Where are they now - Rainer Bonhof


Rainer Bonhof became Germany's youngest World Champion in July 1974 following his team's 2-1 win over Holland in Munich’s Olympiastadion at the FIFA World Cup final. The captain that lifted the trophy that day was Franz Beckenbauer, who was to become the Germany’s most influential and successful player. Both men have retained a friendship for over thirty years. 


During his career Rainer Bonhof has played for his home town team of SuS Emmerich (-1970); Borussia Mönchengladbach (1970-78), Valencia (1978-80), 1. FC Köln (1980-83), and Hertha BSC Berlin (1983). His career was ended by an ankle joint injury in 1983 when he was only thirty one years old. 

Following the end of his playing days Bonhof went into coaching and received his professional licence in 1988. His management credentials include spells at the helm of the German B Team (1990-98); assisting Berti Vogts in the EURO 96 victory; Germany U21 Team (1998); Borussia Mönchengladbach (1998-99); Sporting Club (Kuwait) (2000-2001) and Scotland U21 Team (2002-2005). Since 2006, Bonhof has been with Chelsea as their scout in Germany and Austria. 

Prior to his role he spent three years with the Scotland U21 squad taking them to the play-offs for the UEFA Under 21 European Championships. During his time with Scotland he was involved with many of the current crop of internationals who have now made their way into the Scotland senior set up under Alex McLeish. 

“When he joined us in the summer of 2002, he made an immediate impact and took the Under-21 team on a great run of results which saw them top their qualifying group and only just fail to reach the UEFA finals.” explained David Taylor, the Scottish FA Chief Executive at the time and currently UEFA General Secretary. 

Having returned to Germany at the end of 2005, after not renewing the offer of a contract extension from the Scottish FA, it was Frank Arnessen, Chief Scout and Youth Development Director at Chelsea FC, who engaged his services with a key scouting position for Chelsea in Europe. 

He is currently Vice President of Borussia Moenchengladbach

Honours 
German national team 
1972: Debut 
1972: European Championship winner 
1974: First goal World Cup 1974 & World Cup winner 
1976: European Championship runner-up 
1980: European Championship winner 
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  





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