The European

A little more than ten years after his first international appearance in 1987 against Brazil (1-1), Jurgen Klinsmann took his final bow for the national squad in July 1999 when Germany were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup 3-0 by Croatia.

Forward Juergen Klinsmann of Germany (R) jumps to avoid the tackle of Russian Victor Onopko during the Euro96 group C soccer match between Germany and Russia 16 June 1996 in Manchester.

The multilingual former national squad captain and committed ecologist, Klinsmann took his skills across Europe long before the Bosman ruling made cross-border movement commonplace.

Tottenham Hotspurs star German striker Juergen Klinsmann (R) is in full flight as he lunges for the ball during his last match for Spurs against Leeds United 14 May in Blackburn, Great Britain. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. Klinsmann is to sign for German team Bayern Munich next season. AFP PHOTO c

He left his first professional club, Stuttgart, for Inter Milan in 1989, where he spent two seasons before moving to Monaco;

He then spent a year at Tottenham Hotspur in England and two at Bayern Munich before returning to Italy's Serie A and Sampdoria.

The air miles accumulated, Klinsmann spent half a season in Italy before a return to England as former club Tottenham beckoned.

Internal dispute

(FILES) This 15 March 1997 file photo shows Bayern Munich player Juergen Klinsmann (L) in a fight for the ball with Schalke 04's Johan de Kock (R) during their Bundesliga match in Munich's Olympic stadium. Klinsman, also the German national team's captain, said 18 March he would be leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season.

His European tour came to an end in May 1998, after having taken in nearly all of the continent's top nations with the exception of Spain.

Despite his popularity in England it was with Bayern that he was most fruitful, with a UEFA Cup victory in 1996 (he scored 15 goals in the competition - a record) and the German league title in 1997.

This, however, was tinged with a bitter, personal feud with teammate Lothar Matthaus which ultimately led to his departure at the end of the season.

47 international goals

German captain Jurgen Klinsmann (R) duels with Mexican defender Claudio Suarez, 29 June at the Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, south of France, during the 16th Soccer World Cup second round match between Germany and Mexico. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO GEORGES GOBET

For many years Klinsmann formed part of one of football's most efficient strike forces with Rudi Voller.

After an excellent overall contribution in the 1988 European Championship he carried his form to Italy two years later in 1990 for the World Cup, becoming world champion with Franz Beckenbauer's super-efficient squad.

(FILES) - German forward Juergen Klinsman dribbles past Belgian goalkeeper Michel Prud'homme as defender Georges Grun watches, 02 July 1994 at Soldier Field in Chicago, during the World Soccer Cup match between Germany and Belgium. Klinsmann failed to score but Germany won 3-2.

In Sweden for Euro 92, his influence in the national side had waned and in the early stages he appeared as a substitute, although in the final, which Germany lost to Denmark 2-0, he was back in the starting line-up.

In the 1994 World Cup in the United States Klinsmann scored five goals in a competition largely devoid of action, and he emerged as Germany's best player in a disappointing squad.

Bow to the Queen

German team captain Juergen Klinsmann celebrates with the trophy as British Queen Elizabeth II applauds after Germany defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 with a golden goal in extra time in the Euro 96 final at London's Wembley stadium, 30 June.

In 1996 in England a calf injury prevented involvement in several Euro matches, although he recovered sufficiently to take part in the final and perhaps appropriately, it was Klinsmann who stepped up to receive the trophy from Queen Elizabeth II.

Captain of the German national soccer team Juergen Klinsmann (C), who scored the 2-0 lead for his team, receives a high ball as US mid-fielder Brian Maisonneuve (R) looks on 15 June during their 1998 Soccer World Cup group F match at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. Germany won 2-0.

He scored 47 goals for the national team, 11 of which were scored in the final phase of the World Cup - making him one of the top scorers in the history of the competition.

In May, 1999, the former apprentice baker was appointed ambassador to the German Football Federation and played a part in Germany's successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.