Biography
Rummenigge began playing football for the club in his hometown of Borussia Lippstadt in 1963. In 1974 he moved to Bayern Munich as a professional footballer. The transfer fee was 17,500 DM. He gave up a banking apprenticeship to do this. Rummenigge was active for the renowned club for a total of ten years. In 1976 he won the European Cup with Bayern. In 1976 Rummenigge made his debut in the national team, for which he was available for a total of ten years. Between 1976 and 1986 he played a total of 95 times in the German national team jersey. Rummenigge can look back on a goal tally of 45 goals. He led the national team as captain in a total of 51 matches.
Rummenigge took part in the World Cup for the first time in Argentina in 1978. One of his greatest sporting triumphs was winning the 1980 European Championship in Italy. At that time, the team, led by coach Jupp Derwall, dominated the final against the Belgian team 2-1. In 1982, Rummenigge and the team became runner-up in Spain. In 1980 and 1981 he became German champion back to back. In 1982 and 1984 he won the DFB Cup with Bayern. Rummenigge was named top scorer in the Bundesliga three times in 1980, 1981 and 1984. In 1980 he won the election for "Footballer of the Year" in Germany. His other personal honors include being voted Europe's "Footballer of the Year" in 1980 and 1981. In 1984, Rummenigge took part in the European Championships in France.
In the same year 1984, Rummenigge left Bayern Munich to sign for the traditional Italian club Inter Milan. The transfer fee was 10 million marks. The footballer then went to Switzerland, where he played for Servette Geneva from 1987. In 1986, Germany came second again at the World Cup in Mexico. In 1989 he became Switzerland's top scorer. In the same year, the now thirty-four-year-old also ended his active football career. Rummenigge was characterized by his enormous dribbling strength. He played in the striker position and was feared by his opponents because of his speed and his confident shots on goal. His intervention in the game was characterized by great determination. Rummenigge's record as an active footballer includes 64 European Cup games for Bayern Munich, scoring 31 goals; 23 European Cup games for Inter Milan with nine goals and four European Cup games for Servette Geneva.
At the 1980 European Championships he was voted the best player of the tournament. After ending his active football career, he became vice president of his old club, FC Bayern Munich, in 1991. During this time the club won numerous titles. Rummenigge worked as a co-commentator of international matches for ARD from 1990 to 1994. In 2000, Rummenigge was hired by the German Football Association (DFB) as team manager. He supported the national team team leader, Rudi Völler, in his role. As a team manager, Rummenigge also took part in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Germany became runner-up world champion. In mid-2002, Rummenigge was elected president of the Association of European Football Clubs. In the run-up to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Rummenigge acted as an international ambassador for this major international event.
On February 14, 2002, he was elected chairman of the board as part of the conversion of the football department of FC Bayern Munich into a corporation. In 2007 he was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit. Rummenigge took over the role of first chairman of the European Club Association (ECA) on January 21, 2008.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is married and has five children.
