Andreas Thom

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1989-0318-022, 1. FC Union - BFC Dynamo 2-3.jpg

Andreas Thom was born in Rüdersdorf in East Germany and began playing football at an early age for TSG Herzfelde. Andreas Thom joined the youth department of BFC Dynamo in 1974 and enrolled in the elite Children and Youth Sports school (KJS) "Werner Seelenbinder" in Alt-Hohenschönhausen in Berlin. He began a sports teacher degree at the German University of Physical Culture ({{langx|de|Deutsche Hochschule für Körperkultur}}) (DHfK) in Leipzig in 1987.{{cite news |title=Fußballer des Jahres. Andreas Thom – wer sonst? |work=Neue Zeit |date=12 August 1988 |page=6}}

Andreas Thom was one of the greatest talents in East German football, according to former BFC Dynamo coach Jürgen Bogs. Bogs claims that Thom "had everything". He brought him up to train with the first team of BFC Dynamo every now and then.{{cite news |last=Krause |first=Thomas |date=23 October 2023 |title=BFC-Star Thom und der Hass der Fans |url=https://www.nordkurier.de/sport/bfc-star-thom-und-der-hass-der-fans-1998431 |work=Nordkurier |language=de |location=Neubrandenburg |publisher=Nordkurier Mediengruppe GmbH & Co. KG |access-date=29 March 2024 }} At 18-years old, Thom made his professional debut for BFC Dynamo in the DDR-Oberliga, as a substitute for Bernd Schulz in the match against FC Carl Zeiss Jena on 22 October 1983. He then made his international debut for BFC Dynamo against FK Partizan Belgrade in the 1983-84 European Cup on 2 November 1983.{{cite news |last=Thom |first=Andreas |date=7 May 2001 |title=Mein Schicksalsspiel (IX): Nicht ohne Verluste |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/mein-schicksalsspiel-ix-nicht-ohne-verluste/225572.html |language=German |work=Der Tagesspiegel |location=Berlin |publisher=Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH |access-date=26 September 2021 }}

During his time at BFC Dynamo, he won the DDR-Oberliga in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988,{{cite web|title=Andreas Thom|url=http://bfc.com/team/andreas-thom/|website=Offizielle Website des BFC Dynamo e.V.|access-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713233246/http://bfc.com/team/andreas-thom/|archive-date=13 July 2015|url-status=dead}} and the FDGB-Pokal in 1988 and 1989.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I+was+branded+a+spy+for+the+secret+police+SAYS+CELTIC'S+GERMAN+STAR...-a061172162 |title=I was branded a spy for the secret police |work=Daily Record |date=10 September 1996 |access-date=5 August 2013}} He scored the only goal of the game in the 1989 FDGB-Pokal final.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesd/ddrcupfinals.html |title=East Germany – Cup Finals – Full Data |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=5 August 2013}} Thom was the top scorer in the 1987-88 DDR-Oberliga.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesd/ddrtops.html |title = East Germany – Topscorers |author=Sorin Arotaritei and Matthias Arnhold |date=4 September 2014 |access-date = 28 April 2015 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}} He became the player of the week six times during the league season.{{cite magazine |last=Simon |first=Günter |date=14 June 1988 |title=Andreas Thom wa gleich sechsmal "Spieler des Tages" |url=https://www.fcc-supporters.org/fuwo/files/FUWO%201988/FUWO%201988%2024.pdf |magazine=Die neue Fußballwoche |language=de |location=Berlin |publisher=DFV der DDR |volume=1988 |issue=24 |page=6 |issn=0323-8407 |access-date=12 June 2022 }} Thom was then also voted the East German Footballer of the Year in 1988.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ddrpoy.html |title=East Germany – Footballer of the Year |first=José Luis |last=Pierrend |date=7 February 2013 |access-date=28 April 2015 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}

