Thomas Linke

Thomas Linke (born 26 December 1969) is a German former football player. He played as a central defender for Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and for Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga. He also played for the German national team. 

Career
Linke started with his local club BSG Robotron Sömmerda and went to  FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt, where he played 84 games in the East German First Division. After the reunification of Germany he went to Schalke 04. In 1998, he came to Bayern Munich. The time with this team was his most successful. With Bayern, Linke won five leagues, three German Cups and four league cups and the 2001Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup.

At the age of 35 he went to the newly formed FC Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga. Soon he became team captain. In his second season with Salzburg he won the Austrian championship. 2007 he was told, that his contract would not be extended. His last year as player he spent with the second team of Bayern München. Then he became assistant to the director of football Heinz Hochhauser for Red BUll Salzburg. Later he became director of football with RB Leipzig. Soon he left for personal reasons.

Linke's international debut with the Germany national team took place in a 3–0 victory over South Africa, on 15 November 1997. He represented Germany at UEFA Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup. From 1997 till 2004 he played 43 international matches and scored one goal.

Honours
Club
Schalke 04:
UEFA Cup: 1996–97

Bayern Munich:
German League: 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05
German Cup: 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2004–05; runner-up 1998–99
German League Cup: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004
UEFA Champions League: 2000–01; Runner-up 1998–99
Intercontinental Cup: 2001
UEFA Super Cup: Runner-up 2001

Red Bull:
Austrian League: 2006–07

Country
FIFA World Cup: runner-up 2002

Career statistics
Club

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRot-Weiß Erfurt1988–89DDR-Oberliga5000––501989–9022010––2301990–9125140––2911991–922. Bundesliga27120–40331Total79270–40902Schalke 041992–93Bundesliga25010–202801993–9431410––3241994–9531240––521995–9627320––2931996–9730121–1124341997–9831320–70403Total17513121–20220716Bayern Munich1998–99Bundesliga2715110904221999–200027110201114122000–0128000101514412001–022005010603202002–033206000614412003–042102010402802004–05110102040180Total1652201805532496Red Bull Salzburg2005–06Austrian Bundesliga24310––2532006–0727020–60350Total51330–60603Bayern Munich II2007–08Regionalliga Süd331–––331Total504214228085563928

International

 GermanyYearAppsGoals19971019982019997020001102001702002141200300200410Total431

Scores and results table. Germany's goal tally first:
 #  Date  Venue  Opponent  Score  Result  Competition 1.  1 June 2002  Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan    6–0  8–0  2002 World Cup

Honours
Schalke 04
UEFA Cup: 1996–97

Bayern Munich
Bundesliga: 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05
DFB-Pokal: 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2004–05; runner-up: 1998–99
DFB-Ligapokal: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004
UEFA Champions League: 2000–01; runner-up: 1998–99
Intercontinental Cup: 2001
UEFA Super Cup runner-up: 2001

Red Bull Salzburg
Austrian Bundesliga: 2006–07

Germany
FIFA World Cup: runner-up 2002

References

Category:1969 births
Category:Living people
Category:East German sportspeople
Category:German footballers
Category:FC Red Bull Salzburg players
Category:Sportspeople from Thuringia
Category:Austrian football champions