Johannes Theodor "Theo" Bücker[2] (born 10 July 1948) is a German football manager and a former player,[3] who is the current coach of the under-15 team of Lebanese club Athletico SC.

Theo Bücker
Personal information
Full name Johannes Theodor Bücker
Date of birth (1948-07-10) 10 July 1948 (age 76)
Place of birth Velmede [de], Bestwig, Germany
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Athletico SC U15 (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1969–1973 Borussia Dortmund 62 (13)
1973–1978 MSV Duisburg 153 (32)
1978–1981 Ittihad
1981–1984 FC Schalke 04 54 (5)
Managerial career
1997–1999 Kazma
1999–2000 SV Meppen
2001 Lebanon
2001–2002 Sagesse
2002–2003 Zamalek
2003–2004 Ismaily
2005 Al-Kuwait
2005 Zamalek
2005–2006 Ismaily
2006–2007 Al Wehda
2007 Al-Ahli Jeddah[1]
2008–2009 Al Wehda
2010 Al Masry
2011 Ahed
2011–2013 Lebanon
2013 Ettifaq
2014–2015 Nejmeh
2015–2016 Dibba Al-Fujairah
2016 Emirates
2017 AC Tripoli
2017–2018 Nejmeh
2018–2020 Ahli Sarba
2020– Athletico SC U15
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Coaching career

edit

Return to Lebanon

edit

On 8 August 2011, Bücker was announced as Lebanon's head coach, with the former national team manager taking over the reins ten years after leaving the position. He is the first ever coach to bring Lebanon to the fourth and final qualifying round of the FIFA World Cup.[4] During this period, the Lebanese national team made impressive results. They defeated the United Arab Emirates 3–1 in Beirut, South Korea 2–1 in Beirut, and Kuwait 1–0 in Kuwait in the third round. For the first time in their history, Lebanon defeated Iran by a single goal on matchday 4 of the final round. Bücker announced his retirement in May 2013, effective from 11 June 2013, after a match that saw his side defeated by Iran 4–0.

Nejmeh

edit

On 18 December 2017, Bücker was re-appointed head coach of Lebanese Premier League club Nejmeh, following his spell during the 2013–14 season where he won a league title.[5] Nejmeh finished the 2017–18 season as runners-up.[5]

Ahli Sarba

edit

In 2018 Bücker became the coach of Lebanese Second Division club Ahli Sarba,[6] staying at the club during their relegation to the Third Division.[4]

Athletico SC

edit

On 6 July 2020, Bücker was appointed coach of the under-15 team of Athletico SC.[7]

Personal life

edit

Bücker considers himself as "half-Lebanese" and is married to a Lebanese woman.[4] He has been a resident of Beirut for many years, expressing his love for his adopted nation.

In 2012, former Lebanon national team member Buddy Farah stated that the credit for Lebanon's success and improvement should go to Bücker and that he was the best thing ever to happen to Lebanese football.[8]

Honours

edit

Manager

edit

Individual

References

edit
  1. ^ "الأهلي يتعاقد مع الالماني بوكير لخلافة نيبوشا".
  2. ^ "7th WAFF CHAMPIONSHIP 2012" (PDF). the-waff.com. 8 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Theo Bücker". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "ثيو بوكير.. عبقري ألماني توارى عن الأضواء". كووورة. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b "حدث في مثل هذا اليوم | بوكير يعود إلى لبنان والاتحاد يُعاقب جمهور النجمة". lebanonfg.com. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  6. ^ "بوكير يحط الرحال في الدرجة الثانية بلبنان". كووورة. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  7. ^ Athletico Football Academy (6 July 2020). "Coach Theo Bucker and Coach Mansour Stephan will take-the-wheel of our 2005–2006 team for the upcoming season". Instagram. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  8. ^ Hill, Simon (29 August 2012). "Lebanon are starting to make a noise on world stage, says Fox Sports football commentator Simon Hill". Fox Sports. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  9. ^ "مهرجان كرة المنار". Shoot (440 ed.). 3 June 2002. p. 23.
  10. ^ "نتائج مهرجان كرة المنار الـ18". An-Nahar. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
edit