Germans by tradition are big, powerful strikers of the ball either by head or foot. The same philosophy also applies to the men, with players such as Oliver Beirhoff, Karle-Heinz Rumenigge and Jurgen Klinsmann gracing the German national side. One player never to play an international match for Germany was Uwe Rosler who always gave everything he had each time he pulled on the blue shirt.
Uwe was born in East Germany in November 1968, where footballers were seen as amateurs in the game. Between 1988 and 1991, he played for FC Madgeburg before joining Dynamo Dresden. He spent the 1992/93 season on loan at FC Nuremburg, but failed to score despite playing twenty eight times.
In March 1994, Rosler joined City on trial. After scoring two goals against Burnley in a reserve team game, Rosler’s trial was extended to three months. He made his first team debut against QPR and, in twelve games, scored five goals. His reward was a permanent contract at Maine Road for a fee of somewhere between £300,000 and £500,000.
On the opening day of the 1994/95 season, City went to Highbury, where Rosler was sent off during a 3-0 defeat. Following that start, Rosler formed an effective partnership with Paul Walsh and went on to score twenty two goals, including four in one FA Cup game as City crushed Notts County 5-2 in the Maine Road replay. Finishing top goalscorer, Rosler was also named City’s player of the year.
The following season, Alan Ball took charge and instantly disrupted the team. Rosler struggled to make an impact due to the change in tactics, with Ball preferring to play through the middle of the park, rather than down the flanks, where City were at their most dangerous. In addition, Paul Walsh had been sold and City were struggling. After several publicised disagreements with the manager, Rosler was subsequently dropped to the substitute’s bench, but made an appearance against Manchester United, where he scored a wonderful goal to level the scores. He immediately ran to the dugout where Ball was sat, shouted to him and pointed to the name on his back. The goal was in vain and City were relegated with Ball leaving the club just a few months later.
The following two season, he was again the top goalscorer, but with City’s relegation to division two in 1998. Rosler moved back to Germany after scoring 65 goals in 181 appearances. In 2003, he was diagnosed with chest cancer and, although he was told it was an aggressive form, he responded well the chemotherapy and made a full recovery.
Rosler became a cult figure at Maine Road, even though the stories that his granddad bombed Old Trafford may be a little exaggerated. Uwe, you are a true City legend.