Editing Torsten Frings

{{Short description|German footballer (born 1976)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Torsten Frings
| image = Audi quattro-Cup 37.JPG
| caption = Frings during his time as [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] assistant manager
| fullname = Torsten Klaus Frings<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Germany |publisher=FIFA |page=12 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|11|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Würselen]], West Germany
| height = 1.82 m
| position = [[Central midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 1982–1988
| youthclubs1 = Rot-Weiß Alsdorf
| youthyears2 = 1988–1990
| youthclubs2 = Rhenania Alsdorf
| youthyears3 = 1990–1994
| youthclubs3 = [[Alemannia Aachen#Alemannia Aachen II squad|Alemannia Aachen II]]
| years1 = 1994–1997
| clubs1 = [[Alemannia Aachen]]
| caps1 = 57
| goals1 = 13
| years2 = 1997
| clubs2 = [[SV Werder Bremen II|Werder Bremen (A)]]
| caps2 = 1
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 1997–2002
| clubs3 = [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]]
| caps3 = 162
| goals3 = 15
| years4 = 2002–2004
| clubs4 = [[Borussia Dortmund]]
| caps4 = 47
| goals4 = 10
| years5 = 2004–2005
| clubs5 = [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
| caps5 = 29
| goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2005–2011
| clubs6 = [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]]
| caps6 = 164
| goals6 = 21
| years7 = 2011–2012
| clubs7 = [[Toronto FC]]
| caps7 = 33
| goals7 = 2
| totalcaps = 493
| totalgoals = 65
| nationalyears1 = 1997–1998
| nationalteam1 = [[Germany national under-21 football team|Germany U21]]
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 1999–2000
| nationalteam2 = [[Germany national football B team|Germany B]]
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2001–2009
| nationalteam3 = [[Germany national football team|Germany]]
| nationalcaps3 = 79
| nationalgoals3 = 10
| manageryears1 = 2016–2017
| managerclubs1 = [[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]]
| manageryears2 = 2020–2021
| managerclubs2 = [[SV Meppen]]
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|GER}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 Korea/Japan]]|}}
{{Medal|2nd RU|[[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 Germany]]|}}

{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[UEFA Euro 2008|2008 Austria/ Switzerland]]|}}
}}
'''Torsten Klaus Frings''' (born 22 November 1976) is a German former [[Association football|football]]er and [[Manager (association football)|manager]], who last managed [[SV Meppen]].

A former [[midfielder]], throughout his career he played for several German clubs, namely [[Alemannia Aachen]], [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]], [[Borussia Dortmund]], and [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]], before ending his career with Canadian [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] side [[Toronto FC]]. At international level, he played 79 matches for the [[Germany national football team|Germany national team]] since his debut in 2001, and represented his nation at two [[UEFA European Championship|European Championship]]s and two [[FIFA World Cup]]s.

==Club career==
===Early career===
His professional career began at third division [[Alemannia Aachen]] before a move to [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] in 1996–97, helping the [[Weserstadion]] outfit to a German Cup final defeat of [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] in 1999 and tallying more than 160 Bundesliga appearances and 15 goals over five and a half seasons.<ref name="statistics">{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/fringsdata.html | title = Torsten Frings – Matches and goals in Bundesliga | author = Matthias Arnhold | date = 15 May 2014 | access-date = 22 May 2014 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> He also helped them win the [[1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup]], scoring the decisive goal in the final against [[FK Vojvodina]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leballonrond.fr/jogo.php?id=4835448 |title=FK Vojvodina 1–1 Werder Bremen |publisher=leballonrond.fr |access-date=28 November 2019}}</ref>

===Borussia Dortmund===
In 2002, a number of Europe's leading clubs were on Frings's trail prior to the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|World]] Cup but he opted for a four-year deal with [[Borussia Dortmund]] for a reported fee of €10&nbsp;million, penning the contract two games into the competition. A regular in his first term at the [[Signal Iduna Park|Westfalenstadion]], Frings also played 12 times in the [[UEFA Champions League]], scoring home and away against [[Lokomotiv Moscow]].

