Lothar Matthaus
Lothar Matthaus was born in Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany on March 21st, 1961 and is the Soccer Player. At the age of 63, Lothar Matthaus biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 63 years old, Lothar Matthaus has this physical status:
Lothar Herbert Matthäus (born 21 March 1961) is a German football manager and former player.
After captaining West Germany to victory in the 1990 FIFA World Cup where he lifted the World Cup trophy, he was named European Footballer of the Year.
In 1991, he was named the first ever FIFA World Player of the Year, and remains the only German to have received the award. Matthäus held the record of having played in five FIFA World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998), more than any other outfield player in men's football, until the 2018 World Cup, in which Mexico's Rafael Márquez equalled his record in a 1–0 victory over Germany, and holds the record for the most World Cup matches played by a single player (25 games).
He was the captain of the West German team that won the 1990 World Cup in Italy and also was captain of the German squad in the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
He also won UEFA Euro 1980, and played in the 1984, 1988, and 2000 UEFA European Football Championships.
In 1999, aged 38, he was again voted German Footballer of the Year, having previously won the award in 1990. Matthäus is the most capped German player of all time, retiring with a total of 150 appearances (83 for West Germany) in 20 years, and 23 goals.
Matthäus is a member of the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living football players chosen by Pelé.
Diego Maradona said of Matthäus, "he is the best rival I've ever had.
I guess that's enough to define him", in his book Yo soy el Diego (I am the Diego).A versatile and complete player, Matthäus is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, and was renowned for his perceptive passing, positional sense, well-timed tackling, as well as powerful shooting.
During his career, he usually played as a box-to-box midfielder, although late in his career he played as a sweeper.
Personal life
Lothar Matthäus was born to Heinz (1930–2019) and Katharina (1931–2020) Matthäus. His father who was born in southern Silesia, fled west across the Oder during the Soviet invasion in 1944, then worked as a canteen manager, while his mother worked for Puma.
He has four children, and has been married five times. During his first marriage that lasted from 1981 until 1992, wife Silvia gave birth to two daughters Alisa (born 1986) and Viola (born 1988). In 1994, he married Swiss model and TV presenter Lolita Morena with whom he had a son, Loris (born 1992). The marriage ended in 1999.
While coaching FK Partizan in Belgrade, he met 31-year-old Serbian socialite Marijana Kostić who became his third wife on 27 November 2003. It was her third marriage as well. By late 2007, the couple separated and she filed for divorce. Their divorce became official in late January 2009 following the conclusion of a year-long court case in Salzburg, Austria (their last residence) over the division of assets.
In December 2008, 47-year-old Matthäus married 21-year-old Ukrainian model Kristina Liliana Chudinova. The ceremony was held in Las Vegas. They met a year earlier at the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich. The couple lived in Tel Aviv, Israel, where Liliana studied journalism in a local university; but started living separately by early 2010.
Matthäus and Anastasia Klimko have a son, Milan (born April 2014). The marriage ended in 2021.
Club career
Lothar Herbert Matthäus was born in Erlangen, Bavaria, West Germany, on March 21. He spent his early playing days with the youth team of 1. FC Herzogenaurach, a small town in Bavaria near Nuremberg, is located in a close proximity to Nuremberg.
Matthäus began his professional career in 1979 with Borussia Mönchengladbach of the Bundesliga, for whom he played until 1984. He appeared for Bayern Munich from 1984 to 1988, winning the Bundesliga twice and the DFB-Pokal. They reached the European Cup final in 1987, leading 1–0 for the majority of the game until two late goals gave FC Porto the victory.
Matthäus and Bayern teammate Andreas Brehme joined Inter Milan in 1988-89, winning the Scudetto in 1988-1989, as well as the Italian Supercup. Matthäus continued to have more success with Inter, winning the UEFA Cup in 1991 and being named FIFA World Player of the Year. He made a goal in the first leg to help them beat Roma in the final.
