View source for Rainer Bonhof

{{short description|German footballer}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{lead too short|date=November 2012}}
{{expand German|topic=bio|date=March 2022|Rainer Bonhof}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Rainer Bonhof
| image = Rainer Bonhof.jpg
| caption = Bonhof with [[Germany national football team|Germany]] in 1975
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|3|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Emmerich am Rhein]], [[West Germany]]
| height = 1.80 m
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]]<br/>(Vice president)
| youthyears1 = 1963–1970
| youthclubs1 = SuS Emmerich
| years1 = 1970–1978
| clubs1 = [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]]
| caps1 = 231
| goals1 = 42
| years2 = 1978–1980
| clubs2 = [[Valencia CF|Valencia]]
| caps2 = 61
| goals2 = 10
| years3 = 1980–1983
| clubs3 = [[1. FC Köln]]
| caps3 = 74
| goals3 = 14
| years4 = 1983
| clubs4 = [[Hertha BSC]]
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 1
| totalcaps = 371
| totalgoals = 67
| nationalyears1 = 1971–1973
| nationalteam1 = [[Germany national under-21 football team|West Germany U23]]
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1972–1981
| nationalteam2 = [[Germany national football team|West Germany]]
| nationalcaps2 = 53
| nationalgoals2 = 9
| manageryears1 = 1990–1998
| managerclubs1 = [[Germany national football team|Germany]] (assistant coach)
| manageryears2 = 1998
| managerclubs2 = [[Germany national under-21 football team|Germany U21]]
| manageryears3 = 1998–1999
| managerclubs3 = [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]]
| manageryears4 = 2000–2001
| managerclubs4 = [[Al Kuwait Kaifan|Al-Kuwait]]
| manageryears5 = 2002–2005
| managerclubs5 = [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland U21]]
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|FRG}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974 West Germany]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[UEFA Euro 1972|1972 Belgium]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[UEFA Euro 1976|1976 Yugoslavia]]|}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[UEFA Euro 1980|1980 Italy]]|}}
}}

'''Rainer Bonhof''' (born 29 March 1952) is a German former professional [[association football|footballer]], who played as a [[defensive midfielder]] or [[wing-back (association football)|wing-back]]. He was known for his occasional bursts upfield and his fierce shot. He was a key player for the 1974 [[Germany national football team|West Germany national team]] that won the World Cup (defeating the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] 2–1 in the final, where he provided the assist to the winning goal). Bonhof was one of the stars for his club side, [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]], and won numerous domestic league and cup titles.

==Playing career at club level==
Bonhof was part of the highly successful [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]] side of the 1970s, winning numerous [[Bundesliga]], [[DFB-Pokal]], and [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] titles. He was widely recognized as having one of the game's hardest free-kicks as well as long and precise throw-ins. He scored 14 goals in European cup competitions<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/bonhof-in-ec.html | title = Rainer Bonhof – Matches in European Cups | first = Marcel | last = Haisma | date = 28 February 2004 | access-date = 27 July 2015 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> and amassed 57 goals in the West German top-flight.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/bonhofdata.html | title = Rainer Bonhof – Matches and Goals in Bundesliga | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 16 July 2015 | access-date = 27 July 2015 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref>  Bonhof was awarded the [[Goal of the Month (Germany)|ARD Goal of the Month]] on three occasions, twice for free-kicks and once for a 30-metre strike.

==International playing career==
On 18 October 1969, Bonhof played his first international junior match for West Germany in Geleen against the Netherlands, a match that ended 1:1. At that time, he had Dutch citizenship, as his grandfather was Dutch. Bonhof became a German citizen soon after this match. He won the first of his 53 senior caps in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/bonhof-intl.html | title = Rainer Bonhof – International Appearances | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 16 July 2015 | access-date = 27 July 2015 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> Bonhof was [[Germany national football team|Germany]]'s youngest World Cup winning player after it beat the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] 2-1 on 7 July 1974 in Munich's [[Olympiastadion (Munich)|Olympiastadion]] at the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]]. His penetrating run into the opposition penalty area and pass to [[Gerd Muller]] led to the winning goal in that game. Two matches earlier Bonhof scored the goal that put [[West Germany]] up 2–1 against Sweden, a match the Germans eventually won 4–2. Bonhof was a fixture in the West Germany national team from that World Cup onward. He was regarded one of the best players in the 1976 European Championship, assisting for four of the six West German goals in the semi-final and final. West Germany lost to [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]] on penalties in the final.

