Deal behind closed curtains
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At the end of the year we look back at some strange transfer stories. This also includes Andreas Möller’s move to FC Schalke. The article was first published on November 17, 2024.
Transfer negotiations can be tough, lengthy and full of stumbling blocks. Professionals sometimes want to force their move to their dream club and in order to do so they risk a lot of trouble with their current employer, squander credit with the fans and cause astonishment among their superiors. Transfermarkt looks at transfers in the past that were characterized by loud background noise. This time the focus is on Andreas Möller’s move from Borussia Dortmund to FC Schalke 04 for the 2000/01 season.
One of the most unimaginable things in life is usually transfers between fiercest rivals whose fans can’t stand each other at all. From BVB to Schalke or vice versa? Absolutely not! Even Anthony Modeste, who was once courted by S04 and only wore the black and yellow jersey for one year, would not have thought of that. “As a Cologne and former Dortmund player, a move to Schalke doesn’t feel right,” said the center forward on “Sky”. Things were completely different in the past for Andreas Möller, who played 301 times for BVB, scored 182 goals and thus played a major role in two championships, a DFB Cup triumph and the Champions League victory in 1997. For a long time, Möller was as far away from Schalke as FC Bayern was from relegation. Until the midfielder actually dared to do the impossible in 2000.
The 1990 World Champion and 1996 European Champion moved to Gelsenkirchen on a free transfer and for two years plus an option when his contract expired. “I was 32 at the time, so I was on the home stretch of my career.” In addition, Möller was no longer able to get going at BVB, which had crashed but was saved just in time by interim duo Udo Lattek and Matthias Sammer. A torn muscle bundle and a torn muscle fiber had left their mark. “He doesn’t do enough for me, he doesn’t live up to his performance potential,” complained legend Lattek. That’s probably why Dortmund only wanted to extend the contract with their big earner, who allegedly earned around 6 million marks a year, at reduced salaries. “I didn’t get a good contract offer, my belt had to be tightened – that’s what I was told. I would have liked to stay, but Dortmund’s offer was simply not acceptable, I couldn’t accept it,” Möller later revealed.
So he moved on to the enemy. “The last two years at BVB were not successful. I want to be successful again. I was looking for a challenge for next season and I’m looking forward to Schalke,” explained Möller during his highly acclaimed presentation. “My move is a courageous step. I can only convince the audience through sport, it’s all about performance.” The Schalke challenge fascinates him. “I’ll fight until I drop for this. Because above all else, the most important thing is that I’m playing good football again and we’re having success. I’m really excited about Schalke. I want to prove it to myself, I can start right away.” He even accepted financial losses compared to his BVB contract, he told “Bild”: “I just had to get away from BVB.” However, it was rumored that Möller would receive 15 million marks at Schalke in two years, including performance bonuses and hand money.
Andreas Möller played 301 times for Borussia Dortmund from 1988 to 1990 and from 1994 to 2000 and, among other things, won the Champions League in 1997 with the black and yellow team
Manager and mastermind Rudi Assauer, himself pilloried because of his daring transfer business, vehemently appealed for patience. “I am aware that this will be met with incomprehension by some fans. But I ask for a fair chance for Andreas Möller.” From the audience that had made it more than clear to Möller at Revierderbies in previous years what they thought of him: nothing at all. Möller had already become a highly polarizing figure in the 1990s. He was given unflattering nicknames such as “Crybaby” and “Heintje”. And it was exactly this Möller who now wore the Schalke jersey and no longer the Dortmund jersey.
Assauer arranged Möller’s move from BVB to Schalke
Because this transfer business was extremely explosive, care was taken when putting together the deal. The Assauer, who was brimming with self-confidence, had it in his head: Möller should come! “I thought: Damn hoe, Möller! Contract expires, free transfer, whoop. That happened in no time,” said Assauer. “Andy is still the most dangerous midfielder in the Bundesliga. We were always looking for someone with his creativity, his football intelligence and his class. He is a man who can decide games on his own.”