He returned to Bayern Munich in 1992, winning four Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokals, another UEFA Cup, and reached his second European Cup final in 1999. The UEFA Champions League was the only major club football award he eluded for competitions in which he competed. He came within two minutes of winning a champion's medal in 1999, but then Manchester United, who had two last-minute goals in the final, after being suspended in the 80th minute of play while the team was still leading 1–0. Matthäus claimed his medals right away after receiving them; it was the second time he had been on the losing side of a final under similar circumstances; in the 1987 final, Bayern had been leading 1–0 until two late goals gave FC Porto the victory. Bayern will win the Champions League in 2000–01 and the Intercontinental Cup later this year. Matthäus retired. Bayern's last official match took place in Munich on March 8, 2000, when Bayern defeated Real Madrid 4–1.
Matthäus went from Bayern to New York City's MetroStars team of Major League Soccer in the United States during the 1999–2000 season. He played in the United States from March to October 2000 and then retired from professional football afterward. During his time with the MetroStars, he travelled to St. Tropez when he was supposed to be recovering his back.
Matthäus came out of retirement in 2018 to play in 50 minutes off the 1st. FC Herzogenaurach's last league game of the season is Saturday. Matthäus's appearance on the team had already won the league championship, and it had fueled his desire to return to the club where his career began: "It was always my dream to play my last competitive game here."
International career
Matthäus was first called up to the West German national squad in 1980, where he was part of the winning squad in UEFA Euro 80 in Italy, making his international debut against the Netherlands. He appeared in two games at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain; he was brought on as a substitute in group stage games against Chile and the infamous Disgrace of Gijón game against Austria. At the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, West Germany advanced to the final, losing to Italy 3-1.
He had also been in the national team for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, scoring the winner in the round of 16 against Morocco. Despite his outstanding play-making skills, he was chosen by coach Franz Beckenbauer to represent Argentina's Diego Maradona in the final at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Maradona did not win in the final, but Argentina's winning goal, a six-minute delay, was discarded, and West Germany lost their second straight World Cup final, this time 3–2.
Matthäus captained the team and scored a penalty against the Netherlands (the eventual winners) in the semi-final to give his team a 1–0 lead, but Marco van Basten slid in the winning goal in the final minutes.
His immediate success in Italy's top football league, Serie A, was a precursor to the national team's success, which was later to triumph at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. Six members of West Germany's squad participated in competitive sports; Matthäus and the West German squad attended the majority of the World Cup games at Inter's home stadium, San Siro. West Germany was the best team of the tournament and one of the few to opt for an attacking style of play, contrary to previous German teams' more defensive style. Matthäus led his side from midfield and scored four goals, two against Yugoslavia. From a penalty awarded in the 25th minute of the game, he scored his only goal of the quarter-final against Czechoslovakia. West Germany reached its third straight final, a rematch against Maradona-led Argentina, and Matthäus and his team were victorious 1–0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome thanks to Andreas Brehme's 85th minute penalty. Later, Matthäus said that participating in the World Cup in Italy was "much like playing a World Cup at home." Matthäus, the team's captain, hoisted the last World Cup trophy before German reunification in 1990.
He was injured and unable to participate in UEFA Euro 1992 in Sweden, but a united Germany advanced to the final but lost 2–0 to surprise Denmark. He captained the team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States but now served as a sweeper. In Germany's quarter-final match against Bulgaria at Giants Stadium in New York City, which was also his record-tying 21st World Cup match, the Bulgarians scored twice in three minutes to upset the defending champions. The USA'94 was supposed to be his last tournament, but he did not officially retire from international competition. Matthäus was later not called up for the national team due to differences with former captain Jürgen Klinsmann and coach Berti Vogts. Germany won the UEFA Euro 1996 in his absence, which was held in England.
He was recalled as a replacement for missing sweeper Matthias Sammer, who was wounded. He was on the bench for Germany's victory over the United States but came as a replacement against FR Yugoslavia and helped the team win by 2–2 draw. He became the second player to play in five separate World Cup tournaments, beating Mexican goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal's record. Gianluigi Buffon, an Italian goalkeeper who has only played in four years, tied the record in 2014; however, he has not broken it. Homare Sawa and Formiga were the first footballers to compete in Canada for the fifth time in 2015. Matthäus appeared in all of Germany's games until Croatia defeated them 3–0 in Lyon's quarterfinals, bringing his total number to a record 25.
He earned his last three caps at UEFA Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands, his 150th cap against Portugal, where Germany lost in the first round after a humiliating first round exit. Matthäus had a weak showing in their first group game against Romania, prompting Oliver Bierhoff and other key German players to request his benching, but head coach Erich Ribbeck kept Matthäus stuck by Matthäus.