On 16 December 1989, Thom became the first East German to sign for a Bundesliga club when he joined West German side Bayer Leverkusen for a transfer fee of 2.5 million Deutsche Mark (approx £900,000).{{cite web |url=http://lvironpigs.wordpress.com/2010/12/12/andreas-thom-agrees-historic-terms/ |title=Andreas Thom Agrees Historic Terms |work=Salon Des Refusee |access-date=5 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313104235/https://lvironpigs.wordpress.com/2010/12/12/andreas-thom-agrees-historic-terms/ |archive-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/article5130529/Wie-Calmund-DDR-Star-Thom-zu-Bayer-lockte.html |title=Wie Calmund DDR-Star Thom zu Bayer lockte (How DDR-Star Calmund attracted Thom to Bayer)|date=18 November 2011 |language=de |publisher=Die Welt |access-date=5 August 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://fxtop.com/en/currency-converter-past.php?A=2500000&C1=DEM&C2=GBP&DD=16&MM=12&YYYY=1989&B=1&P=&I=1&btnOK=Go%21 |title=Conversion of currency – DM to £ as on 16 December 1989 |publisher=Fxtop.com (currency conversion site) |access-date=5 August 2013}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50363141|title=Celtic: 'I had so many chances to escape East Germany' - Andreas Thom on the Berlin Wall, the Stasi & scoring at Ibrox|work=BBC Sport |date=9 November 2019}} The transfer also placed Thom amongst the highest earners in the Bundesliga and made him the highest paid player at Bayer Leverkusen. Thom made his historic debut for his new club on 17 February 1990, and scored the opening goal in a 3–1 win over FC Homburg. Thom spent over five years at Bayer Leverkusen, and picked up a winner's medal on 12 June 1993 win they defeated Hertha BSC II 1–0 in the final of the DFB-Pokal.{{cite web|title=Labbadia und der "Cup der guten Hoffnung"|url=https://www.kicker.de/labbadia-und-der-cup-der-guten-hoffnung-507627/artikel|work=Kicker|access-date=20 August 2014|date=22 April 2009}} Franz Beckenbauer has said that he thought Andreas Thom was the most complete player he had ever seen.{{cite news |author= |date=8 November 1999 |title=Andreas Thom über Dynamo und Stasi, Partys mit DDR-Prominenz und seinen Wechsel von Ost nach West |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/andreas-thom-ueber-dynamo-und-stasi-partys-mit-ddr-prominenz-und-seinen-wechsel-von-ost-nach-west/102972.html |language=German |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel |location=Berlin |publisher=Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH |access-date=14 August 2021 }}

Thom signed for Glasgow club Celtic in July 1995 for a then club record fee of £2.2million.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/celtic-break-club-record-to-sign-thom-1593811.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105172134/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/celtic-break-club-record-to-sign-thom-1593811.html |archive-date=2014-01-05 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=Celtic break club record to sign Thom |work=The Independent |date=29 July 1995 |access-date=5 August 2013}}{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/old-firm-double-burns-finally-gets-his-man-as-salenko-goes-to-ibrox-thom-takes-up-celtic-challenge-1.669005 |title=Old Firm double: Burns finally gets his man as Salenko goes to Ibrox Thom takes up Celtic challenge |work=Herald Scotland |date=29 July 1995 |access-date=5 August 2013}} On 30 November 1997, Thom picked up another winner's medal when he played in the Celtic side that defeated Dundee United 3–0 in the Scottish League Cup Final.{{cite news|title=Celtic cruise to cup final win|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/35873.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=17 July 2011|date=30 November 1997}} Thom moved back to Germany in January 1998 to sign for Hertha BSC,{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/thom-quits-for-place-at-home-1.359894 |title=Thom quits for place at home |work=Herald Scotland |date=15 January 1998 |access-date=5 August 2013}} although his 15 league appearances for Celtic earlier that season{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=2826 |title=Thom, Andreas |publisher=FitbaStats |access-date=5 August 2013}} saw him pick up a Scottish League championship medal when Celtic clinched the league title in May 1998.{{cite news|title=Celtic get by with a little help from their Scandinavians |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/90174.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=5 August 2013|date=9 May 1998}}{{cite news|title=Andreas Thom on memories of his past life at Celtic and why Borussia Moenchengladbach should not be underestimated|url=http://theukbulletin.com/2016/10/17/andreas-thom-on-memories-of-his-past-life-at-celtic-and-why-borussia-moenchengladbach-should-not-be-underestimated-3/|access-date=21 November 2016|work=The UK Bulletin|date=17 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121234646/http://theukbulletin.com/2016/10/17/andreas-thom-on-memories-of-his-past-life-at-celtic-and-why-borussia-moenchengladbach-should-not-be-underestimated-3/|archive-date=21 November 2016|url-status=dead}}

Thom spent four years at Hertha BSC before retiring from playing. Thom made his last appearance on 7 March 2001, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 win over SpVgg Unterhaching.{{cite web|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/thomandreas/2001/ |title=Andreas Thom 2000/2001 |publisher=Fussballdaten |access-date=5 August 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/2001/23/herthabsc-uhaching/ |title=Hertha BSC – SpVgg Unterhaching 07.03.2001 |publisher=Fussballdaten |access-date=5 August 2013}} In the 2000–01 season he foremost played in Hertha's reserve team.{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/thomdata.html | title = Andreas Thom – Matches in Oberliga |first=Matthias |last=Arnhold |date=8 October 2010 |access-date = 28 April 2015 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}

