# Torsten Frings
**Torsten Frings** (born 1976 in Würselen, Germany) is a German former professional footballer and coach who played as a defensive midfielder and won 79 caps for the Germany national team, finishing runner-up at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2008 and third at the 2006 World Cup.[1](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/torsten-frings/spieler) • [2](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/) • [3](https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/ITT/uefaorg/General/01/53/55/89/1535589_DOWNLOAD.pdf) His club career ran for 14 [Bundesliga](https://www.edgepedia.org/bundesliga) seasons with Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayern Munich, and ended with [Toronto FC](https://www.edgepedia.org/toronto-fc) in [Major League Soccer](https://www.edgepedia.org/major-league-soccer).[2](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/) • [4](https://as.com/us/us/2021/02/12/futbol/1613170457_618499.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976, Würselen, Germany; height 1.82 m[1](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/torsten-frings/spieler) • [2](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/) • [4](https://as.com/us/us/2021/02/12/futbol/1613170457_618499.html) |
| Position | Defensive midfielder (pivote), also central midfield, right midfield, and fullback; began as a striker[4](https://as.com/us/us/2021/02/12/futbol/1613170457_618499.html) • [5](https://www.werder.de/news/maenner/2018-2019/geburtstag-torsten-frings-22112018) |
| Germany | 79 caps, 10 goals; runner-up 2002 World Cup, third 2006 World Cup, runner-up Euro 2008[1](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/torsten-frings/spieler) • [3](https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/ITT/uefaorg/General/01/53/55/89/1535589_DOWNLOAD.pdf) |
| Club honors | Bundesliga 2004/05; DFB-Pokal 1998/99, 2004/05, 2008/09; UEFA Cup finalist 2009[1](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/torsten-frings/spieler) • [6](https://www.transfermarkt.de/torsten-frings/erfolge/spieler/528) |
| Clubs | Werder Bremen (1997–2002, 2005–2011), Borussia Dortmund (2002–2004), Bayern Munich (2004–05), Toronto FC (2011–2012)[1](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/torsten-frings/spieler) • [4](https://as.com/us/us/2021/02/12/futbol/1613170457_618499.html) |
| Coaching | Assistant coach at Werder Bremen; head coach of SV Darmstadt 98 (end of 2016 to end of 2017) and SV Meppen (3. Liga, until April 2021)[4](https://as.com/us/us/2021/02/12/futbol/1613170457_618499.html) • [7](https://www.sport1.de/news/fussball/2021/04/3-liga-kolumne-neidharts-fussstapfen-fuer-frings-beim-sv-meppen-zu-gross) |
| Head-coach record | 66 matches: 20 won, 11 drawn, 35 lost[8](https://datencenter.dfb.de/datencenter/personen/torsten-frings/trainer) |
## Playing career
**Werder Bremen, first spell.** Frings spent his early career at Rot-Weiss Alsdorf, Rhenania Alsdorf, and Alemannia Aachen before stepping up to the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen in 1996.[9](https://www.11v11.com/players/torsten-frings-9394/) Originally a striker, he was converted into a midfielder and won the German Cup with Bremen in 1999, playing the full 6–5 final victory over champion Bayern Munich.[10](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2373405/player-profile-torsten-frings) • [5](https://www.werder.de/news/maenner/2018-2019/geburtstag-torsten-frings-22112018) In his first Bremen period he made 162 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 15 goals in all competitions.[2](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/)
**Dortmund and Bayern.** In 2002 Frings moved to the then-champions [Borussia Dortmund](https://www.edgepedia.org/borussia-dortmund), where he appeared in 47 matches and scored ten goals over two seasons.[10](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2373405/player-profile-torsten-frings) • [2](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/) A cruciate ligament injury in July 2003 kept him out for six months.[10](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2373405/player-profile-torsten-frings) After Euro 2004 he joined Bayern Munich in a £6 million deal on a three-year contract, and in the 2004/05 season he won the Bundesliga, the [DFB-Pokal](https://www.edgepedia.org/dfb-pokal), and the DFB-Ligapokal, appearing in 29 matches and scoring three goals.