Profile

Karlheinz Riedle's glittering career began with little known German club TSV Ellhofen back in 1984 before he made the move to SV Weiler. In season 1985-86 he registered 22 goals and was called up into the German under-21 squad before being transferred again, this time to Blau-Weiss Berlin.

A big move was never going to be far away and it arrived in 1987 when he signed for Werder Bremen. He helped them to the title in his first season and played a massive role in their success by scoring 18 goals in 33 games. He scored on his German debut that same year in a 4-0 victory over Finland.

In 1990 Riedle became one of Europe's big money transfers when he signed for Lazio for £5.5 million before he returned to Germany in 1993 when he moved to Borussia Dortmund. There then followed the most successful spell in his career as he helped Dortmund to successive Bundesliga titles in 1995 and 1996 and his career reached a pinnacle when he scored two goals in the European Cup final against Juventus which helped Dortmund to an unexpected 3-1 triumph.

Liverpool beat off competition from Italian outfit Perugia to sign Riedle in 1997 after Stan Collymore had left for Aston Villa. Having won over 40 caps at international level Riedle brought great experience to the Liverpool squad and, despite never being a regular in the side, reached double figures for goals scored for the club before signing a one year extension to his Anfield contract, apparently ensuring his continued presence at the club until into the new millennium.

However, with competition fierce for the strikers' positions, Karlheinz decided to make the move to ambitious First Division side Fulham in September 1999 in the hope that he would once more find a regular first team place.

Other Clubs:
TSV Ellhofen, SV Weiler, FC Augsburg, Blau Weiss Berlin, Werder Bremen, Lazio, Borussia Dortmund, Fulham