Thom played for the East Germany national team between 1984 and 1990, making 51 appearances and scoring 16 goals.{{cite web|title=National Teams – appearances of Andreas Thom|url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=20932|publisher=eu-football.info|access-date=19 August 2014}} He made his debut in a friendly against Algeria on 10 October 1984. He scored the first of his 16 international goals on 6 February 1985 in another friendly, a 3–2 win over Ecuador. Thom played in six of East Germany's qualifiers for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, and scored his first two competitive goals for his country on 28 September 1985 in a 2–1 win over Yugoslavia in Belgrade. East Germany, however, failed to qualify for the World Cup, finishing third in Group 4 behind France and Bulgaria.{{cite web|title=World Cup 1986 – Europe Group 4|url=http://www.allworldcup.narod.ru/1986/UEFA/Q86UEFA4.HTM|publisher=All World Cup|access-date=19 August 2014}} He was now a regular in the East German international side, and played in all eight of his nations qualifying ties for Euro 1988. He scored five goals over the campaign, including a hat-trick in a 6–0 away win over Iceland in June 1987. East Germany, however, again failed to qualify; finishing second in the group behind the Soviet Union.{{cite web|title=Euro '88 qualifying tables – Group 3|website=RSSSF|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/88e.html|access-date=19 August 2014}}

In 1988, Thom took over from goalkeeper René Müller as captain of the national side for six matches, including their first two qualifying games for World Cup against Iceland and Turkey. He scored in both of these World Cup qualifiers, both goals in East Germany's 2–0 win over Iceland and their solitary goal in a 3–1 defeat against Turkey in Istanbul. Thom scored his last goal for East Germany on 8 October 1989 as his side came from a goal down to defeat the Soviet Union 2–1.{{cite web|title=08.10.1989 East Germany v Soviet Union|url=http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=9135|publisher=eu-football.info|access-date=19 August 2014}} That left the East Germans needing only a draw away against Austria to qualify for the World Cup. However, they were beaten 3–0 in that game and finished fourth in the qualifying group.{{cite web|url=http://www.allworldcup.narod.ru/1990/UEFA/Q90UEFA3.HTM|publisher=All World Cup|title=World Cup 1990 – Europe Group 3|access-date=19 August 2014}}

After the reunification of Germany, Thom made his debut for the unified team on 19 December 1990, the first match featuring players from the former East Germany: In a 4–0 win over Switzerland, he came on as a substitute for Matthias Sammer and scored within 30 seconds (Germany's third goal).{{cite news |last=Gunkel |first=Christoph |title=Das Tor zur Einheit |url=https://www.spiegel.de/geschichte/erstes-gesamtdeutsches-fussball-laenderspiel-andreas-thoms-tor-zur-einheit-a-1ae819b7-d620-4afc-befb-27b772dd4cde |access-date=18 November 2021 |work=Spiegel |date=18 December 2020 |language=German}} He played in a further 9 matches and scored one more goal.{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/thom-intlg.html |title=Andreas Thom – Goals in International Matches |first=Matthias |last=Arnhold |date=21 April 2003 |access-date=28 April 2015 |publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}} He made his only appearance in the finals of a major international tournament in 1992 when he came on as a substitute for Stefan Effenberg in the final of Euro 1992 against Denmark (Germany lost 2–0).{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/6098--denmark-vs-germany/ |title=Gatecrashing Denmark down Germany |publisher=UEFA |access-date=5 August 2013 |date=5 October 2003}}

After the sacking of Huub Stevens as head coach at Hertha BSC in December 2003, Thom briefly took over for 3 games{{cite web |author=Lars Schiefler |url=http://clubelo.com/Coaches/AndreasThom.html |title=Coaches – Andreas Thom |publisher=ClubElo |access-date=7 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709224258/http://clubelo.com/Coaches/AndreasThom.html |archive-date=9 July 2014 |url-status=dead }} until Hans Meyer was appointed later that month.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_23-12-2003_pg2_26 |title=Leading News Resource of Pakistan |publisher=Daily Times |date=23 December 2003 |access-date=7 August 2013}} Thom became assistant coach at the club and held that position under Meyer's successor, Falko Götz.{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/rueckkehr-nach-berlin-falko-goetz-wird-neuer-hertha-coach-a-298507.html |title=Rückkehr nach Berlin: Falko Götz wird neuer Hertha-Coach – SPIEGEL ONLINE |newspaper=Der Spiegel |date=5 May 2004 |language=de |publisher=Spiegel.de |access-date=7 August 2013}} On 10 April 2007, Thom was sacked along with Götz due to the poor performance of Hertha BSC.{{cite web|author=Dienstag, 10. April 2007 |url=http://www.news.at/a/schwache-hertha-falken-falko-goetz-trainer-sessel-169826 |title=Schwache Hertha schießt den Falken ab: Falko Götz muss den |language=de |publisher=News.at |access-date=7 August 2013}}

