Jürgen – The Breadmaker

“A baker from Stuttgart, transplanted to the shores of Lake Como, turning out goals as if they were croissants.” That was how one particularly imaginative journalist described an Inter striker in the autumn of 1989.

It was no random metaphor. His father really was a baker, and Jürgen could easily have followed in the family footsteps as a child. Instead, he chose a different profession.

His name was Jürgen Klinsmann. And one autumn day in Verona, he decided to put in some overtime.

It was 5 November 1989. Giovanni Trapattoni's Inter travelled to Verona as reigning Italian champions, having secured the record-breaking Scudetto the previous season with 58 points. During the summer, Ramon Diaz had moved to Monaco and Jürgen Klinsmann had arrived in his place, signed from Stuttgart. As a 25-year-old striker with blond hair and a natural eye for goal, Klinsmann quickly settled into the Nerazzurri system, helped by fellow Germans Matthäus and Brehme. Above all, he struck up a particularly effective partnership with Aldo Serena, the previous season's top scorer.

The two made a formidable attacking duo. Klinsmann constantly looked to run in behind and exploit space, while Serena held up the ball, drew defenders away and created openings. The Italian striker had gone a few games without scoring, but Trapattoni had no doubts: “He's the ideal partner for Klinsmann.” In Verona, Osvaldo Bagnoli's side were looking to pick up points and climb the table, and they made life difficult for Inter. Then, in the 33rd minute, came the first flash of brilliance. Klinsmann made his run and beat Peruzzi to open the scoring. 1-0. Just five minutes later, the German struck again. He pounced on a mishit clearance by Verona defender Pritz and chipped the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

Inter controlled the game and, in the 88th minute, Klinsmann completed his hat-trick. Bianchi delivered a cross from the right, and the German beat both his marker and the onrushing goalkeeper before finishing right-footed from close range. It was his first hat-trick in Serie A. His performance also made headlines in Germany. Holsten, a brewery, had offered a prize of 3,000 marks (more than two million lire) to the best German player of the week. The award had initially been earmarked for Sigurvinsson, Stuttgart's playmaker, but Klinsmann's treble in Verona changed everything. The prize went to him instead.

He also received a congratulatory phone call from West Germany coach Franz Beckenbauer, who may well have seen the performance as settling any remaining doubts. The World Cup in Italy was just a few months away, and the competition for the second striker's spot alongside Rudy Voeller was still open. The contenders were Lazio's Riedle and Klinsmann. Jürgen would get the nod. The outcome of that World Cup is well known. In the meantime, Trapattoni was able to savour an important victory and once again defend his attacking partnership. Serena did the work for the team; the German supplied all three goals. Inter won 3-0 in Verona. That Sunday, Klinsmann took home a remarkable hat-trick, congratulations from Beckenbauer, and a prize in German marks.

Not bad for someone who grew up in a bakery.