# Ulf Kirsten

Ulf Kirsten (born 4 December 1965) is a German former professional footballer who played as a striker. Nicknamed Der Schwatte (dialect for Der Schwarze, 'The Black One'), he is the first player in history to reach a total 100 caps playing with two different national teams (first for East Germany, then Reunified Germany). Kirsten's biggest success was the victory of the 1992–93 DFB-Pokal.

## Club career
### Dynamo Dresden

Kirsten began playing football for local team BSG Chemie Riesa in 1972. He joined BSG Stahl Riesa in 1978 before joining the youth academy of Dynamo Dresden in 1979. Dynamo Dresden was a center of excellence (German: Leistungszentrum) and the most prominent club in Bezirk Dresden. It was also the most successful club in East Germany at the time. Kirsten made his professional debut for Dynamo Dresden in the 1983–84 DDR-Oberliga season.
Kirsten played 154 matches and scored 57 goals for Dynamo Dresden in the DDR-Oberliga. He won the DDR-Oberliga with Dynamo Dresden in two consecutive seasons: 1988–88 and 1989–90. Kirsten became the Footballer of the Year in East Germany in 1990.
Kirsten had an unusual build: measuring only 172 cm (5'8"), but weighing 81 kg (179 lbs). He therefore had an unusually low centre of gravity, which enabled him to protect the ball in the box against much bigger defenders and turn around quickly for close-range shots. His playing style was often compared to that of Gerd Müller. In addition, despite his small height, Kirsten was also a feared header.

### Bayer Leverkusen

Kirsten was one of the first East German men's footballers to enter the Bundesliga after the German reunification. In the German Bundesliga he played 350 matches for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and scored 182 goals (ranked #7 in the all-time top scorer list). He established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in the Bundesliga, but Bayer Leverkusen regularly ended as runner-up to either Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund. He stayed there until his retirement in 2003. He also played in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final, although his team lost to Real Madrid. In the 1999–2000 season, Kirsten won the EFFIFU award for being the most efficient striker in the league.
Off the pitch, Kirsten was famous for his strong beard growth, which earned him a sponsorship by Braun, who used him to advertise their electrical shavers.

## International career

Kirsten's 100 caps are almost evenly split: 49 for East Germany and 51 for the re-unified Germany in a career which spanned 15 years from 1985 until 2000, with the reunified team being formed in late 1990.
Kirsten scored a total of 34 international goals, 14 of them for East Germany. His only major tournaments came late in his career; Kirsten played for his country at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups and Euro 2000.

## Personal life

Kirsten's son Benjamin is also a footballer and has played as a goalkeeper for Dynamo Dresden and NEC Nijmegen.
Along with several other teammates, Kirsten was allegedly implicated as an Stasi informant during his time at Dynamo Dresden through files recovered from the security service's archives after the fall of East Germany.

## Career statistics
### Club

Including only appearances and goals for Bayer Leverkusen :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | DFB-Pokal | DFB-Pokal | DFB-Ligapokal | DFB-Ligapokal | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1990–91 | Bundesliga | 32 | 11 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | 39 | 15 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1991–92 | Bundesliga | 23 | 12 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 13 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1992–93 | Bundesliga | 33 | 20 | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | 23 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1993–94 | Bundesliga | 28 | 12 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 19 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1994–95 | Bundesliga | 27 | 15 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 10 | — | — | 37 | 25 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1995–96 | Bundesliga | 29 | 8 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 11 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1996–97 | Bundesliga | 29 | 22 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 22 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1997–98 | Bundesliga | 27 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2 | — | — | 40 | 27 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1998–99 | Bundesliga | 31 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 38 | 24 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1999–2000 | Bundesliga | 27 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | — | — | 35 | 23 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 2000–01 | Bundesliga | 29 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 36 | 17 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 2001–02 | Bundesliga | 32 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 4 | — | — | 52 | 18 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 2002–03 | Bundesliga | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 350 | 181 | 31 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 56 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 446 | 237 |
* 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Cup
* ↑ Appearances in European Cup Winners' Cup
* ↑ Appearance in DFB-Supercup
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup
* 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Champions League

