Lars Ricken [Dortmund reserves]

[Oliver_Kahn]

Ricken rocking on his heels


Having shone only sporadically since making his name as a 21-year-old, Lars Ricken is desperate to end his career on a high note at BV Borussia Dortmund.

Magnificent moment

Ricken etched his name into Dortmund history on 28 May 1997. Within 16 seconds of coming on as a substitute in the UEFA Champions League final in Munich he lobbed Juventus's Angelo Peruzzi to put the seal on a 3-1 win for Ottmar Hitzfeld's side. Just 21, the world seemed to be his oyster, with Johan Cruyff saying the attacking midfielder could "play a big role in the Italian or Spanish league in the years to come". However, it never quite happened, nor did Ricken become a cornerstone of the German national team, with just 16 caps to date.

Worrying times

Now 30, Ricken finds himself struggling to regain his form in an average Dortmund team, having faced numerous disappointments in recent seasons - not least being relegated to the amateur side for a couple of games. For some, he is running out of chances to show what he can do. Having taken over as coach from the luckless Bert van Marwijk, Jürgen Röber is keen for Dortmund to fight for a European place, and the 52-year-old is eager to exploit Ricken's undoubted ability, giving him the attacking midfield role in a 4-4-2 formation. Röber said: "I have always thought a lot of Lars Ricken and I can see him taking an important role in our midfield, if he is up to the challenge."

'I am fully fit'

After a long absence with a cruciate injury sustained in November 2005, Ricken has continued to be beset with problems, not least a shoulder injury that has sidelined him since October last year. However, he recently said: "I am fully fit and don't have any problems anymore. I want to play in a position where goals are scored and created," he said, and there is no doubt that with his natural instinct, creativity and vast experience, he has the potential to move mountains.

'Nothing new'

Nonetheless, the fear remains that - with a UEFA Champions League title, three Bundesliga crowns and a 2002 FIFA World Cup runners-up medal in the trophy cabinet - Ricken may already have peaked. Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has faith in his former team-mate from the the 1996/97 UEFA Champions League final. "Lars is a very good player who is dangerous in front of the goal," he said. "But that's nothing new." Ricken is also not willing to give up easily. "BVB is an affair of the heart to me," he has claimed. Dortmund fans will hope there is a happy ending to this particular love story.

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The extraordinary career of Lars Ricken. Next to Stefan Reuter, Willi Burgsmüller and Jockel Bracht, Lars Ricken, who grew up in Dortmund-Eving, is the only Borussia players who has celebrated three German championships as a BVB player.

The first championship came in 1995 when the then 18 year-old Ricken formed the "Baby-Attack" with Ibrahim Tanko after star strikers Riedle, Chapuisat and Povlsen all went down to injury.

In the "final" against HSV that season, Ricken was one of the goal scorers in a 2-0 BVB victory and in the unforgettable Champions League matches against Deportivo La Coruna, Manchester United and of course, the 1997 Final against Juventus Turin.

The now 30-year old will play his 298th Bundesliga match against Cottubs - only two more games until he reaches the "300". And one more goal until he reaches "50"...

[Oliver_Kahn]

[4.03.] "It is unbelievable how many people come to watch although we are not playing a good season so far and win far too few home games", Lars Ricken said before the match against Energie Cottbus. The 30 year-old traditionally has good matches against Cottbus. It would be helpful for everyone if he continued this tradition...


Two long-serving players: Lars Ricken wins the duel against Hannover's "Oldie" Michael Tarnat. The game ended in a bitter disappointment. "I slept badly", Ricken said the day after.
Lars, how did you sleep the night after the 2-4 loss in Hannover?
Lars Ricken (30): "Not that well. I watched TV for a long time and switched channels quite a big. While doing that of course you are re-playing the match and certain situations in your head. You anticipate the upcoming training in order to free your mind."

What was wrong in Hannover? Was it just the penalty and the sending off?
Ricken: "Not really but it´s still going that way. We clearly lost in the end although we should have taken the lead in the first half because we had three good goal chances by Ebi, Alex and myself. I am sure we would have returned home with a win if we had scored one goal. But we are conceding too many penalties at the moment and then of course there was the sending off. Of course it is very difficult to come back after that."

