Erich Ribbeck
Already in his childhood and youth he was enthusiastic about football. After school, Ribbeck began his career as a soccer player, initially in youth clubs. As a professional player, he initially played for "SSV 1904 Wuppertal" and "Wuppertaler SV". The move to "Viktoria Cologne" later followed. Ribbeck began working as a trainer for "Rot-Weiß Essen" in 1967, where he stayed until 1968. Then he moved to the club "Eintracht Frankfurt", where he worked as the youngest of all Bundesliga coaches until 1973. From 1973 to 1978, Ribbeck was a coach at 1. FC Kaiserslautern. He led the Palatinate club to second place in the DFB Cup in 1976.
He then worked at the German Football Association (DFB) until 1984. Ribbeck coached the "Borussia Dortmund" football club in 1984/85 and the "Bayer Leverkusen" team from 1985 to 1988. Here he celebrated his greatest success by leading Leverkusen to the UEFA Cup in 1988. Afterwards, Ribbeck was sports director of "Hamburger SV" in 1988/89. He also served as sports representative for the automobile manufacturer Opel. After a short break, he coached FC Bayern Munich in 1992/93. With Bayern he reached second place in the Bundesliga in 1993. In 1995 Ribbeck returned to Bayer Leverkusen, where he coached the team until 1998. The experienced Bundesliga coach was appointed seventh team boss of the German national team by the DFB in 1998, succeeding Berti Vogt.
In the summer of 2000, however, the German national team was eliminated in the preliminary round of the European Championships in Belgium and the Netherlands. The German national team's poor game was described as the biggest embarrassment in German football history. After this disappointment, Ribbeck took responsibility and was no longer available for an extension of his contract in June 2000. Leverkusen coach Christoph Daum was appointed Ribbeck's successor. However, Rudi Völler should act as interim coach until he moves from Leverkusen to the national team. As a result of the Daums cocaine affair, Völler finally took over the office.
After his resignation as national coach, Ribbeck withdrew from the public eye to devote himself solely to his family. It was only in the run-up to the 2004 European Championship that the former coach spoke out in the media again at the end of May 2004 to settle accounts with the DFB and the intrigues in German football that had brought him down four years earlier.
He then worked at the German Football Association (DFB) until 1984. Ribbeck coached the "Borussia Dortmund" football club in 1984/85 and the "Bayer Leverkusen" team from 1985 to 1988. Here he celebrated his greatest success by leading Leverkusen to the UEFA Cup in 1988. Afterwards, Ribbeck was sports director of "Hamburger SV" in 1988/89. He also served as sports representative for the automobile manufacturer Opel. After a short break, he coached FC Bayern Munich in 1992/93. With Bayern he reached second place in the Bundesliga in 1993. In 1995 Ribbeck returned to Bayer Leverkusen, where he coached the team until 1998. The experienced Bundesliga coach was appointed seventh team boss of the German national team by the DFB in 1998, succeeding Berti Vogt.
In the summer of 2000, however, the German national team was eliminated in the preliminary round of the European Championships in Belgium and the Netherlands. The German national team's poor game was described as the biggest embarrassment in German football history. After this disappointment, Ribbeck took responsibility and was no longer available for an extension of his contract in June 2000. Leverkusen coach Christoph Daum was appointed Ribbeck's successor. However, Rudi Völler should act as interim coach until he moves from Leverkusen to the national team. As a result of the Daums cocaine affair, Völler finally took over the office.
After his resignation as national coach, Ribbeck withdrew from the public eye to devote himself solely to his family. It was only in the run-up to the 2004 European Championship that the former coach spoke out in the media again at the end of May 2004 to settle accounts with the DFB and the intrigues in German football that had brought him down four years earlier.