Guns in hotel rooms? Check. Affairs with teammates' wives? Check. Telling a stadium of Germany fans to fuck off? Double check.
Stefan Effenberg, AKA Der Tiger, was the Bundesliga's biggest bad boy.
From the bawdy beer gardens of Bavaria, meet Bayern Munichâs midfield madman...
Stefan Effenberg, AKA Der Tiger, was the Bundesliga's biggest bad boy.
From the bawdy beer gardens of Bavaria, meet Bayern Munichâs midfield madman...
Effenberg starts out as a midfield general at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
He's tipped as a future Germany captain, but he's clearly an absolute nutjob.
During an away game in Spain, he smuggles an air rifle into the hotel, and shoots out the street lights from his bedroom window.
He's tipped as a future Germany captain, but he's clearly an absolute nutjob.
During an away game in Spain, he smuggles an air rifle into the hotel, and shoots out the street lights from his bedroom window.
Soon after, he steals ex-manager Jupp Heynckes' car...
Bored at a hotel, Der Tiger takes a joyride in a jeep that Heynckes had lent the club physio.
He drives it to a nearby rubbish dump, and speeds back and forth over the mountains of garbage until the engine blows up.
Bored at a hotel, Der Tiger takes a joyride in a jeep that Heynckes had lent the club physio.
He drives it to a nearby rubbish dump, and speeds back and forth over the mountains of garbage until the engine blows up.
Bizarrely, this doesnât put Heynckes off signing him for Bayern. "Iâve always had a weak spot for guys like Effenberg", he says.
But their reunion isn't all rosy.
During one match, Stefan screams "outside now!" at his manager at half-time and is restrained by teammates.
But their reunion isn't all rosy.
During one match, Stefan screams "outside now!" at his manager at half-time and is restrained by teammates.
A difficult two-year spell at Bayern ends when superstar Lothar MatthÀus returns to the club.
Effenberg doesnât fancy sharing the limelight.
He brands MatthĂ€us "a coward" for not taking Germanyâs penalty in the 1990 World Cup Final, and departs for Fiorentina.
Effenberg doesnât fancy sharing the limelight.
He brands MatthĂ€us "a coward" for not taking Germanyâs penalty in the 1990 World Cup Final, and departs for Fiorentina.
Stefan flourishes in Florence, and is called up to the national side for the 1994 World Cup.
But after a poor game against South Korea, he flashes a middle finger at the Germany fans while being subbed off.
He's sent home, and doesnât play for his country for four years.
But after a poor game against South Korea, he flashes a middle finger at the Germany fans while being subbed off.
He's sent home, and doesnât play for his country for four years.
He moves back to Bayern in 1998, and it's not long before he wreaks chaos again.
News breaks that Stefan's been having an affair with teammate Thomas Strunzâs wife.
To make matters worse, he prints erotic photos of her in his autobiography.
News breaks that Stefan's been having an affair with teammate Thomas Strunzâs wife.
To make matters worse, he prints erotic photos of her in his autobiography.
But on the pitch Der Tiger is magnificent, winning 3 titles and a Champions League with Bayern.
He even puts his feud with MatthÀus aside. For a bit...
In his autobiography, there's a chapter entitled âWhat Lothar MatthĂ€us Knows About Footballâ. The chapter is a blank page.
He even puts his feud with MatthÀus aside. For a bit...
In his autobiography, there's a chapter entitled âWhat Lothar MatthĂ€us Knows About Footballâ. The chapter is a blank page.
Naturally, when Stefan does retire in 2004, he doesnât stay out of the headlines for long.
In an interview with Playboy, he brands unemployed people in Germany "too lazy to work" and is sued by trade unions.
In an interview with Playboy, he brands unemployed people in Germany "too lazy to work" and is sued by trade unions.
And at age 47 he gets nicked for being five times the drink driving limit after 15 hours on the piss at Oktoberfest.
Der Tiger never changes its stripes...
Der Tiger never changes its stripes...
If you like mercurial midfielders wreaking havoc, you'll love the scandalous tale of Frank Lampard's 12-hour bender after 9/11.
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