{{Short description|German footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Lars Ricken | image = 10. Tag der Legenden 2014 55.JPG | caption = Ricken in 2014 | full_name = Lars Ricken | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|7|10|df=yes}} | birth_place = Dortmund, West Germany | height = 1.78 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Borussia Dortmund (CEO for Sport) | youthyears1 = 1982–1986 | youthclubs1 = TuS Eving-Lindenhorst | youthyears2 = 1986–1990 | youthclubs2 = Eintracht Dortmund | youthyears3 = 1990–1993 | youthclubs3 = Borussia Dortmund | years1 = 1993–2007 | clubs1 = Borussia Dortmund | caps1 = 301 | goals1 = 49 | years2 = 2003–2009 | clubs2 = Borussia Dortmund II | caps2 = 39 | goals2 = 8 | totalcaps = 340 | totalgoals = 57 | nationalyears1 = 1995–1998 | nationalteam1 = Germany U21 | nationalcaps1 = 17 | nationalgoals1 = 8 | nationalyears2 = 1997–2002 | nationalteam2 = Germany | nationalcaps2 = 16 | nationalgoals2 = 1 | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}} {{MedalCountry|{{fb|GER}}}} {{MedalCompetition|FIFA World Cup}} {{Medal|RU|2002 Korea/Japan|}} }}
'''Lars Ricken''' (born 10 July 1976) is a German retired footballer and the current managing director of Borussia Dortmund.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Bruch |first1=Charlotte |date=22 April 2024 |title=Sportliche Nachfolge von Watzke: Lars Ricken wird Geschäftsführer Sport bei Borussia Dortmund |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/sportliche-nachfolge-von-watzke-lars-ricken-wird-geschaftsfuhrer-sport-bei-borussia-dortmund-11553260.html |access-date=22 April 2024 |work=Der Tagesspiegel |language=German}}</ref> From 2008 to 2024, he was the youth coordinator at Dortmund.
Ricken represented Borussia Dortmund throughout his entire professional career, which spanned 15 years. He was the youngest player to appear for the club in an official match, a record later broken by Nuri Şahin. An attacking midfielder, he won three Bundesliga titles (1994–95, 1995–96, 2001–02) and scored in the 1996–97 Champions League final, which Dortmund won.
A German international for five years, Ricken represented the country at the 2002 World Cup and the 1999 Confederations Cup.
==Career== [[File:Lars Ricken.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Ricken training with Borussia Dortmund in 2006]] Born in Dortmund, Ricken joined local Borussia at an early age and made his Bundesliga debut on 8 March 1994 in a 1–2 home defeat against VfB Stuttgart, aged not yet 18. From the following season onward, he became a regular.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/rickendata.html | title = Lars Ricken – Matches and Goals in Bundesliga | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 12 November 2015 | website = RSSSF | accessdate = 17 November 2015}}</ref>
Ricken scored a memorable long-distance goal in the final of the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League edition against Juventus FC, which stood as the fastest goal in a final of the competition by a substitute, finding the net after just 16 seconds on the field.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.espn.co.uk/espn/sport/story/23715.html | title = Fantastic finals | publisher = ESPN FC | date = 20 May 2010 | accessdate = 30 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/53915--b-dortmund-vs-juventus/ | title = Dortmund 3–1 Juventus | publisher = UEFA | date = 28 May 1997 | access-date = 25 February 2015}}</ref> He also contributed 8 goals in 47 matches in the team’s back-to-back national titles (1994–96).
In the following years, Ricken’s success was hampered by a series of injuries. He earned his first cap for Germany on 10 September 1997,<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ricken-intl.html | title = Lars Ricken – International Appearances | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 12 November 2015 | website = RSSSF | accessdate = 17 November 2015}}</ref> in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Armenia, but missed that major international tournament as well as UEFA Euro 2000. Later, he restored his form, helping Dortmund claim the league title in 2002 by scoring a career-best six goals and being selected by national coach Rudi Völler for the squad at that year's World Cup; he did not play in the competition, however, as Germany finished runners-up.
Ricken’s injury woes returned after the World Cup and, as a consequence, he failed to earn recognition at either the European or international level. In early April 2007, he was demoted to the reserve team by manager Thomas Doll due to substandard performance.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=496652.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121024091923/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=496652.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 24 October 2012 | title = Ricken rocking on his heels | publisher = UEFA | first = Alois | last = Urban | date = 15 January 2007 | access-date = 30 April 2013}}</ref>
In November 2007, Ricken announced his retirement from football. In an attempt to return to the sport, he briefly attended a training camp in February 2008 with the Columbus Crew of the Major League Soccer, but returned to Germany and Dortmund after a few days.
