Matthias Sammer

Early Life

Matthias Sammer was born on September 5, 1967. He was born in Dresden, East Germany. This was when Germany was split into two countries. His father was Klaus Sammer, who was also a football player. His father helped teach him how to play football. Young Matthias practiced football every day.

Starting in Football

Matthias started playing football very young. He joined Dynamo Dresden in 1976. This was the same team his father played for. He was only nine years old when he started. Everyone could see he was very good at football. He worked very hard to become better every day.

First Professional Games

In 1985, Sammer started playing professional football. He was still at Dynamo Dresden. He was only 17 years old. He played in midfield, like his father. He was very good at:
- Passing the ball
- Running with the ball
- Tackling other players
- Leading the team
- Scoring goals

Playing in East Germany

Sammer became very important for Dynamo Dresden. He helped them win:
- The East German championship in 1989
- The East German cup in 1985 and 1990
- Many important games

He was one of the best young players in East Germany. People said he would be a great player.

Big Changes

In 1989, something very important happened. The Berlin Wall came down. East Germany and West Germany became one country again. This changed football in Germany. Players from East Germany could now play in West Germany. This was very important for Sammer.

Moving to Stuttgart

In 1990, Sammer moved to VfB Stuttgart in West Germany. This was a big change in his life. Stuttgart was very different from Dresden. But Sammer played very well. He helped Stuttgart win the German championship in 1992. He became one of the best players in Germany.

Changing Position

At Stuttgart, something special happened. The coach changed Sammer's position. He started playing as a sweeper. A sweeper is a defender who can also attack. Sammer was very good at this new position. He could:
- Defend well
- Start attacks
- Score goals
- Lead the team
- Read the game well

Success with Borussia Dortmund

In 1993, Sammer moved to Borussia Dortmund. This was where he became most famous. At Dortmund, he won many things:
- Two German championships (1995, 1996)
- The Champions League (1997)
- The World Club Cup (1997)

He was the leader of the team. The fans loved him very much.

Playing for Germany

Sammer first played for East Germany. He played 23 games for them. Then, when Germany became one country, he played for the united German team. For Germany, he:
- Played 51 games
- Scored 8 goals
- Won the European Championship in 1996
- Was the best player at Euro 96

Best Player in Europe

In 1996, Sammer won a very special prize. He won the Ballon d'Or. This means he was the best player in Europe. This was very special because:
- He was a defender
- Most winners are attacking players
- He was the first German defender to win it
- Only three defenders had won it before

How He Played

Sammer was a special kind of player. He was different because:
- He could defend and attack
- He was very smart on the field
- He was a good leader
- He could read the game well
- He was good with both feet
- He could score goals from defense

Sad Ending to Playing Career

In 1998, something sad happened. Sammer hurt his knee very badly. He tried very hard to get better. But he could not play football anymore. He had to stop playing. He was only 30 years old. This was very young to stop playing football.

Working in Football

After he stopped playing, Sammer stayed in football. He became:
- A coach at Borussia Dortmund
- A sports director at Borussia Dortmund
- A sports director at Bayern Munich
- A TV expert talking about football

Success as a Coach

Sammer was a good coach too. At Borussia Dortmund, he:
- Won the German championship in 2002
- Helped young players get better
- Made the team play good football
- Used his experience to help others

Work at Bayern Munich

From 2012 to 2016, Sammer worked at Bayern Munich. He was the sports director. This means he:
- Helped choose players for the team
- Worked with the coaches
- Made important decisions
- Helped the team win many things

Important Facts About Sammer

Here are some interesting facts about Matthias Sammer:
- He had red hair
- He was very serious about football
- He was good at both playing and coaching
- He won prizes as a player and as a coach
- He helped football in both East and West Germany
- He was very smart about football

What People Say About Him

Many people in football talk about Sammer. They say:
- He was one of the best defenders ever
- He was very intelligent on the field
- He was a good leader
- He helped make German football better
- He understood football very well
- He worked very hard

His Impact on Football

Sammer was important for football because:
- He showed defenders could be attacking players
- He helped bring East and West German football together
- He won many important games
- He helped make German football stronger
- He showed you could be successful as a player and leader
- He helped young players get better

