Rainer Bonhof

Infobox Football biography
playername = Rainer Bonhof


fullname = Rainer Bonhof
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1952|3|29
cityofbirth = Emmerich am Rhein
countryofbirth = West Germany
height =
position = Midfielder
currentclub = Chelsea F.C.
youthyears = –1970
youthclubs = SuS Emmerich
years = 1970–1978
1978–1980
1980–1983
1983
clubs = Borussia Mönchengladbach
Valencia CF
1. FC Köln
Hertha BSC Berlin
caps(goals) = 231 (42)
060 (10)
074 (14)
006 0(1)
nationalyears = 1972–1981
nationalteam = Germany
nationalcaps(goals) = 053 0(9)
manageryears = 1990–1998
1998
1998–1999
2000–2001
2002–2005
managerclubs = Germany B Team
Germany U21 Team
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Sporting Club (Kuwait)
Scotland U21 Team

Rainer Bonhof (born March 29, 1952 in Emmerich am Rhein, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a former German footballer. He was a wing-back or defensive midfielder.

Biography

Bonhof became (at that time) Germany's youngest World Champion on July 7, 1974 following his team's 2–1 win over the Netherlands in Munich's Olympiastadion at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Bonhof even made the assist leading to Gerd Müller's winning goal.

Bonhof, a midfielder, was widely recognized — during his time — for having one of the game's hardest free-kicks as well as longest and most precise throw-ins. Former Liverpool goalkeeper, Ray Clemence, in 1977 following a European Cup tie between the Reds and Borussia Mönchengladbach, was credited for expressing fear of Bonhof's shots. Clemence's fear was such that in a March 1978 match between Liverpool and Borussia Mönchengladbach he ducked to avoid a 25 metre Bonhof free-kick that appeared to be going straight for the keeper's head. Bonhof was awarded the ARD Goal of the Month on three occasions.

After his active career was abruptly ended by an ankle joint injury in 1983, Rainer Bonhof went on to coach. He received his formal licence in 1988, and has coached several teams, resigning a year early from his Scotland U21 responsibilities after they finished last in their European U21 Championship Qualifying group, after 14 games and no victories.

On September 1, 2006, Bonhof signed a contract with recent FA Premier League winners Chelsea F.C. to become their scout for the scopes of Germany and Austria. Bonhof takes action from Mönchengladbach, the place he returned to after the end of his Scotland U21 responsibilities. The contract is a rolling deal, allowing either Chelsea and Bonhof to break it up any time.

Honors

German national team

*1972: Debut (May 26 in 4-1 win over Soviet Union at Munich, sub for Horst Höttges at halftime)
*1972: European Championship winner (was called for squad, but never played)
*1974: First goal (June 30 in 4-2 win over Sweden at Düsseldorf), World Cup winner
*1976: European Championship runner-up
*1980: European Championships winner (was called for squad, but was injured)
*1981: Last match (January 7 in 1-4 defeat by Brazil at Montevideo)

VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach

*1971: Bundesliga winner
*1973: DFB-Pokal winner, UEFA Cup runner-up
*1975: Bundesliga winner, UEFA Cup winner
*1976: Bundesliga winner
*1977: Bundesliga winner, UEFA Champions Cup runner-up

Valencia CF

*1979: Copa del Rey winner
*1980: UEFA Cup Winners Cup winner