Who is Jürgen Klinsmann?

Jürgen Klinsmann , born in West Germany on July 30, 1964, is a celebrated German football player and coach. He played for clubs such as VfB Stuttgart, Inter Milan, AS Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich. Klinsmann helped West Germany secure the 1990 World Cup and earned the title of German Footballer of the Year twice. After retiring from playing, Klinsmann coached the German national team, leading them to third place in the 2006 World Cup. He later coached the U.S. men’s national team from 2011 to 2016, and briefly managed Hertha Berlin.

What sport is Jürgen Klinsmann famous for?

Jürgen Klinsmann is famous for football (soccer). As a player, he helped West Germany win the 1990 World Cup and was twice named his country’s Footballer of the Year. In 1987-88, Klinsmann was the Bundesliga’s leading scorer, and he was named the 1988 West German Footballer of the Year. After retiring from club and international football, Klinsmann coached the German national team and the U.S. men’s national team.

Which teams did Jürgen Klinsmann play for during his career?

Jürgen Klinsmann played for several prominent teams during his career. At age 14, he joined the youth side of Stuttgarter Kickers, later debuting on the club’s professional side at 17. In 1984, he joined VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga. After Stuttgart, Klinsmann played for Inter Milan, AS Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur, and Bayern Munich. He had short stints with Sampdoria and Tottenham before retiring from club and international football after the 1998 World Cup.

What are some major achievements of Jürgen Klinsmann as a player?

Jürgen Klinsmann helped West Germany secure the 1990 World Cup . He was the Bundesliga's leading scorer in the 1987–88 season and West German Footballer of the Year in 1988. As an Inter Milan player, Klinsmann contributed to the team's 1989 Italian Super Cup and 1991 UEFA Cup wins. He led AS Monaco to the Champions League semifinals in 1994, earning him the German Player of the Year award. Klinsmann also captured another UEFA Cup (1996) and a Bundesliga title (1996–97) with Bayern Munich.

How did Jürgen Klinsmann become a football coach after his playing career?

After retiring from international football following the 1998 World Cup, Jürgen Klinsmann relocated to the United States. There, he became a partner in a sports marketing consulting agency and served as an advisor to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. In 2004, Klinsmann returned to Germany to manage the men’s national team, which he led to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup before resigning shortly after the tournament.

What impact did Jürgen Klinsmann have as a coach for the German and U.S. national teams?

Jürgen Klinsmann made significant impacts as a coach for both the German and U.S. national teams. In 2004, he took over the German men’s national team and led them to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup, stepping down shortly after the tournament. Klinsmann coached the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) in 2011 and, despite an unremarkable first year, guided the team to a record 12-game winning streak in 2013, winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup. At the 2014 World Cup, the USMNT reached the knockout round. However, after a fourth-place finish in the 2016 Copa América Centenario and losing the first two games in the 2018 World Cup qualification, Klinsmann was dismissed in November 2016.

Jürgen Klinsmann

Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

German footballer Juergen Klinsmann, wearing jersey number 18, prepares to kick the ball during a match, with the field and blurred spectators in the background.

Jurgen Klinsmann, wearing a dark puffer jacket and blue hoodie, smiles while walking in Olympiastadion during a Hertha BSC football match, with stadium roof and crowd visible behind him.

Quick Facts

Born:: July 30, 1964, Göppingen, West Germany (age 62)

Awards And Honors:: FIFA World Cup (1990)

See all related content

Jürgen Klinsmann

German football (soccer) player and coach

Written by

Adam Augustyn

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Sep. 17, 2026 •History

Top Questions

Who is Jürgen Klinsmann?
Jürgen Klinsmann, born in West Germany on July 30, 1964, is a celebrated German football player and coach. He played for clubs such as VfB Stuttgart, Inter Milan, AS Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich.

Klinsmann helped West Germany secure the 1990 World Cup and earned the title of German Footballer of the Year twice. After retiring from playing, Klinsmann coached the German national team, leading them to third place in the 2006 World Cup. He later coached the U.S. men’s national team from 2011 to 2016, and briefly managed Hertha Berlin.
1 Britannica Source
1. Jürgen Klinsmann
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What sport is Jürgen Klinsmann famous for?
Jürgen Klinsmann is famous for football (soccer). As a player, he helped West Germany win the 1990 World Cup and was twice named his country’s Footballer of the Year. In 1987-88, Klinsmann was the Bundesliga’s leading scorer, and he was named the 1988 West German Footballer of the Year. After retiring from club and international football, Klinsmann coached the German national team and the U.S. men’s national team.
1 Britannica Source
1. Jürgen Klinsmann
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Which teams did Jürgen Klinsmann play for during his career?
Jürgen Klinsmann played for several prominent teams during his career. At age 14, he joined the youth side of Stuttgarter Kickers, later debuting on the club’s professional side at 17. In 1984, he joined VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.