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| East Germany | 1985 | 7 | 1 |
| East Germany | 1986 | 10 | 2 |
| East Germany | 1987 | 9 | 4 |
| East Germany | 1988 | 10 | 0 |
| East Germany | 1989 | 11 | 4 |
| East Germany | 1990 | 5 | 3 |
| East Germany | Total | 52 | 14 |
| Germany | 1992 | 3 | 0 |
| Germany | 1993 | 6 | 2 |
| Germany | 1994 | 4 | 3 |
| Germany | 1995 | 4 | 1 |
| Germany | 1996 | 1 | 0 |
| Germany | 1997 | 7 | 5 |
| Germany | 1998 | 16 | 5 |
| Germany | 1999 | 5 | 1 |
| Germany | 2000 | 5 | 3 |
| Germany | Total | 51 | 20 |
| Career total | Career total | 103 | 34 |
* Ulf Kirsten's team's score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ulf Kirsten goal.
International goals by Ulf Kirsten :
| No. | Team | Cap | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | East Germany | 3 | 14 August 1985 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | Norway | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | East Germany | 10 | 19 February 1986 | Estádio 1º de Maio, Braga, Portugal | Portugal | 2–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | East Germany | 16 | 29 October 1986 | Sportforum Chemnitz, Chemnitz, East Germany | Iceland | 2–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying |
| 4 | East Germany | 23 | 23 September 1987 | Stadion der Freundschaft, Gera, East Germany | Tunisia | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 5 | East Germany | 24 | 10 October 1987 | Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, East Berlin, East Germany | Soviet Union | 1–0 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying |
| 6 | East Germany | 25 | 28 October 1987 | Ernst Grube Stadium, Magdeburg, East Germany | Norway | 1–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying |
| 7 | East Germany | 25 | 28 October 1987 | Ernst Grube Stadium, Magdeburg, East Germany | Norway | 3–1 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying |
| 8 | East Germany | 37 | 13 February 1989 | Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt | Egypt | 1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 9 | East Germany | 37 | 13 February 1989 | Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt | Egypt | 3–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 10 | East Germany | 42 | 20 May 1989 | Zentralstadion, Leipzig, East Germany | Austria | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | East Germany | 43 | 23 August 1989 | Steigerwaldstadion, Erfurt, East Germany | Bulgaria | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 12 | East Germany | 50 | 28 March 1990 | Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, Berlin, Germany | United States | 1–0 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 13 | East Germany | 50 | 28 March 1990 | Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, Berlin, Germany | United States | 2–0 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 14 | East Germany | 50 | 28 March 1990 | Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, Berlin, Germany | United States | 3–1 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 15 | Germany | 4 | 14 April 1993 | Ruhrstadion, Bochum, Germany | Ghana | 1–1 | 6–1 | Friendly |
| 16 | Germany | 6 | 13 October 1993 | Wildparkstadion, Karlsruhe, Germany | Uruguay | 4–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 17 | Germany | 10 | 27 April 1994 | Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | United Arab Emirates | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 18 | Germany | 11 | 16 November 1994 | Arena Kombëtare, Tirana, Albania | Albania | 2–1 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 19 | Germany | 12 | 14 December 1994 | Republican Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova | Moldova | 1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 20 | Germany | 17 | 6 September 1995 | Frankenstadion, Nuremberg, Germany | Georgia | 3–1 | 4–1 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 21 | Germany | 20 | 2 April 1997 | Nuevo Estadio de Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain | Albania | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 22 | Germany | 20 | 2 April 1997 | Nuevo Estadio de Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain | Albania | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 23 | Germany | 20 | 2 April 1997 | Nuevo Estadio de Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain | Albania | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 24 | Germany | 23 | 6 September 1997 | Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany | Portugal | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 25 | Germany | 24 | 10 September 1997 | Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany | Armenia | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 26 | Germany | 28 | 25 March 1998 | Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart, Germany | Brazil | 1–1 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 27 | Germany | 32 | 5 June 1998 | Carl-Benz-Stadion, Mannheim, Germany | Luxembourg | 1–0 | 7–0 | Friendly |
| 28 | Germany | 32 | 5 June 1998 | Carl-Benz-Stadion, Mannheim, Germany | Luxembourg | 4–0 | 7–0 | Friendly |
| 29 | Germany | 40 | 14 October 1998 | Republican Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova | Moldova | 1–1 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 30 | Germany | 40 | 14 October 1998 | Republican Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova | Moldova | 2–1 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 31 | Germany | 44 | 4 June 1999 | BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany | Moldova | 2–0 | 6–1 | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 32 | Germany | 48 | 26 April 2000 | Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern, Germany | Switzerland | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 33 | Germany | 49 | 7 June 2000 | Dreisamstadion, Freiburg, Germany | Liechtenstein | 5–2 | 8–2 | Friendly |
| 34 | Germany | 49 | 7 June 2000 | Dreisamstadion, Freiburg, Germany | Liechtenstein | 7–2 | 8–2 | Friendly |

## Managerial statistics

    As of 25 May 2012
| Team | From | To | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Team | From | To | G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| Bayer Leverkusen II | 1 July 2005 | 30 June 2011 | 209 | 72 | 50 | 87 | 292 | 313 | −21 | 034.45 |
| Total | Total | Total | 209 | 72 | 50 | 87 | 292 | 313 | −21 | 034.45 |

## Honours
### Club

Dynamo Dresden
* DDR-Oberliga: 1988–89, 1989–90
* FDGB-Pokal: 1984–85, 1989–90
Bayer Leverkusen
* DFB-Pokal: 1992–93
* UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2001–02

### Individual

* East German Footballer of the Year: 1989–90
* Bundesliga top scorer: 1992–93, 1996–97, 1997–98
* UEFA Cup Winners' Cup top scorer: 1993–94
* UEFA Cup top scorer: 1994–95
* kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 1996–97, 1998–99