Why are you experiencing such a "Rollercoaster-ride" in the Bundesliga and losing so often after wins?
Ricken: "You can see that we constantly play at our top effort level (when we win) and are training very disciplined and concentrated. After we win, we might let it slide for a bit. Then it is not enough for the following match anymore."

Are the experienced players especially challenged this situation?
Ricken: "Of course. We had a difficult situation in the first year with Bert van Marwijk and several players tried to lead with their performances as well as raising their voices on the pitch to lead the team. We have to do the same now. Some players have the experience and age to pull the others with them. That is our job."

Scene from the first leg against Gunkel, who will serve a yellow ban on Sunday: Lars Ricken assisted two goals in the 3-2 win in Cottbus. Borussia Dortmund is five points out of 16th place, 8 points away from fifth-placed Nürnberg.
Borussia Dortmund is five points out of 16th place, 8 points away from fifth-placed Nürnberg. You are dead center, but are you more concerned with staying away from the bottom?
Ricken: "You do feel a certain nervousness. That´s why we shouldn´t look at the top but take it from match to match. And we need to win this upcoming match against Cottbus. We had a phase in the first half of the season where we failed to win important points against the bottom teams of the league. If we had succeeded we would probably have an UEFA Cup place now. We can´t let that happen again. We have to win points and insure that the bottom places of the tables do not concern us."

You came back into team with a good performance against Mönchengladbach...
Ricken: "I was looking forward to that match. It was a similar situation as it is right now before the match against Cottubus: If we lost we would have slipped to the bottom. I have not played a lot this season so far, but I am aware of how much I am needed. I am happy I was able to underline my sporting ambitions and show my coach, the club and the team that I will give everything for the club in difficult situations."

You have experienced many ups and downs in your career. How do you feel today about the hype over yourself in the mid-90s?
Ricken: "Back then I handled it all very well. I was lucky that I was still going to school during the first two championships (1995 and 1996). That was always a good opportunity to take my mind off football and not even think about what I achieved on the pitch."

"We hope that they will support us again on Sunday and that we as a team can contribute our part so we can stand in front of the "Südtribüne" at the end of the match and make the wave together."
What would you advise today´s young stars?
Ricken: "The young players who are popular now are able to handle the media interest very well. We have capable youth coaches who prepare the young players mentally and athletically for their jobs in the Bundesliga. It is important for a young player to watch and learn how experienced players behave in difficult situations in order to play good and professional football. That´s how I did it at the start of my career with big names like Michael Zorc or Matthias Sammer."

You have suffered many injury setbacks? How do you continue to find the motivation to work your way back into the team?
Ricken: "I am very down to earth and always accepted the injuries. When you´re injured on the stands and have to watch the game from another perspective, meaning you can only watch the team play and experience the enthusiasm of the fans in SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, that is motivation enough to get back on the pitch. That´s where you want to get back to."

You are turning 31 this summer, you are the senior Borussia player and your contract runs through 2009. Do you sometimes think about life after professional football?
Ricken: "Not really. When I extended my contract we didn´t talk about what could happen with the club afterwards at all. I clearly stated I want to sign as a sportsman and as nothing else. I will be 33 years old when my contract expires. Then I will be at an age where you have to plan from year to year. When you´re a footballer, certain doors will open up for you but in order to have an interesting and responsible job you should have some theoretical knowledge. That´s why I completed a sports management study and learned languages."

Let´s get back to the Bundesliga: You are hosting Energie Cottbus on Sunday. What kind of match are you expecting?
Ricken: "It will definitely be a highly competitive match against a team who is fighting relegation and has won some important points lately."

"I didn't play much this season but did notice how much I am needed."
Anyway you should have good memories, after all you assisted on two goals against Cottbus in the first half of the season...
Ricken: "That also was not an easy job. Besides Cottbus has tripped us up in our stadium before. Nevertheless I am confident we will win. Everyone should be aware of what is at stake in this match and how bad things can get if we lose. But it is also important not to worry too much and start the match confidently. We have to attack aggressively and try to dominate the game."

What is the fans´ role in that on Sunday?
Ricken: "I feel sorry for the fans the most. It is unbelievable how many people come to watch although we have not had a good season to this point and we´ve won far too few home matches. The fans´ support against Gladbach was amazing. Of course, the team can totally understand the fans´ irritation but we hope that they will support us again on Sunday. We also hope that we as a team can do our part so we can stand in front of the Südtribüne after the match and do a ´La Ola´ together."