A secret meeting was held in the apartment of Schalke board member Peter Peters – and things that were considered unrealistic took their course. “Andy Möller came with his agent Klaus Gerster. The then manager Rudi Assauer and coach Huub Stevens were there. Andy then signed the new contract at Schalke at this meeting. I remember how I closed the curtains so that no one would notice,” said Peters with a laugh. “I knew at the time that we were taking a big risk, but the Möller change created the necessary tension.”
The Schalke fans “welcome” new signing Andreas Möller in the summer of 2000
And the professional, who initially “thought the whole thing was a joke,” wanted to improve his dubious standing when he was older. “Schalke, that was ultimately the opportunity to finally shed my wimp image,” said Möller, who rejected attractive offers from Turkey for Schalke. No risk, no fun. And ignoring Assauer’s advances didn’t seem to be an option. The manager was “incredibly persistent, he was serious.” That’s why it wasn’t just an initial call to a consultant. A day later, Assauer got Möller’s yes on the phone. “I said yes, but almost no one was allowed to hear anything. I didn’t even tell my parents anything.”
After all, those responsible for BVB were led by boss Dr. Gerd Niebaum informed, who in turn threw everything into the balance to stop Möller – without success. A few hours before the Schalke move was announced, Dortmund manager Michael Meier wanted to finalize Möller’s extension until 2002. “Then he let the cat out of the bag.” And around a week after the 1999/00 season finale, the big bang was official. BVB goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was actually supposed to play in Gelsenkirchen again, as was confirmed by then Schalke supervisory board Jürgen Möllemann, but that didn’t happen.
Schalke professional Wilmots was annoyed about Möller’s transfer
When the Schalke people received the incredible news of Möller’s transfer, there was a hail of protests and resignations from the club. The anger was enormous, even against the boss. Among other things, “Assauer & Möller – fuck off!” could be read on banners from the stands. Even within the team, the Möller transfer was viewed critically; “fighting pig” Marc Wilmots was faced with a fait accompli with the commitment of the competitor. And not at all amused. “If it doesn’t work out for both of us, I can leave after a year. I have that in writing, with a fixed transfer fee,” said 31-year-old Wilmots, opening the door to a community of convenience. Shortly afterwards – which apparently had nothing to do with Möller – he accepted a lucrative offer from Girondins Bordeaux.
The moment on May 19, 2001, when FC Schalke 04 were briefly German champions: Andreas Möller celebrates with manager Rudi Assauer
And Möller? Although he didn’t manage to completely conquer the hearts of the Schalke fans, he at least earned respect and recognition through his performances in the “biggest possible challenge”. A rocky road, which also included attending a Schalke fan club meeting alone – “that wasn’t easy either”. But those who deliver will be rewarded. The Royal Blues almost stormed to the title and became “masters of hearts” behind Bayern, which was mainly thanks to the brilliant offensive quartet Ebbe Sand, Emile Mpenza, Jörg Böhme and playmaker Möller. Early highlight: Schalke won the Revierderby in Dortmund 4-0 on September 23, 2000 – the handkerchiefs brought by the BVB supporters to greet the “traitor” were needed themselves. From then on things were easier for the veteran. The “crybaby” was renamed “fighting girl”, won the DFB Cup twice with Schalke and stayed until 2003.
“It’s a shame that I wasn’t ten years younger when I moved. Then we could have celebrated even more successes here together. It was a wonderful time, and the fact that we almost became champions is something I will never forget,” said Möller at “RevierSport”. “I didn’t know what to expect beforehand. This relationship wasn’t always easy, but it developed from game to game until I was a full member of FC Schalke in the end. The fact that I received such a farewell makes me happy. I’m proud to have played for S04.”
Note: This article first appeared on Transfermarkt in November 2024 and has now been published again.