Bonhof played in every match of the [[1978 FIFA World Cup]] when West Germany was eliminated in the second round following a 3–2 defeat at the hands of their historic rivals, [[Austria]]. He continued to play an important role in the national team following his transfer to Valencia. His move and that of [[Uli Stielike]] prompted the DFB to remove their ban on selecting foreign based players for the national team. He played a role in qualifying for the 1980 European Championships and was selected for the squad, but injuries kept him from making an appearance during the West German victory. His last appearance for the national team came in a 4–1 defeat at the hands of Brazil, and in spite of a strong [[Bundesliga]] campaign for [[1. FC Köln]] in 1981–82 he was not selected to return to the national team.

Between 1980 and 2012 Bonhof was the only player to have won the European Championships twice, although he did not play a single game in either the 1972 or 1980 tournaments. He now shares this record with 13 players from the Spanish national team; 12 who won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2012 and [[Jesús Navas]] who won in 2012 and 2024. Bonhof remains the most decorated player in the history of the European Championships, with two gold medals and one silver.

Former [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] goalkeeper, [[Ray Clemence]], in 1977, following a [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] final between the Reds and Borussia Mönchengladbach, admitted he feared Bonhof's shots. His fear was to prove justified, as during the spring of 1978 Clemence was beaten twice by Bonhof from nearly identical locations at both club and international level. A Bonhof shot had beaten Clemence in the 1977 final, too, but that strike hit the post.

==Post-playing career==
Bonhof's playing career was abruptly ended by an ankle injury in 1983. He went on to coach several teams after receiving his formal license in 1988. Bonhof was coach of Borussia Moenchengladbach in the late 1990s, but the team was relegated from the Bundesliga.<ref name = "departure"/> He was appointed manager of the [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland under-21 team]] in 2002, joining the Scotland national team setup some months after countryman [[Berti Vogts]] had been appointed [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] manager.<ref name = "vogts resigned"/> Bonhof was the first full-time manager of the Scotland under-21 team.<ref name = "vogts resigned"/> The team enjoyed initial success under Bonhof, winning an away qualifier against [[Germany national under-21 football team|Germany]] and progressing to the qualifying playoffs for the [[2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship|2004 European Championship]].<ref name = "departure">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/bonhof-departure-draws-near-under-21s-1.51538 |title=Bonhof departure draws near |first=Michael |last=Grant |work=Sunday Herald |publisher=Herald & Times Group |date=12 June 2005 |access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref> Scotland lost in the playoffs on aggregate to [[Croatia national under-21 football team|Croatia]].<ref name = "departure"/> Bonhof continued as Scotland under-21 manager after Vogts resigned as national team manager in November 2004,<ref name = "vogts resigned">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3974159.stm |title=Bonhof will not leave Under-21s |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=2 November 2004 |access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref> but resigned in November 2005 after the team went on a run of 14 games without a victory.<ref name = "departure"/><ref name = "nov 2005"/> Bonhof had helped [[Darren Fletcher]] and [[James McFadden]] progress to the full national team.<ref name = "departure"/><ref name = "nov 2005">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/bonhof-ends-his-tenure-as-under-21-coach-1.36330 |first=Martin |last=Greig |work=The Herald |publisher=Herald & Times Group |date=26 November 2005 |access-date=14 December 2012 |title=Bonhof ends his tenure as under-21 coach}}</ref>

On 1 September 2006, Bonhof signed a contract with recent [[FA Premier League]] winners [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] to become their scout for the scopes of Germany and Austria. The contract was a rolling deal, allowing either Chelsea and Bonhof to break it up any time. The deal between Chelsea F.C. and Bonhof ended because of the club's high debts. Bonhof left London on 31 October 2008.