After Stuttgart, Klinsmann played for Inter Milan, AS Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur, and Bayern Munich. He had short stints with Sampdoria and Tottenham before retiring from club and international football after the 1998 World Cup.
1 Britannica Source
1. Jürgen Klinsmann
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some major achievements of Jürgen Klinsmann as a player?
Jürgen Klinsmann helped West Germany secure the 1990 World Cup. He was the Bundesliga's leading scorer in the 1987–88 season and West German Footballer of the Year in 1988. As an Inter Milan player, Klinsmann contributed to the team's 1989 Italian Super Cup and 1991 UEFA Cup wins. He led AS Monaco to the Champions League semifinals in 1994, earning him the German Player of the Year award. Klinsmann also captured another UEFA Cup (1996) and a Bundesliga title (1996–97) with Bayern Munich.
1 Britannica Source
1. Jürgen Klinsmann
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Jürgen Klinsmann become a football coach after his playing career?
After retiring from international football following the 1998 World Cup, Jürgen Klinsmann relocated to the United States. There, he became a partner in a sports marketing consulting agency and served as an advisor to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

In 2004, Klinsmann returned to Germany to manage the men’s national team, which he led to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup before resigning shortly after the tournament.
1 Britannica Source
1. Jürgen Klinsmann
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What impact did Jürgen Klinsmann have as a coach for the German and U.S. national teams?
Jürgen Klinsmann made significant impacts as a coach for both the German and U.S. national teams. In 2004, he took over the German men’s national team and led them to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup, stepping down shortly after the tournament.

Klinsmann coached the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) in 2011 and, despite an unremarkable first year, guided the team to a record 12-game winning streak in 2013, winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup. At the 2014 World Cup, the USMNT reached the knockout round. However, after a fourth-place finish in the 2016 Copa América Centenario and losing the first two games in the 2018 World Cup qualification, Klinsmann was dismissed in November 2016.
1 Britannica Source
1. Jürgen Klinsmann
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Jürgen Klinsmann (born July 30, 1964, Göppingen, West Germany) is a German football (soccer) player and coach who helped West Germany win the 1990 World Cup and was twice named his country’s Footballer of the Year.

A prolific goal scorer as a young boy, Klinsmann joined the youth side of the lower-division Stuttgarter Kickers club at age 14 and made his debut on the club’s professional side at 17. He joined the Bundesliga (Germany’s top football division) club VfB Stuttgart in 1984. Klinsmann was the Bundesliga’s leading scorer during the 1987–88 season, and he was named the 1988 West German Footballer of the Year. After helping Stuttgart reach the 1989 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup final, he left his home country to play club football for Italy’s Inter Milan.

As a member of Inter, Klinsmann helped the club win the Italian Super Cup in 1989 and the UEFA Cup in 1991 before he left the team to join AS Monaco of the French Ligue 1 in 1992. He led Monaco to an appearance in the 1994 Champions League semifinals, a feat that—combined with the five goals he scored in that summer’s World Cup—contributed to his earning German Player of the Year honors. In addition to gaining fame as one of the top strikers in the sport, he developed a reputation for diving (feigning being fouled in an attempt to draw a penalty against an opponent). He both embraced and mocked this reputation at his next stop, Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League, when he began diving facedown across the pitch to celebrate his goals, a playful move that endeared him to many of England’s notoriously demanding fans. After playing one season with Tottenham, Klinsmann signed with Bayern Munich in his home country. He led Bayern in goals scored in each of his seasons with the team, helping to capture another UEFA Cup (1996) and a Bundesliga title (1996–97) in the process. Klinsmann finished his club career by playing short stints with Italy’s Sampdoria and with Tottenham in 1997–98.

By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Serena Williams poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy after winning the Women's Singles final against Venus Williams of the United States on day 13 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (tennis, sports)

Britannica Quiz

Great Moments in Sports Quiz

Klinsmann made his international football debut for West Germany in 1987. He was a key member of the West German team that captured the country’s third World Cup title in 1990. Klinsmann was named the captain of a reunified German national team in 1994. He led Germany to quarterfinal finishes in the 1994 and 1998 World Cup competitions as well as to the 1996 European Championship. Following the 1998 World Cup, he retired from both club and international football.

After his retirement Klinsmann relocated to the United States, where he was a partner in a sports marketing consulting agency and served as an adviser to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. In 2004 he returned to Germany to manage the men’s national team, which he led to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup before resigning shortly after the tournament. After a stint managing Bayern Munich during the 2008–09 season that saw him get fired with five games remaining in the Bundesliga schedule, Klinsmann was hired to coach the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) in 2011.

Klinsmann’s first year of heading the U.S. team was uneventful and led to public speculation that his job might already be in jeopardy, but in 2013 he guided the team to a national-record 12-game winning streak, which was capped off with a Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup tournament victory. The USMNT then had a promising performance at the 2014 World Cup, surviving the so-called “group of death” to qualify for the 16-team knockout round, in which it was eliminated by Belgium. The team placed fourth in the 2016 Copa América Centenario tournament, but it had failed to demonstrate the marked improvement and well-defined style of play that many thought the hiring of Klinsmann would bring. In November 2016, after the team lost its first two games in CONCACAF qualification play for the 2018 World Cup—which included the team’s first-ever home loss to rival Mexico—Klinsmann was fired from the USMNT.

In November 2019 Klinsmann became manager of Hertha Berlin. However, less than three months later, he abruptly resigned.

Explore Britannica Premium!

The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.