And before Lars Ricken assists on another two goals...
Ricken (laughs): "I won´t mind if it is like that..."

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His return didn't help much either

[Oliver_Kahn]

I'm not sure he played.

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Oh.. can u check the match stats??

[Oliver_Kahn]

He played the 90min actually.
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Thanks..

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Borussia Dortmund´s Regionalliga team may be able to count on the prominent support of Lars Ricken for the rest of the season reports the Ruhr Nachrichten in their Wednesday edition. The 1997 Champions´ League winner has given up on finding a new club by the target date of Friday. "I will not be leaving unless something happens between now and the 31st", said Ricken.

The 31 year-old has very little illusion of finding his way back to Thomas Doll´s Bundesliga side. "The coach stated himself clearly on that subject."

Now the offensive specialist wants to do what he did at the end of last season as a deserving regular in Theo Schenider´s third division team. "Naturally how every thing went is disappointing for me, but I am professional enough to help in another way. I think the amateurs are very thankful for this." At the end of last season, he did help there. "It was important for the development of the players to remain in the Regionalliga", Ricken said thinking back to retaining Regionalliga status last season.

Ricken, who is still under contract until 2009, could still cause an uproar at the club. According to the club´s managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke, there will be a "Talk without taboos" between them at the beginning of September. Ricken says, "First, I want to play football."

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Borussia Dortmund hero Lars Ricken will additionally work at the club's office from January, running through a trainee program.

The 31-year-old will run through an 18-month program in all fields. Afterwards he is set to for regular employment, probably in marketing.

Ricken's professional contract has been cancelled, but the player will continue to strengthen the Dortmund reserve in the Regional League North until June 2009 - unless a new sporting challenge comes his way.

European Cup hero

"I'm glad that I will be able to stay at my club Borussia Dortmund after my career. But I make no secret of my wish to accept another sporting challenge before the end of my career, and I'm thankful that BVB would make that possible", Ricken commented.

Lars Ricken has made sure of his place in Borussia folklore when he scored the decisive third goal in the Champions League final 3-1 win over Juventus on May 28, 1997 - just seconds after coming on as a substitute.

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RICKEN EYES BUNDESLIGA RETURN

Former Germany midfielder Lars Ricken has set his sights on a return to the Bundesliga.

The 31-year-old has been playing for the Borussia Dortmund amateurs since the turn of the year after being frozen out of the team by then-coach Thomas Doll and having his professional contract terminated.

But Doll's departure at the end of the season and the appointment of Jurgen Klopp as boss at the Westfalenstadion have persuaded Ricken he could still have a future at Dortmund.

Ricken, who spent his entire career at Dortmund, told the Bild newspaper: "I am in my best footballing years, feel really fit and would love to play for Borussia again.

"I will listen to Jurgen Klopp's plans and then see how it progresses."

Ricken famously scored the third goal in Dortmund's 3-1 Champions League final victory over Juventus in 1997 with his first touch after coming off the bench.

And he revealed he could look for a move abroad if he can not make it at Dortmund.

He added: "In case I can't play a role at Borussia then I can imagine playing abroad or in the second division.

"But it has to be another sporting challenge. Financial reasons are not a big part of it."

SportingLife.com

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I really liked this player when he was a regular with Dortmund, wish he was considered for the NT often. Hope he comes back.

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RICKEN TAKES YOUTH ROLE

Former Germany international Lars Ricken has been appointed youth football co-ordinator at Borussia Dortmund.

The 32-year-old has not yet officially retired from the game and will continue to play for Dortmund's reserve team next season while remaining on standby for an appearance in the first XI, but his focus will be on learning the ropes with the youth teams next year.

And Ricken is just the man to bring young players on, according to Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc.

"He has had a career which young players would like to emulate and so he can act as a role model," he said.

"We are delighted to have Ricken, the man most synonymous with Dortmund, for our youth system."

Ricken replaces Edwin Boekamp, who has joined former Bayer Leverkusen coach Michael Skibbe at Galatasaray, and will be supported by the club's Under-17 coach Peter Wazinski.

SportingLife.com