Coaching career
Matthäus began teaching, although his playing days have been much less prominent. He has been consistent about his aim and desire to coach in the Bundesliga in his print interviews and other media appearances. His intention was that working overseas would result in offers from Germany.
He often brought it up in the German press in between his coaching stints when none appeared in his country even after multiple foreign visits. He gave a lengthy interview to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in November 2009, complaining about what he considers to be inadequate treatment he receives in Germany as a former king. He also lamented that no coaching jobs were available to him in the Bundesliga, saying that German clubs deemed him as too much of a Bayern backer and too closely tied to the influential Bild tabloid newspaper to give him a job.
In the Austrian Bundesliga, his first head coaching work was at SK Rapid Wien. It lasted from 6 September 2001 to 14 May 2002, with mixed results. Rapid Wien was promoted to the second round of the UEFA Cup in the Austrian Cup, Round of 16 of 16 with Matthäus, who finished in eighth place in the Bundesliga.
Serbian team FK Partizan hired Matthäus during the German spring break in December 2002, attempting to replace its recently fired head coach Ljubia Tumbakovia, who was sacked during the winter break.
Matthäus, inheriting a team at the top of the league table, met the urgent challenge of steering Partizan to the 2002–03 league championship in a convincing manner, extending the advantage over the second-placed cross-town rivals Red Star Belgrade to 19 points at one point.
The German's finest hour with the club came in August 2003, when Partizan shocked Newcastle United in the Champions League third qualifying round to advance to the 2003–04 competition's group stage. Following the first leg's 0–1 loss at home, Partizan seemed lost, but Partizan triumphed 0–1 at St. James' Park against the third-placed English Premier League club, taking the tie to penalties. Partizan's spirited spot-kick in the seventh penalty round brought further dramatic shifts of momentum before finally putting Partizan through. Matthäus had his back turned to the pitch as he couldn't bear to watch the drama of irkovi's penalty. Partizan was last in a competitive group with Real Madrid, eventual champions FC Porto, and Olympique de Marseille, losing out on the UEFA Cup spot.
Matthäus resigned his Partizan post on December 13, 2003, right after finishing the final league match of the season's first half (0–1 win away at FK eleznik). Matthäus will clarify all at a press conference that was set to take over the Hungary national team, according to a club spokesperson, but it was already widely rumored that the German Football Federation had agreed to work with the Hungarian Football Federation. The rumors were confirmed when he officially signed the Budapest deal and was also introduced to the public at Kempinski Hotel Corvinus.
Four months after leaving Belgrade in mid-April 2004, Matthäus' case with Partizan was announced, with both sides going back and forth between the two camps. Matthäus, the current Hungarian national team head coach, began a long discussion in Serbian media, accusing Partizan club leadership of breaching the additional terms of his deal. On that day, it became apparent that his initial deal with Partizan, which had been finalized on January 1, 2003, contained a base promised portion as well as additional premium provisions giving him between 5–10 percent from players' transfers and shirt sponsorships, as well as Champions League reward awards. Matthäus said that after none of the above had been acknowledged, he decided against requesting his shares of the Danko Lazovi and Zvonimir Vuki shirts as well as a Superfund shirt sponsorship contract due to "not wanting to upset the team atmosphere during Champions League qualifying" but instead demanded that the additional terms be renegotiated. The additional terms were actually renegotiated with Partizan's general secretary, Arko Zeevi, so that Matthäus' (the club's top young asset at the time) go out of effect immediately and instead allow him to leave the club at any time without penalty, as well as allowing Matthäus to leave the club at any time. In January 2004, Duljaj was sold to Shakhtar Donetsk for US$4 million, and Matthäus argued that Partizan didn't pay him the agreed amount ($600,000 or €469,500). The club responded two days later in a long press release by saying that they don't owe him any money. Matthäus decided to sue Partizan for the sum of US$600,000.000 before being heard by a Sports Arbitration Court in Lausanne, Switzerland, one day after.
Matthäus was appointed head of Hungary's national football team on December 14, 2003. Matthäus, the national team of a world class football nation that had previously feared to qualify for a major tournament since the 1986 FIFA World Cup, was given the challenge of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup as part of a new strategy of returning to former 1950s glory. After being drawn in a competitive group with Sweden, Croatia, and Bulgaria, the goal became more challenging.
