Thomas Häßler

1. FC Köln (1984–1990)

Born in West Berlin, Häßler spent his early playing days in youth teams of BFC Meteor 06 and Reinickendorfer Füchse, respectively. He began his professional career in 1984 with 1. FC Köln of the Bundesliga, for whom he played six successful years, helping the club to become Bundesliga runners-up in 1989 and 1990.

Juventus (1990–1991), Roma (1991–1994)

Soon after winning the 1990 World Cup with the Germany national team in Italy, Häßler transferred to Juventus for a sum of DM15 million. He spent only one year in Turin before he decided to join another Italian club, A.S. Roma, for a fee of DM14 million. This time he stayed for three years, making 88 appearances and scoring 11 goals.

Karlsruher SC (1994–1998)

In 1994, however, Häßler wanted to return to the Bundesliga. Despite offers from some of the biggest German clubs, he decided to sign with Karlsruher SC in a DM7 million deal, the highest transfer sum the club has ever spent. In the following three years, Karlsruhe and its new key player achieved positions in the upper third of the table which resulted in UEFA Cup participations in 1996–97 and 1997–98. By winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1996, Karlsruhe not only qualified for the UEFA Cup but also accomplished to throw out Häßler's former club AS Roma in the second round of the tournament. In the first leg of the third round, Häßler scored twice in his team's 3–1 win over Brøndby IF in Copenhagen. However, shortly after…

For Germany, Häßler was capped 101 times between 1988 and 2000, scoring 11 goals. Other than the two major tournament wins at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the 1996 UEFA European Championship, he also played for his country at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, Euro 92, and Euro 2000. In addition to his international titles at senior level, he also won a bronze medal for West Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, making his senior debut later that year in 4–0 win over Finland in a World Cup qualifying match on 31 August; he scored his first international goal in a 2–1 win against Wales on 15 November 1989, once again in a World Cup qualifier, in West Germany's final group match, which sealed their place at the World Cup. Häßler was one of the dominant figures of Euro 92, being voted the outstanding player of the tournament, and also being named to the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament for his performances. He displayed a specialty for scoring spectacular free kicks, tireless stamina and dazzling dribbling sprees, as Germany went on to reach the final of the tournament, losing out 2–0 to Denmark. He scored two goals throughout the tournament, both from direct free kicks, the first coming in a 1–1 draw in their opening group match against CIS on 12 June, and his second coming in a 3–2 win over hosts Sweden in the semi-finals on 21 June. He also set-up Jürgen Klinsmann's goal from a corner in a 3–1 defeat to the Netherlands, in the team's final group match…

A world-class playmaker, who was considered to be one of the best midfielders and German players of the 1990s, Häßler was a talented, dynamic, and creative midfielder, with quick feet and a good right foot, who stood out for his speed, energy, and constant movement across the pitch. A diminutive player, despite not being particularly physically gifted, he was known for his technique and dribbling skills, as well as his ability to score goals or provide assists for teammates, courtesy of his crossing ability; he was also a free kick specialist, and stood out for his leadership throughout his career. He usually played as an offensive-minded central midfielder – known as the mezzala position, in Italy, although he was also capable of playing as a right winger, or even as a number 10, in either an attacking midfield role behind the forwards or as a second striker, a position in which he was tasked with playing between the lines and linking up the midfield with the attack; he was also used in a creative, holding midfield role on occasion. During his time in Italy, he was nicknamed "Tommasino" and "Pollicino" (Hop-o'-My-Thumb, in Italian), due to his short stature, while he was instead nicknamed "Icke" in Germany for his pronunciation of "Ich" (German for "I") in typical Berlin dialect.

Häßler was an assistant coach at 1. FC Köln. He previously served as an assistant coach to Berti Vogts when he was head coach of Nigeria but both were later sacked by the Nigerian FA. Häßler interviewed for the managerial position at Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock in June 2010. On 24 May 2014, he was named as the assistant coach of newly Iran Pro League promoted club, Padideh. He will work with his long-time friend, Alireza Marzban. In February 2016 Häßler joined eighth division Bezirksliga side Club Italia Berlin as their new coach with the self-declared aim of eventual promotion to the 3. Liga.