On 11 June 2008, Borussia Dortmund sport director Michael Zorc, also a former club footballer, announced that Ricken was to be hired as youth coordinator with immediate effect, while still appearing for the amateur side in the Regionalliga West. However, on 16 February 2009, he announced his retirement from professional football.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=800966.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121024091934/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=800966.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 24 October 2012 | title = Ricken announces retirement | publisher = UEFA | date = 16 February 2009 | access-date = 30 April 2013 }}</ref>
On 22 April 2024, Ricken was announced to take over the duties of CEO for Sport at Borussia Dortmund from Hans-Joachim Watzke, beginning on 1 May 2024.<ref name=":0" />
==Career statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web |title=Lars Ricken » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe40686/lars-ricken/club-matches/ |publisher=World Football |access-date=4 February 2021}}</ref> |- ! rowspan="2"|Club !! rowspan="2"|Season !! colspan="3"|League !! colspan="2"|Cup !! colspan="2"|League Cup !! colspan="2"|Continental !! colspan="2"|Other !! colspan="2"|Total |- ! Division !! Apps !! Goals !! Apps !! Goals !! Apps !! Goals !! Apps !! Goals !! Apps !! Goals !! Apps !! Goals |- | rowspan="15"|Borussia Dortmund || 1993–94 || Bundesliga | 5 || 1 || 0 || 0 || colspan="2"|— || 2<ref group=lower-alpha name="UEFA Cup">Appearances in the UEFA Cup.</ref> || 1 || colspan="2"|— || 7 || 2 |- | 1994–95 || Bundesliga | 21 || 2 || 0 || 0 || colspan="2"|— || 7<ref group=lower-alpha name="UEFA Cup"/> || 1 || colspan="2"|— || 28 || 3 |- | 1995–96 || Bundesliga | 26 || 6 || 3 || 1 || colspan="2"|— || 7<ref group=lower-alpha name="UCL">Appearances in the UEFA Champions League.</ref> || 2 || colspan="2"|— || 36 || 9 |- | 1996–97 || Bundesliga | 23 || 2 || 1 || 0 || colspan="2"|— || 9<ref group=lower-alpha name="UCL"/> || 4 || 1<ref group=lower-alpha name="GSC">Appearances in the German Super Cup.</ref> || 0 || 34 || 6 |- | 1997–98 || Bundesliga | 25 || 2 || 2 || 3 || 2 || 0 || 5<ref group=lower-alpha name="UCL"/> || 0 || 2<ref group=lower-alpha>Appearances in the UEFA Super Cup.</ref> || 0 || 36 || 5 |- | 1998–99 || Bundesliga | 28 || 5 || 2 || 0 || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || 30 || 5 |- | 1999–2000 || Bundesliga | 29 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 11<ref group=lower-alpha name="UEFA">Appearances in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup.</ref> || 0 || colspan="2"|— || 43 || 4 |- | 2000–01 || Bundesliga | 29 || 6 || 3 || 1 || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || 32 || 7 |- | 2001–02 || Bundesliga | 28 || 6 || 1 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 15<ref group=lower-alpha name="UEFA"/> || 4 || colspan="2"|— || 46 || 10 |- | 2002–03 || Bundesliga | 24 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 11<ref group=lower-alpha name="UCL"/> || 0 || colspan="2"|— || 37 || 5 |- | 2003–04 || Bundesliga | 23 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 5<ref group=lower-alpha name="UEFA"/> || 2 || colspan="2"|— || 32 || 4 |- | 2004–05 || Bundesliga | 17 || 5 || 1 || 0 || colspan="2"|— || 2<ref group=lower-alpha>Appearances in the UEFA Intertoto Cup.</ref> || 0 || colspan="2"|— || 20 || 5 |- | 2005–06 || Bundesliga | 10 || 4 || 1 || 0 || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || 11 || 4 |- | 2006–07 || Bundesliga | 13 || 0 || 1 || 0 || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || 14 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"|Total !! 301 !! 49 !! 19 !! 5 !! 8 !! 1 !! 74 !! 14 !! 3 !! 0 !! 405 !! 69 |- | rowspan="7"|Borussia Dortmund II || 2002–03 || Regionalliga Nord | 1 || 0 || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || 1 || 0 |- | 2003–04 || Regionalliga Nord | 1 || 0 || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || 1 || 0 |- | 2004–05 || Regionalliga Nord | 4 || 2 || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || 4 || 2 |- | 2006–07 || Regionalliga Nord | 11 || 5 || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || 11 || 5 |- | 2007–08 || Regionalliga Nord | 19 || 1 || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || 19 || 1 |- | 2008–09 || Regionalliga West | 3 || 0 || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || colspan="2"|— || 3 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"|Total !! 39 !! 8 !! colspan="2"|— !! colspan="2"|— !! colspan="2"|— !! colspan="2"|— !! 39 !! 8 |- ! colspan="3"|Career Total !! 340 !! 57 !! 19 !! 5 !! 8 !! 1 !! 74 !! 14 !! 3 !! 0 !! 444 !! 77 |} {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours== '''Borussia Dortmund''' * Bundesliga: 1994–95, 1995–96, 2001–02 * DFB-Supercup: 1995, 1996 * UEFA Champions League: 1996–97 * Intercontinental Cup: 1997 * UEFA Cup runner-up: 2002
'''Germany''' * FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2002
==See also== * List of one-club men
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Fussballdaten|rickenlars}} * {{NFT|10502}} * {{FIFA|159529}} * {{Eu-Football.info|17700}} * {{WorldFootball.net|lars-ricken}}
{{Navboxes | title = Germany squads | bg = white | fg = black | bordercolor = black | list1 = {{Germany Squad 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup}} {{Germany squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}} }} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ricken, Lars}} Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Dortmund Category:German men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Bundesliga players Category:Regionalliga players Category:Borussia Dortmund players Category:Borussia Dortmund II players Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers Category:Germany men's B international footballers Category:Germany men's international footballers Category:1999 FIFA Confederations Cup players Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players Category:Borussia Dortmund non-playing staff Category:West German men's footballers