| Upright: | 0.9 |
| Birth Date: | 1961 9, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Witten,[1] West Germany |
| Height: | 1.94 m |
| Position: | Centre-back |
| Youthyears1: | 1967–1972 |
| Youthclubs1: | TuS Nettlingen |
| Youthyears2: | 1972–1980 |
| Youthclubs2: | TuS Sulingen |
| Youthyears3: | 1980–1984 |
| Youthclubs3: | TuS Syke |
| Years1: | 1984–1987 |
| Clubs1: | VfB Oldenburg |
| Years2: | 1987–1989 |
| Clubs2: | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
| Caps2: | 51 |
| Goals2: | 3 |
| Years3: | 1989–1994 |
| Clubs3: | Borussia Dortmund |
| Caps3: | 133 |
| Goals3: | 4 |
| Years4: | 1994–1997 |
| Clubs4: | Werder Bremen |
| Caps4: | 59 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Totalcaps: | 243 |
| Totalgoals: | 8 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1988 |
| Nationalteam1: | West Germany Olympic |
| Nationalcaps1: | 7 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 1992–1993 |
| Nationalteam2: | Germany |
| Nationalcaps2: | 7 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
Michael Schulz (born 3 September 1961) is a German former professional footballer who played as a central defender. He played 243 matches in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen and 1. FC Kaiserslautern and scored eight goals.
Schulz was born in Witten. He had the reputation of being one of the hardest defenders in the Bundesliga.[2] He collected 48 yellow and 2 red cards. He was a favourite at Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen, his fans regularly chanting "Schuuuuuuuuuulz" whenever he had the ball.[3] Fellow Bremen player Christian Schulz and fellow Dortmund player Nico Schulz,[3] who bear no relationship to him, were regularly celebrated like this because of him. In Panini's World Championship collector's cards edition 1994 he is described as "an anchor as header, strong in duels, feared for his wide throw-ins. The Charles Bronson type of guy overdoes toughness." Michael Schulz made nearly 250 (West) German top-flight appearances.[4]
He played seven times for the Germany national team from 1992 to 1993.[5] He also competed for West Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics.[6]
Schulz works as a player agent at the Hamburg-based sport management agency Extratime. He's additionally in the field for several German TV channels and since August 2009 also as a field reporter for Deutsche Telekom's football channel Liga total.
Although Schulz was regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, top titles eluded him. The special sting in his case was the fact that each team he played for was highly successful after he was transferred away, leading to speculation he was cursed.[2]
In a 1997 issue of the German football magazine kicker, published when Schulz announced his retirement, he was asked in the column Mal ehrlich (Now, seriously), whether Bremen, now that Schulz was stopping, would finally win something. He answered, "This is a sure-fire tip! I'd bet on it anytime", acknowledging the existence of his jinx.
Borussia Dortmund
Werder Bremen
West Germany Olympic
Germany