Stefan Effenberg (born 2 August 1968 in Niendorf, Hamburg, West Germany) is a former German football player. He was an all-round player and leader, possessing great passing and a hard shot.

National

During his youth, Effenberg played for SC Victoria Hamburg before he successfully changed to bigger teams: Borussia Mönchengladbach (1987-90 and 1994-98), Bayern Munich (1990-92 and 1998-2002), AC Fiorentina (1992-94), and VfL Wolfsburg (2002-03). He was the lead player of Bayern Munich when they won the UEFA Champions League in 2001, in the final of which he scored a penalty in normal time and then another one as they beat Valencia in a penalty shootout. During the same tournament, Effenberg won also the UEFA Champions League Most Valuable Player for his elegant (and sometimes seemingly lazy styleFacts: date=September 2008) of play. He ended his career playing in Qatar with Al-Arabi.

International

Effenberg played 35 games for the German national team and scored five goals. However, his international career was marked by controversy and several years in the international wilderness after the DFB refused to consider Effenberg for selection following an incident at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. In the group game against South Korea, Effenberg had gestured in an inappropriate manner ("gave the finger") to disappointed fans at Cotton Bowl in Dallas when he got substituted due to his mediocre performance. Because of this incident, coach Berti Vogts decided to drop Effenberg from the German national team for the remainder of the tournament. Effenberg was briefly re-instated to the national team four years later for a couple of friendly matches in September. These games proved to be his last caps and also Vogts' final matches in charge of the national team.

International goals

Scores and results table. Germany's goal tally first:

Football

Effenberg had a history of attracting attention and ire from both fans and opposition with his behaviour.

In 1991, prior to a UEFA Cup game against then-semi-professional Cork City F.C., Effenberg told the press he was sure of a victory, saying Cork City midfielder Dave Barry was "like (his) grandfather". Barry got his retribution by scoring the opening goal in the team's 1-1 draw at Musgrave ParkFacts: date=September 2008. It was later reported in Kicker (sports magazine) that he became a fan of Cork City F.C. and said that City defender Declan Daly was a superb player that could have played for Bayern Munich. On this recommendation then manager Søren Lerby made a inquiry about Daly, who refused any move to Germany as "the craic in Cork is too good" Lerby was sacked from his positon shortly after this. He was not a fan of either Cork City F.C. or Declan Daly

Personal life

In the late 1990s Effenberg was rarely out of the tabloids when he left his wife Martina and revealed an affair with Claudia Strunz, who at that time was the wife of former team mate Thomas StrunzFacts: date=September 2008. Later Effenberg published a controversial autobiography, notorious for its blatant contents and the poor language it was written inFacts: date=September 2008. Claudia Strunz and Effenberg were married in 2004.