, see:

https://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2023/05/soccer-memories-part-54-east-germans-in.html

 

For part 2, see:

https://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2023/09/soccer-memories-part-57-east-germans-in.html

 

By 1998, East Germany had been integrated with the West for eight years.

 

In the next two years, new National Team Manager Berti Vogts and his successor Erich Ribbeck would select a number of other former East German players in line for the 2000 Euros.

 

Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Stefan Beinlich was handed his debut in a friendly vs. Malta on September 2, 1998 (2-1 win), at Valetta.

A few days later, on September 5^th, 1998, at Valetta, Malta, Hansa Rostock’s central defender Marko Rehmer made his debut in a friendly vs. Romania (1-1).

He was the last debutant selected by Berti Vogts.

 

Bayern Munich striker Carsten Jancker made his debut in a Euros qualifier vs. Moldova on October 14, 1993 (3-1 win). He was new Manager Erich Ribbeck’s first debutant.

Another Bayern Munich striker Alexander Zickler made his debut in a friendly vs. Holland on November 18, 1998 (1-1 tie).

 

Kaiserslautern Midfielder Michael Ballack made his debut in a friendly vs. Scotland on April 28, 1999 (0-1 loss).

 

Arminia Bielefeld Midfielder Ronald Maul and Stuttgart defender Heiko Gerber jointly made their debuts in a Confederations Cup match on July 24, 1999, at Jalisco, Mexico, vs. Brazil (0-4 loss).

 

Four days later (July 28, 1999), in the same competition, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Bernd Schneider would make his debut at Guadalajara, Mexico, vs. New Zealand (2-0 win).

 

From this period of 1998-99, Michael Ballack would be the undisputed stand-out and one of the best German players of his Generation.

Carsten Jancker, Marko Rehmer and Bernd Schneider would also have longevity in the National Team.

The others made fleeting appearances for the most part.

 

 

Stefan Beinlich

Midfielder Stefan Beinlich was born in East Berlin (January 13, 1972) and started out with SG Bergmann-Borsig (1990/91).

In 1991, he moved to English side Aston Villa along with another German player Matthias Breitkreutz.

He returned to Germany in 1997 by joining Hansa Roctock. The following season (1997/98) he joined Bayer Leverkusen, who were a force in the Bundesliga at the time.

The rest of his career was spent with Hertha Berlin (2000 through 2003), SV Hamburger (2003 through 2006) and back to Hansa Rostock (2006 through 2008).

He earned 5 caps for the German National Team (1998-2000).

 

 

Photo From: Panini Fussball Bundesliga 2001-02

(Stefan Beinlich)

Marko Rehmer

Marko Rehmer was born in East Berlin (April 29, 1972).

He made his debut in 1990 for Union Berlin and remained with the club until 1997.

In 1997, he joined Hansa Rostock and after two seasons, he joined Hertha Berlin in 1999.

He remained with Hertha until 2005 and then joined Eintracht Frankfurt and retired in 2006.

He was part of Germany’s 2002 World Cup squad that reached the Final.

He earned 35 caps for the German National Team (1998-2003).

 

 

Photo From: Panini Fussball Bundesliga 2001-02

(Marko Rehmer)

Carsten Jancker

Carsten Jancker was born in Grevesmühlen (August 28, 1974). 

The striker started out with FC Koln in 1993. A successful loan spell (1995/96) at Austrian side Rapid Vienna earned a move to Bayern Munich in 1996.

At Rapid, he won the League title (1995/96) and the side reached the Final of the Cup Winners Cup in 1996.

He was with Bayern Munich until 2002 and during this time, he won many Bundesliga titles (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001) and the 2001 Champions League.

In 2002, he moved to the Italian Serie A and joined Udinese (2002/04).

The rest of his career was spent with Kaiserlautern (2004 through 2006), Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua (2006) and Austrian side SV Mattersburg (2006 through 2009).

He was part of Germany’s 2002 World Cup squad that reached the Final.

He earned 33 caps for the German National Team (1998-2002).

 

Photo From: Panini Fussball Bundesliga 2001-02

(Carsten Jancker)

 

Alexander Zickler

Alexander Zickler was born in Bad Salzungen (February 28, 1974).

He started out Dynamo Dresden in 1992 and after a year joined Bayern Munich in 1993.

He was at Bayern Munich for over a decade until 2005. He won many Bundesliga titles (1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005), as well as the Champions League (2001) and the UEFA Cup (1996).

The rest of his career was spent with Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg (2005 through 2010), Austrian side LASK Linz (2010/11) and Austrian side ASV Taxham (2012).

At Salzburg, he won the Austrian League titles in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

He earned 12 caps for the German National Team (1998-2002).

 

Photo From: Panini Fussball Bundesliga 2001-02

(Alexander Zickler)

 

Michael Ballack

Michael Ballack was born in Görlitz (September 26, 1976).

He made his debut at Chemnitzer in 1995 before joining Kaiserlautern in 1997.

At Kaiserslautern, he won the Bundesliga title (1997/98). He joined Bayer Leverkusen in 1999 and remained with the club until 2002.

He joined Bayern Munich in 2002 and won Bundesliga Titles in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

He left Bayern in 2006 to join English side Chelsea in 2006. He returned to Bayer Leverkusen in 2010 and retire in 2012.

He was the star player of Germany of his Generation.

He was part of Germany’s 2002 World Cup squad that reached the Final.

He earned 98 caps for the German National Team (1998-2010).

 

Photo From: Panini Fussball Bundesliga 2001-02

(Michael Ballack)

Ronald Maul

Ronald Maul was born in Jena (February 13, 1973).

He made his debut with VfL Osnabrück in 1990 and remained with the club until 1995.

In 1995, he joined Arminia Bielfeld and remained with the club until 2000.

The rest of his career was spent with SV Hamburger (2000/01), Hansa Rostock (2001 through 2006), Carl Zeiss Jena (2006/07) and Rot-Weiß Ahlen (2008 through 2010).

He earned 2 caps for the German National Team (1999).

 

Photo From: Panini Fussball Bundesliga 2001-02

(Ronald Maul)

Heiko Gerber

Heiko Gerber was born in Stollberg, Saxony (July 11, 1972).

He started with Chemnitzer in 1991 and remained with the club until 1996.

The rest of his career was spent with Arminia Bielfeld (1996 through 1998), Nuremberg (1998/99), VfB Stuttgart (1999 through 2007), FC Ingolstadt 04 (2007 through 2009) and SSV Ulm (2009/10).

At Stuttgart, he won the Bundesliga title (2006/07).

He earned 2 caps for the German National Team (1999).

 

Photo From: Panini Fussball Bundesliga 2001-02

(Heiko Gerber)

Bernd Schneider

Bernd Schneider was born in Jena (November 17, 1973).

The midfielder made his debut with Carl Zeiss Jena in 1991 and remained with the club until 1998.

The rest of his career was spent with Eintracht Frankfurt (1998/99) and Bayer Leverkusen (1999 through 2009).

He was part of Germany’s 2002 World Cup squad that reached the Final. He was also a member of Germany’s 2004 Euros Finals squad and the 2006 World Cup squad.

He earned 81 caps for the German National Team (1999-2008).

 

 

Photo From: Panini Fussball Bundesliga 2001-02

(Bernd Schneider)