Oliver BIERHOFF Date
of Birth: May 1, 1968 Gained superstar status after scoring both goals in Germany's 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in the Euro 96 final at Wembley. Bierhoff's career has taken off dramatically over the past two years, with his goals guiding Germany to France '98 and his club, Udinese, to an all-time high in the Serie A. His league top-scoring exploits in the season just ended have secured him a lucrative $12 million move to AC Milan. Strong in the air and on the ground, he has a rare instinct which allows him to be in the right place at the right time. Has developed a reputation for scoring just when Germany need it most. Born in Karlsruhe, Bierhoff went largely unnoticed during his spell in the Bundesliga. However, he soon hit the headlines in a season at Salzburg (1990-91) -- scoring 23 goals in 32 league games. Signed for 300 million lira ($170,000) by Inter Milan, the Italian club farmed him out immediately to Ascoli. However, this was the beginning of a nightmare for Bierhoff. "Ascoli told me one day in November that I didn't fit into their plans; I said I had a contract. The following day I went to Milan for eight hours of talks with Inter, without finding a solution. I went back to Ascoli and the club president called me into his office and said 'You're not playing for Ascoli any more.' But I wasn't standing for it. I went to the next training session as usual. My car was surrounded by about a hundred fans -- and I came in for insults, threats, spitting. It didn't bother me. I joined the rest of the team on the pitch and there were more chants against me then. The team were doing badly but the coach kept me watching from the stands. I still kept training though, and then one day he was sacked. The new coach (Massimo) Cacciatori, took me to one side and said 'Oliver, you're just the center forward I need'. From that day on, everything changed. The next season I was the top scorer of the Serie B." In 1995, Bierhoff endured another cool welcome when he joined Udinese. "They turned their noses up at me and said 'Who is this Bierhoff'," he recalls. But Bierhoff, who was once told after being picked for Germany at youth level 'This will be the only cap you'll have in your life', is used to coping with rejection. "One of the constant things in my career is the lack of faith that so many people have had in me. The 'Golden Goal' in extra time at the European championships against the Czech Republic and the six goals in Germany's World Cup qualifying campaign have persuaded the national coaches. It's taken eight years to convince people in my own country. I'm just proud of having had the willpower to do it," says Bierhoff. |
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