World Cup winner, 58, becomes manager of eighth-division club as he returns to dugout after break due to memory loss
WORLD CUP winner Thomas Hassler has just become the manager of an eighth-division club.
The 58-year-old was forced to resign from his old club sixth-tier German side BFC Presussen after suffering sudden memory loss in October 2022.
Hassler won the 1990 World Cup after West Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in the final.
After the former Roma star hung up his boots in 2004, he entered the world of management.
Starting as an assistant for the Nigeria national team, he then went on to become the right-hand man at FC Koln and Padideh.
The former midfielder got his first head coach gig at Berlin United in 2016.
Then in 2019, he made his way to Preussen until health problems put an end to his tenure.
During a speech, the ex-Juventus star suffered a sudden loss of memory plus dizziness, tinnitus and neck pain.
This led him to stepping down as boss but he continued to work at the club as a sporting adviser until the end of last month.
Now “Icke” is taking over eighth-division club FC Spandau 06 formerly known as Spandauer BC.
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Hassler to BILD: “Yes, I’m back! Where I belong – directly on the football pitch. I’ve spent over 55 years of my life playing football, that’s what I do best.
“I’m very happy that I can now work as a coach again at Spandau 06 after a break of almost two years.
“I’ve got my health problems under control now and I’m really looking forward to the new task and the regular weekly routine on the pitch.
“That’s what I missed. We will now discuss all the details for the preparation, which starts on July 16.
“We want to play at the top, maybe even get promoted. That’s my goal.”
The club are still looking for players for the upcoming season as many departed after the club’s relegation from the Landesliga.
Hassler made over 500 club appearances for the likes of FC Koln, Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Juventus and SV Salzburg.