What We Can Learn

We can learn many things from Sammer's life:
- Work hard every day
- Never give up
- Learn new things
- Help others
- Be brave
- Stay strong when things are hard
- Use your mind as well as your body

His Legacy

Today, people remember Sammer because:
- He was a special kind of player
- He changed how defenders play
- He was successful in many different jobs in football
- He helped make German football better
- He showed that defenders could be stars too

Important Dates

Here are important dates in Sammer's life:
- 1967: Born in Dresden
- 1985: Started professional football
- 1990: Moved to Stuttgart
- 1993: Joined Borussia Dortmund
- 1996: Won European Championship and Ballon d'Or
- 1998: Stopped playing football
- 2002: Won German championship as coach

Why He Was Special

Sammer was special because:
- He played in a new way
- He was good at many things
- He worked hard
- He was very smart
- He helped others
- He loved football very much
- He was successful in many different jobs

His Place in Football History

Matthias Sammer has a special place in football history. He was important in both East and West Germany. He showed that defenders could be as famous as attacking players. He was successful as a player, coach, and director.

Young players can learn a lot from Sammer. He showed that:
- You need to work hard
- You need to be smart
- You can learn new things
- You can help others
- You should never give up

Today, Matthias Sammer is still respected in football. He shows that you can be successful in many different ways in football. His story helps people understand how football changed in Germany. He is a true legend of German football.

Reading Comprehension Questions: Matthias Sammer Biography

True or False Questions
1. Matthias Sammer was born in West Germany.
2. His father was also a football player.
3. He started playing professional football at age 20.
4. He won the Champions League with Stuttgart.
5. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1996.
6. He played for both East and West Germany.
7. He stopped playing football because he was too old.
8. He worked as a coach after playing football.
9. He had black hair.
10. He never worked for Bayern Munich.


Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where was Sammer born?
a) Berlin
b) Dresden
c) Stuttgart
d) Munich

2. Which team did he play for first?
a) Bayern Munich
b) Stuttgart
c) Dynamo Dresden
d) Borussia Dortmund

3. How old was he when he had to stop playing?
a) 28
b) 29
c) 30
d) 31

4. What position did he change to at Stuttgart?
a) Goalkeeper
b) Striker
c) Sweeper
d) Midfielder

5. What special prize did he win in 1996?
a) World Cup
b) Ballon d'Or
c) Champions League
d) German Cup



Fill in the Blanks
1. Sammer was born in _______, _______.
2. His father's name was _______ Sammer.
3. He won the Champions League in _______.
4. He played _______ games for East Germany.
5. He had to stop playing because of a _______ injury.


Short Answer Questions
1. Name three teams that Sammer played for.
2. What important thing happened in Germany in 1989?
3. What was special about his Ballon d'Or win?
4. What did he do after he stopped playing football?
5. How many German championships did he win with Dortmund?


Discussion Questions (For Speaking Practice)
1. Why do you think Sammer was such a special player?
2. How did German football change when the Berlin Wall came down?
3. What can young players learn from Sammer's story?
4. Why do you think he was good at both playing and coaching?
5. What makes a good football leader?

Writing Tasks
1. Write three sentences about Sammer's early life.
2. Write a paragraph about his success at Borussia Dortmund.
3. Write five important facts about his career change from player to coach.
4. Imagine you are a journalist in 1996. Write about him winning the Ballon d'Or.
5. Write a short paragraph about what made him different from other defenders.

Vocabulary Matching
1. Sweeper
2. Director
3. Championship
4. Leader
5. Professional
6. Injury
7. Success
8. Legacy

a) Person who makes decisions
b) Something that hurts your body
c) Person who guides others
d) Special kind of defender
e) Doing well
f) What you leave behind
g) Big competition winner
h) Doing something as a job


Timeline Activity
Put these events in the correct order:
- Won the Ballon d'Or
- Born in Dresden
- Moved to Stuttgart
- Started professional football
- Joined Borussia Dortmund
- Stopped playing football


Team Activity
In groups, discuss and write down:
1. Three things that made Sammer different from other players
2. Three lessons we can learn from his life
3. Three reasons why he was successful
4. Three ways football has changed since his time

Extension Activities
1. Compare Sammer with a modern defender
2. Create a poster about his career
3. Role-play an interview with Sammer
4. Write a newspaper article about his best achievement
5. Research more about German football history