Ulrich Borowka
Ulrich " Uli " Borovka Ernst (born 19 May 1962 in Menden Sauerland ) is a former German football player and coach.
Career
Borovka first learned the trade of machinist. In the Bundesliga, he was active for Borussia Moenchengladbach and Werder Bremen. As a defensive player Borovka graduated from 1981 to 1996 a total of 388 Bundesliga matches and scored 19 goals. With Werder Bremen, he was in 1988 and 1993 German Champion and 1991 and 1994 DFB Cup winner. Highlight of his career was winning the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1991/92 with Werder Bremen in Lisbon.
Known as the " Iron Foot " Defense - also called " the ax " - was estimated to be particularly bullet and strong in the tackle and feared. He was considered one of the best and toughest defenders of his time, even if his footballing talent was rather limited. Borovka was opponent of Olaf Thon at his Bundesliga debut in 1984 against Monchengladbach, followed remembered this: " My opponent was Uli Borovka and he greeted me with the words: '. Thee equal both legs ', I'll break " Such was unsportsmanlike Borovka actually but never.
1988 was Borovka six times the jersey of the German national team, and participated in the European Championships in Germany, where he was employed in all four games of the DFB - Elf. By his own testimony he has from that time even a jersey from Diego Maradona, on whom he met in his first international match against Argentina on 2 April 1988. After the European Championships Borovka was no longer considered by team boss Franz Beckenbauer.
In 1997 Borovka to Widzew and was the first German soccer player in a professional league in the territory of the former Soviet bloc, the Ekstraklasa in Poland. But coach Franciszek Smuda, with whom he agreed on German, made him a total of only eight times. Because of its ongoing alcohol consumption, the association agreement was extended after a season Borowkas not, then this 1998 his active career ended.
After End of career
After the end of the career Borovka was because of alcohol-related and family problems topic in tabloids. In 1996 he caused a car accident under considerable influence of alcohol. Since a four-month inpatient rehab in 2000, he teetotal. In an autobiography, " Let her rip. My double life as a professional footballer and alcoholic", he was processing his career and alcohol dependence.
In the years 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2003, he worked as a coach at the Oberliga FC Oberneuland, Berliner AK 07, Türkiyemspor Berlin and again at Berliner AK 07
Borovka has recorded a single titled Barefoot or patent leather shoe with Bremer punk band Dimple Minds. Since 2007 Borovka is in the area of sports marketing self-employed and also organizes youth soccer camps.
Borovka is married to his second wife. He is the father of three children: two children from his first marriage and a daughter from his second marriage. He lives in Berlin.
Achievements
- German Football Championship: 1988 and 1993
- DFB Cup: 1991 and 1994
- European Cup Winners' Cup: 1992
- Polish Football Championship: 1997
Book
Uli Borovka: Let her rip. My life as a professional footballer and alcoholic, Edel Germany, October 2012, ISBN 978-3-8419-0179-8