Pierre Littbarski
A dazzling winger whose magical dribbling and infectious grin defined West Germany's attacking flair across three World Cup finals.
Born 1960 (age 66)·German footballer and manager·Birthday: April 16·Baby Boomers
Biography
With a low center of gravity and a shock of blond hair, Pierre Littbarski was the effervescent heartbeat of West German football in the 1980s. Nicknamed 'Litti,' his game was built on audacious dribbling, clever passes, and a surprising hammer of a shot. He spent the core of his club career at 1. FC Köln, becoming a beloved symbol of the club's attacking spirit. On the world stage, he was a constant: a runner-up in 1982 and 1986, his tears of disappointment were finally washed away in 1990 when he lifted the World Cup trophy in Rome. His post-playing career saw him transition into coaching, including a brief but memorable stint as caretaker manager in the Bundesliga, where his passion for the game remained undimmed.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Pierre was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Pierre Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Pierre's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 1990 FIFA World Cup with West Germany, appearing in three consecutive finals (1982, 1986, 1990).
- Scored 18 goals in 75 appearances for the West German national team, often from midfield or wing positions.
- Spent over a decade at 1. FC Köln, making more than 400 league appearances and becoming a club icon.
- Won the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) with 1. FC Köln in 1983.
- Had a successful playing stint in Japan with JEF United Ichihara, helping popularize the J-League in its early years.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Litti' was so popular in Germany that a brand of gummy bears was named after him.
He played alongside his brother, Erwin Littbarski, for a season at 1. FC Köln in the early 1980s.
After retirement, he coached in Australia for a period with Sydney FC in the A-League.
He famously celebrated goals by blowing kisses to the crowd.
“The ball is the only thing that matters; everything else is just noise.”