On 15 December 2008, it was announced that Thom would become assistant coach at lower league Holstein Kiel in January 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/goetz-und-thom-nach-kiel-501812/artikel |title=Götz und Thom nach Kiel!| website = Kicker |language=de |date = 15 December 2008 | access-date = 20 February 2018}} Under head coach Falko Götz, Thom helped Holstein Kiel win promotion from the Regionalliga Nord to the national third division in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/goetz_wir-muessen-viel-lernen-511930/artikel |title=Götz: Wir müssen viel lernen|language=de | website = Kicker |date= 27 July 2009 | access-date = 20 February 2018}} On 15 February 2010, Holstein Kiel sacked Andreas Thom.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/heemsoth-ersetzt-thom-521025/artikel |title=Heemsoth ersetzt Thom|language=de | website = Kicker |date= 15 February 2010 | access-date = 20 February 2018}}

In the 2010–11 season, Thom was appointed to coach the U17 team of Hertha BSC.{{cite web |url=http://www.herthabsc.de/de/nachwuchs/thom-u17/page/2787--52-52--52.html |title=Eine Rückkehr ins Finale – Nachwuchs |language=de |publisher=HerthaBSC.de |access-date=7 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013430/http://www.herthabsc.de/de/nachwuchs/thom-u17/page/2787--52-52--52.html |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} Thom led the Hertha BSC U17 team to the final round of the German U17 Championship three times, winning the German U17 Championship in 2012 and finishing runner-up in 2013. In 2015-16 season, Thom took over the Hertha BSC U19 team.{{cite web |url=https://www.herthabsc.com/de/nachrichten/2015/09/8813-alles-gute-zum-50.-andreas-thom |title=Alles Gute zum 50., Andreas Thom! |author= |date=7 September 2015 |website=herthabsc.com |location=Berlin |publisher=Hertha BSC GmbH & Co. KGaA |language=de |access-date=30 March 2024 }}

In the summer of 2017, new head coach at Hertha BSC, Pál Dárdai, brought Thom into a coaching role with the first team, specialising in coaching the strikers at the club.{{cite news|title=Neuer Assistenztrainer Andreas Thom wird Stürmercoach bei Hertha|url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/sport/hertha-bsc/neuer-assistenztrainer-andreas-thom-wird-stuermercoach-bei-hertha-27946434|access-date=5 December 2017|work=Berliner Zeitung|date=10 July 2017}}{{cite news|last=Jahn|first=Michael|title=Hahohe Sturm und Drang – mit Andreas Thom|url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/sport/hertha-bsc/hahohe-sturm-und-drang---mit-andreas-thom-28211204|access-date=5 December 2017|work=Berliner Zeitung|date=23 August 2017}} Thom then continued his career at Hertha BSC as youth coach. He works as an individual coach for the Hertha BSC U15 team, as of the 2023-24 season.

{{notelist}}

Berliner FC Dynamo

• DDR-Oberliga: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
• FDGB Pokal: 1988, 1989
• DFV-Supercup: 1989

Bayer Leverkusen

• DFB-Pokal: 1993

Celtic

• Scottish League champion: 1998
• Scottish League Cup: 1997

Germany

• UEFA European Championship: Runner-up 1992

Individual

• East German Footballer of the Year: 1988

{{reflist}}

• {{Fussballdaten|thomandreas}}
• {{WorldFootball.net|andreas-thom}}
• {{NFT player|id=15976}}

{{Hertha BSC Berlin managers}}

{{Germany squad UEFA Euro 1992}}

{{East German Footballer of the Year}}

{{DDR-Oberliga top scorer}}

{{German Cup top scorers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thom, Andreas}}

Category:1965 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Märkisch-Oderland

Category:Footballers from Brandenburg

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:German men's footballers

Category:East German men's footballers

Category:Germany men's international footballers

Category:Berliner FC Dynamo players

Category:Bayer 04 Leverkusen players

Category:Hertha BSC players

Category:Celtic F.C. players

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland

Category:UEFA Euro 1992 players

Category:Hertha BSC managers

Category:Bundesliga players

Category:Scottish Football League players

Category:East Germany men's international footballers

Category:East Germany men's under-21 international footballers

Category:Dual internationalists (men's football)

Category:German expatriate men's footballers

Category:DDR-Oberliga players

Category:German football managers

Category:Sportspeople from Bezirk Frankfurt

Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Scotland