The campaign began in the fall of 2004 and it became apparent that Hungary was in over their heads straight away. Opening 3–0 loss at Croatia in early September was somewhat offset by a 3–2 victory over Iceland in late September. Matthäus' Hungary faced another crucial test away from home, this time in Sweden, ending in disappointment with another demoralizing 3–0 loss. Hungary managed to defeat the minnows of the group Malta ahead of the winter break, ending the fall portion of the qualifying process in fourth place by six points, mathematically still within striking distance of the leading trio. In a friendly in Kaiserslautern against Germany on June 6, 2004, the notable was a 2–0 win.
Hungary defeated Bulgaria in what was effectively a must-win tie for Matthäus' squad when the game came to an end, with the goal being scored in 90th minute for a 1–1 final scoreline. The leading pair of teams now tangibly distinguished themselves from the pack of chasers, as Croatia and Sweden all qualified on the same day, meaning that in order to qualify Hungary must win all remaining fixtures and occasionally obtain some outside assistance in terms of favourable results elsewhere. Such an exciting scenario did not materialize, and they ended up in fourth position with 14 points from ten matches, much behind Croatia and Sweden, who earned 25 and 24 points respectively. Matthäus, on the other hand, was allowed to complete his campaign behind the bench and was even given citizenship in Hungary, which he also accepted. There's no word on whether he did or not do what he did. Matthäus joined the Hungarian national team on January 11, 2006.
Matthäus began to be extremely critical of the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ), accusing it of "not contributing but exploiting Hungarian football" in November 2007, before concluding that the Hungarian bid to host Euro 2012 didn't get any votes.
Matthäus signed a one-year deal with Atlético Paranaense in the city of Curitiba on January 11, 2006. However, after only seven matches (five wins and two draws) from the start of the 2006 Paraná state championship, he resigned in March 2006, citing the desire to be closer to his family. There were questions about his work after he left. He reportedly informed club officials that they would return to Europe to address an imminent personal issue, but that he would return in 3–4 days. He faxed in his resignation on March 20 and never returned to Brazil to retrieve his personal information after being missing for two weeks. Matthäus had pleaded guilty of R$13,000 (US$5,915) in phone bills that the club wanted him to pay ten days later, but Atlético eventually released a statement stating that he had been charged with R$13,000 (US$5,915). On their website, the club even posted the bill.
Matthäus was announced as coach of Red Bull Salzburg (formerly Austria Salzburg) for the forthcoming 2006–07 season on May 19, 2006, just two months after the bizarre Brazilian story. Giovanni Tratoni, (incidentally Matthäus' former coach at both Inter Milan and Bayern) was also signed by the club to be their director of football a short time. In reality, Trattoni and Matthäus essentially shared teaching positions.
Matthäus will eventually be fired by unanimous vote of the Red Bull Salzburg's board of directors on June 12, 2007, despite co-leading the team to the Austrian league title by a large margin.
Matthäus had signed with Israeli club Maccabi Netanya to lead the team from the start of the 2008–09 season, according to the team's website on April 13, 2008.
Matthäus will not return for the second season after the current one is completes on Friday, with the Israeli league season still in effect and Netanya in fourth place. The reason cited was the club's financial difficulties. Matthäus' side finished in fourth place in the league this season.
After the departure of Stanimir Stoilov a few weeks earlier, Matthäus will be the Bulgarian national team's new coach on September 23, 2010. His deal was for one year, with the possibility of a two-year extension.
On his first day, he got off to a 1–0 win over Wales in Cardiff. Bulgaria won for the first time in 2010 and in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualification campaign, Matthäus led Bulgaria to their first victory in 2010. Bulgaria beat Saudi Arabia 2–0 in a friendly on October 12, 2010. Bulgaria defeated Serbia 0–1 in a friendly in Sofia on November 17, 2010. Despite winning his first match against Wales, Bulgaria under Matthäus's tenure, they were unable to qualify for Euro 2012, following draws with Switzerland and Montenegro, as well as a home loss against England. Matthäus had been fired on September 19, 2011. It was his last match against Switzerland.
He was one of 77 candidates for the vacant Cameroon national team position in April 2018.