[10](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2373405/player-profile-torsten-frings) • [2](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/) He did not get along with coach [Felix Magath](https://www.edgepedia.org/felix-magath) and struggled with the intensity of being a Bayern player; after leaving, he said that every kilometer on the autobahn toward Bremen felt like a liberation.[10](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2373405/player-profile-torsten-frings) • [11](https://bilderaws.n-tv.de/sport/fussball/Der-paradoxe-Erfolg-des-Torsten-Frings-article19822182.html)
**Return to Bremen.** Frings returned to Werder in 2005 in a swap deal involving Valerien Ismael and established himself in Thomas Schaaf's team.[10](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2373405/player-profile-torsten-frings) Across 2005 to 2011 he appeared in 164 matches and scored 21 goals in all competitions, and he was part of the 2007/08 side that finished second in the Bundesliga and the 2009 UEFA Cup runners-up.[2](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/) • [6](https://www.transfermarkt.de/torsten-frings/erfolge/spieler/528) He won the DFB-Pokal again in 2008/09, after which he took the captain's armband from Frank Baumann and led Werder for two seasons.[1](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/torsten-frings/spieler) • [5](https://www.werder.de/news/maenner/2018-2019/geburtstag-torsten-frings-22112018)
**Toronto FC.** Frings signed as a Designated Player with Toronto FC on June 29, 2011, and was named the fourth captain in the club's history on August 2, 2011.[2](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/) In 2011 he appeared and started in 13 matches, recording one assist in 1,124 minutes, and played six CONCACAF Champions League matches.[2](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/) A hip injury prevented him from playing for Toronto again and forced his retirement; he ended his career in 2012 after two years with the club.[12](https://as.com/us/us/2017/03/21/futbol/1490126627_545785.html) • [4](https://as.com/us/us/2021/02/12/futbol/1613170457_618499.html)
## Germany national team
Frings made his international debut in a February 2001 friendly against France and went on to play in all seven games as Germany reached the final of the 2002 World Cup, finishing as runners-up in South Korea and Japan.[10](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2373405/player-profile-torsten-frings) • [1](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/torsten-frings/spieler) At Euro 2004 he scored in the 1–1 draw with the Netherlands and played in all three first-round games.[10](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2373405/player-profile-torsten-frings) He featured in all five of Germany's games at the 2005 Confederations Cup, where Germany finished third.[10](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2373405/player-profile-torsten-frings) • [4](https://as.com/us/us/2021/02/12/futbol/1613170457_618499.html)
At the 2006 World Cup on home soil, Frings scored the fourth goal in Germany's 4–2 win against [Costa Rica](https://www.edgepedia.org/costa-rica) in the opening game of the tournament, and Germany finished third.[9](https://www.11v11.com/players/torsten-frings-9394/) • [1](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/torsten-frings/spieler) He was part of the Euro 2008 squad that reached the final and finished as runners-up in Austria and Switzerland.[2](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/) • [1](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/torsten-frings/spieler) His most recent appearance for Germany came on February 11, 2009 against Norway, and he was not included in [Joachim Löw](https://www.edgepedia.org/joachim-low)'s squad for the 2010 World Cup, with the relationship between the two having broken down by 2010; he finished with 78 caps at that point.[2](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/) • [5](https://www.werder.de/news/maenner/2018-2019/geburtstag-torsten-frings-22112018)