On 11 February 2009, he was named as the new vice president of Borussia Mönchengladbach.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rp-online.de/public/article/moenchengladbach/671932/Rainer-Bonhof-ins-Praesidium.html| title = Rainer Bonhof ins Präsidium | access-date =11 February 2009 | language = de | publisher=rp-online.de | date = 10 February 2009}}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Borussia Mönchengladbach'''
*[[Bundesliga]]: [[1970–71 Bundesliga|1970–71]], [[1974–75 Bundesliga|1974–75]], [[1975–76 Bundesliga|1975–76]], [[1976–77 Bundesliga|1976–77]]
*[[DFB-Pokal]]: [[1972–73 DFB-Pokal|1972–73]]
*[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]: [[1974–75 UEFA Cup|1974–75]]

'''Valencia'''
*[[Copa del Rey]]: [[1978–79 Copa del Rey|1978–79]]
*[[Cup Winners' Cup|UEFA Cup Winners Cup]]: [[1979–80 European Cup Winners' Cup|1979–80]]

'''1. FC Köln'''
*[[DFB-Pokal]]: [[1982–83 DFB-Pokal|1982–83]]

'''Germany'''
*[[FIFA World Cup]]: [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]
*[[UEFA European Championship]]: [[UEFA Euro 1972|1972]], [[UEFA Euro 1980|1980]]
*[[UEFA European Championship]]: Runner-up: [[UEFA Euro 1976|1976]]

'''Individual'''
*''[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]]'' [[Bundesliga]] Team of the Season: 1973–74, 1976–77, 1977–78<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/197374/startseite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018212241/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/197374/startseite.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Bundesliga Historie 1973/74|language=de|publisher=kicker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/197677/startseite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018212258/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/197677/startseite.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Bundesliga Historie 1976/77|language=de|publisher=kicker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/197778/startseite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018212301/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/197778/startseite.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Bundesliga Historie 1977/78|language=de|publisher=kicker}}</ref>
*[[UEFA European Championship awards#Team of the Tournament|UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament]]: 1976
*[[UEFA European Championship]] top assist provider: 1976<ref>[https://ru.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/025e-0fa1e66c32e9-be5610181259-1000--%D0%BB%D1%83%D1%87%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%B0/ Лучшие ассистенты ЕВРО. Статистика и рекорды]</ref>
*[[World Soccer (magazine)#Eric Batty's World XI|World XI]]: 1975, 1977
*''Sport Ideal European XI'': 1976,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/unofficial-european-ideal-teams-1971-1980.1985633/ |website=BigSoccer |title=Sport 1976|access-date=4 June 2024 }}</ref> 1977<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1977/12/31/pagina-3/1402284/pdf.html |website=Mundo Deportivo|title=Sport 1977|access-date=4 June 2024 }}</ref>
*[[Onze d'Or|Onze Mondial]]: 1977<ref>{{Cite web|title="Onze Mondial" Awards|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|access-date=2021-12-17|website=[[RSSSF]]|archive-date=4 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704020132/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Goal of the Year (Germany)]]: 1978<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportschau.de/sendung/tdm/archiv/chronik70er/oktober78tdm100.html|title=Oktober 1978 - Bonhof
|language=de|publisher=Sportschau|access-date=11 December 2018|date=12 July 2013
}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Fussballdaten|bonhofrainer}}
* {{BDFutbol|5139}}
* {{NFT player|id=16692}}
* {{WorldFootball.net|rainer-bonhof}}

{{UEFA Euro 1976 Team of the Tournament}}
{{1975 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1977 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1973–74 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{1976–77 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{1977–78 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{Navboxes
|bg= white
|fg= black
|title= Germany squads
|list1=
{{West Germany squad UEFA Euro 1972}}
{{West Germany squad 1974 FIFA World Cup}}
{{West Germany squad UEFA Euro 1976}}
{{West Germany squad 1978 FIFA World Cup}}
{{West Germany squad UEFA Euro 1980}}
}}
{{Borussia Mönchengladbach managers}}
{{Scotland national under-21 football team managers}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonhof, Rainer}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Emmerich am Rhein]]
[[Category:Footballers from Düsseldorf (region)]]
[[Category:German men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Germany men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:UEFA Europa League–winning players]]
[[Category:UEFA European Championship–winning players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1972 players]]
[[Category:1974 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1976 players]]
[[Category:1978 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1980 players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Borussia Mönchengladbach players]]
[[Category:1. FC Köln players]]
[[Category:Hertha BSC players]]
[[Category:Valencia CF players]]
[[Category:German football managers]]
[[Category:Bundesliga managers]]
[[Category:Kuwait Premier League managers]]
[[Category:Borussia Mönchengladbach managers]]
[[Category:Kuwait SC managers]]
[[Category:Scotland national under-21 football team managers]]
[[Category:West German expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:West German expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Scotland]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Scotland]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Kuwait]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Kuwait]]
[[Category:West German men's footballers]]