Rudi Assauer(1944-2019)
Assauer grew up in Herten, Westphalia. In 1952, at the age of eight, he joined the Herten gaming association. There he learned to play football until 1964. In 1964 he moved to the professional camp in the Bundesliga. Borussia Dortmund signed the young player. In 1966 and 1967 he played two games for the German U-23 national team. During his playing days, he won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1966. Assauer played in 121 Bundesliga games for Borussia until 1970. He then played for Bundesliga club Werder Bremen for six years. In 1976 he ended his career as an active professional footballer. Assauer's sporting record includes a total of 307 Bundesliga games. He scored eight goals in European matches. His overall goal tally for the Bundesliga is 12 goals.
After his active career, Assauer remained loyal to football. He took over the position of manager at Werder Bremen full-time and worked in this role at his last club immediately after his career as an active player. In 1981 he left the Bremen club and moved to FC Schalke 04. He worked there until 1986. It wasn't until 1990 that he worked as a manager again, at second division club VfB Oldenburg. The next change came in 1993: Assauer returned to the Schalke 04 football club. There he worked as a full-time manager. As a manager, he was able to record the success of the UEFA Cup winners in 1997. In 2001 his club achieved the title of German Cup winner. The club Schalke 04, managed by Assauer, was able to repeat these successes the following year. On May 17, 2006, Rudi Assauer resigned from all positions at FC Schalke 04. In doing so, he drew the conclusions from a financial affair.
The crisis was triggered by a report in Focus magazine that the club was on the verge of insolvency. Rudi Assauer was in a relationship with Simone Thomalla and was the father of two children. He was one of the most prominent and popular figures in the German Bundesliga. Assauer became the advisor to Wuppertaler SV Borussia. On February 2, 2006, he and Thomalla received the "Golden Camera" television award in the "Best Commercial with Celebrities" category for the Veltins Brewery's "Surprise" commercial. From 1970 to 2007 he was married to Ingrid Aussauer. The couple had been separated since 1986. On January 20, 2009, the separation of Assauer and Simone Thomalla became known. In April 2011 he married Britta Idrizi. At the end of January 2012 it became public knowledge that Assauer was suffering from Alzheimer's.
His autobiography was published in 2012, in which Assauer also discussed his illness. On May 4, 2018, the biographical documentary "Rudi Assauer - Maker. Human. Legend." celebrated its premiere. Directed by Don Schubert in the Veltins Arena premiere.
Rudi Assauer died on February 6, 2019 in Herten.
After his active career, Assauer remained loyal to football. He took over the position of manager at Werder Bremen full-time and worked in this role at his last club immediately after his career as an active player. In 1981 he left the Bremen club and moved to FC Schalke 04. He worked there until 1986. It wasn't until 1990 that he worked as a manager again, at second division club VfB Oldenburg. The next change came in 1993: Assauer returned to the Schalke 04 football club. There he worked as a full-time manager. As a manager, he was able to record the success of the UEFA Cup winners in 1997. In 2001 his club achieved the title of German Cup winner. The club Schalke 04, managed by Assauer, was able to repeat these successes the following year. On May 17, 2006, Rudi Assauer resigned from all positions at FC Schalke 04. In doing so, he drew the conclusions from a financial affair.
The crisis was triggered by a report in Focus magazine that the club was on the verge of insolvency. Rudi Assauer was in a relationship with Simone Thomalla and was the father of two children. He was one of the most prominent and popular figures in the German Bundesliga. Assauer became the advisor to Wuppertaler SV Borussia. On February 2, 2006, he and Thomalla received the "Golden Camera" television award in the "Best Commercial with Celebrities" category for the Veltins Brewery's "Surprise" commercial. From 1970 to 2007 he was married to Ingrid Aussauer. The couple had been separated since 1986. On January 20, 2009, the separation of Assauer and Simone Thomalla became known. In April 2011 he married Britta Idrizi. At the end of January 2012 it became public knowledge that Assauer was suffering from Alzheimer's.
His autobiography was published in 2012, in which Assauer also discussed his illness. On May 4, 2018, the biographical documentary "Rudi Assauer - Maker. Human. Legend." celebrated its premiere. Directed by Don Schubert in the Veltins Arena premiere.
Rudi Assauer died on February 6, 2019 in Herten.