## Style of play
Frings played primarily as a holding midfielder, though he could also operate as a central midfielder or right-sided midfielder, and his game was built on hard tackling and security in winning the ball in midfield.[4](https://as.com/us/us/2021/02/12/futbol/1613170457_618499.html) At 1.82 meters he was a key figure in set-piece situations at both ends of the field.[4](https://as.com/us/us/2021/02/12/futbol/1613170457_618499.html) Starting as a striker, he covered nearly every position in midfield as well as fullback, but the duel-heavy game in central midfield suited his abilities best, and he was known for powerful shooting alongside his stamina and flexibility.[5](https://www.werder.de/news/maenner/2018-2019/geburtstag-torsten-frings-22112018) Werder's club profile describes him as a warrior and pack leader on the pitch, while off it he was mostly reserved and had little time for media obligations.[5](https://www.werder.de/news/maenner/2018-2019/geburtstag-torsten-frings-22112018) The nickname "Lutscher" ("sucker", as in a lollipop) was given to him by the Austrian player Andreas Herzog.[5](https://www.werder.de/news/maenner/2018-2019/geburtstag-torsten-frings-22112018)
## Coaching career
After retiring, Frings trained as a coach and obtained the UEFA PRO Licence, beginning as an assistant coach at Werder Bremen, where he was part of the staff that secured Bundesliga survival in 2016.[4](https://as.com/us/us/2021/02/12/futbol/1613170457_618499.html) • [5](https://www.werder.de/news/maenner/2018-2019/geburtstag-torsten-frings-22112018) From the end of 2016 to the end of 2017 he was head coach of [SV Darmstadt 98](https://www.edgepedia.org/sv-darmstadt-98), and he later led 3. Liga side SV Meppen until April 2021, when he left after results failed to materialize.[13](https://www.t-online.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/id_85364250/interview-torsten-frings-ueber-den-dfb-werder-und-den-trainerjob.html) • [7](https://www.sport1.de/news/fussball/2021/04/3-liga-kolumne-neidharts-fussstapfen-fuer-frings-beim-sv-meppen-zu-gross)
The German FA's data center records his head-coaching totals as 66 matches with 20 wins, 11 draws, and 35 losses: at Meppen 30 matches (11 won, 3 drawn, 16 lost) in the 3. Liga, and at [Darmstadt](https://www.edgepedia.org/darmstadt) 36 matches (9 won, 8 drawn, 19 lost) across the 2. Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Bundesliga.[8](https://datencenter.dfb.de/datencenter/personen/torsten-frings/trainer) Alongside his club work, Frings has worked as a pundit and guest columnist, analyzing the German national team for Sky Sport.[14](https://sport.sky.de/fussball/artikel/euro-2020-news-frings-ueber-sane-kimmich-und-dfb-team/12333971/34170)
## References
1. [Torsten Frings – Spielerprofil, DFB Datencenter](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/torsten-frings/spieler)
2. [Torsten Frings, MLSsoccer.com](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/torsten-frings/)
3. [2010/11 UEFA Champions League group stage statistics handbook, UEFA](https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/ITT/uefaorg/General/01/53/55/89/1535589_DOWNLOAD.pdf)
4. [¿Qué fue de Torsten Frings, exjugador del Bayern Múnich?, AS (2021)](https://as.com/us/us/2021/02/12/futbol/1613170457_618499.html)
5. [Krieger, Alphatier, Werderaner, SV Werder Bremen (2018)](https://www.werder.de/news/maenner/2018-2019/geburtstag-torsten-frings-22112018)
6. [Torsten Frings – Titel & Erfolge, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.de/torsten-frings/erfolge/spieler/528)
7. [3. Liga-Kolumne: Neidharts Fußstapfen für Frings beim SV Meppen zu groß, SPORT1 (2021)](https://www.sport1.de/news/fussball/2021/04/3-liga-kolumne-neidharts-fussstapfen-fuer-frings-beim-sv-meppen-zu-gross)
8. [Torsten Frings – Trainerprofil, DFB Datencenter](https://datencenter.dfb.de/datencenter/personen/torsten-frings/trainer)
9. [Torsten Frings Football Player Statistics, 11v11.com](https://www.11v11.com/players/torsten-frings-9394/)
10. [Player Profile – Torsten Frings, Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2373405/player-profile-torsten-frings)
11. [Der paradoxe Erfolg des Torsten Frings, n-tv](https://bilderaws.n-tv.de/sport/fussball/Der-paradoxe-Erfolg-des-Torsten-Frings-article19822182.html)
12. [Schweinsteiger, a recuperar el honor alemán en la MLS, AS (2017)](https://as.com/us/us/2017/03/21/futbol/1490126627_545785.html)
13. [Interview: Torsten Frings über den DFB, Werder und den Trainerjob, t-online](https://www.t-online.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/id_85364250/interview-torsten-frings-ueber-den-dfb-werder-und-den-trainerjob.html)
14. [EURO 2020 News: Frings über Sane, Kimmich und DFB-Team, Sky Sport (2021)](https://sport.sky.de/fussball/artikel/euro-2020-news-frings-ueber-sane-kimmich-und-dfb-team/12333971/34170)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Managers and coaches › German-speaking managers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license