Frings's 2003–04 season only began on 30 January when he played against [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke 04]], his first game since damaging his knee against [[VfL Bochum]] in July. He took over from [[Tomáš Rosický]] in the playmaking role and scored four times in 16 games before signing a three-year contract with Dortmund's rivals, Bayern Munich.

===Bayern Munich===
Despite winning the domestic double with Bayern and making 29 Bundesliga and ten Champions League appearances, Frings never really enjoyed his football in Munich, and was played out of position by coach [[Felix Magath]].

===Werder Bremen===
[[File:Torsten Frings - SV Werder Bremen (5).jpg|thumb|Torsten Frings with Werder Bremen]]
In June 2005, he rejoined Bremen for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal, helping them past [[FC Basel]] into the Champions League group stage.

===Toronto FC and retirement===
[[File:Fringsvsla2012.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.6|Frings with Toronto FC]]
On 29 June 2011, it was announced that Frings had reached an agreement to join [[Major League Soccer]] team [[Toronto FC]] as a [[Designated Player Rule|designated player]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Frings wechselt zu Klinsmann-Club Toronto|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/article13458792/Frings-wechselt-zu-Klinsmann-Club-Toronto.html|access-date=29 June 2011|newspaper=[[Die Welt]]|date=29 June 2011}}</ref> During the press conference in which Frings was presented to the Toronto media, the club also announced the signing of [[Danny Koevermans]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Frings & Koevermans Join TFC|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/frings-koevermans-join-tfc| publisher = Toronto FC |date= 29 June 2011 | access-date = 17 April 2012}}</ref> Frings made his debut for Toronto on 20 July 2011 in a 1–0 home defeat to [[FC Dallas]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2011/07/new-look-reds-sunk-strike-shea | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110723101509/http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2011/07/new-look-reds-sunk-strike-shea | url-status = dead | archive-date = 23 July 2011 | title = New-Look Reds Sunk By Strike From Shea | publisher = TorontoFC.ca | date = 20 July 2011 | access-date = 21 July 2011 | first = Larry | last = Millson}}</ref> On 29 July 2011, Frings made his [[CONCACAF Champions League]] debut against [[Real Estelí F.C.|Real Estelí]] in which he was given the honour of wearing the [[Captain (association football)|captain]]'s armband for Toronto.<ref>{{cite news |title= Plata Paces Toronto To Victory |url=http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2011/07/plata-paces-toronto-victory |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826064537/http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2011/07/plata-paces-toronto-victory |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 August 2012 |publisher=Toronto FC |date=27 July 2011 |access-date=28 July 2011 }}</ref> Frings became the permanent captain of the club following [[Maicon Santos]]'s transfer to Dallas.

On 27 June 2012, Frings scored his first MLS goal in a 3–0 away victory over [[CF Montréal|Montreal Impact]], blasting a free kick in the 52nd minute from 22 yards out.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-06-27-mtl-v-tor/recap | title = Recap: Rampant Toronto throttle Impact 3–0 in Montreal | date = 27 June 2012 | access-date = 28 June 2012 | publisher = mlssoccer.com}}</ref>

Frings missed the latter portion of the 2012 season after sustaining a hip injury which required arthroscopic surgery.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/mls/article/1251963--toronto-fc-captain-torsten-frings-to-miss-rest-of-season-with-hip-injury | title = Toronto FC captain Torsten Frings to miss rest of season with hip injury | date = 5 September 2012 | access-date = 6 September 2012 | work = Toronto Star}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Larson|first=Curtis|title=Frings to miss remainder of MLS season|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2012/09/05/frings-to-miss-remainder-of-mls-season|access-date=13 September 2012|newspaper=[[Toronto Sun]]|date=5 September 2012}}</ref> Frings’ subsequent recovery progressed slower than expected, ultimately leading to his decision to retire from football in February 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Injuries force Toronto DP Frings into retirement|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/02/26/injuries-force-toronto-dp-frings-retirement|access-date=26 March 2013|newspaper=[[Major League Soccer]]|date=26 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Werder-Legende Torsten Frings beendet Karriere|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/werder-bremen/article113936943/Werder-Legende-Torsten-Frings-beendet-Karriere.html|access-date=26 March 2013|newspaper=[[Die Welt]]|date=26 February 2013|language=de}}</ref><ref name="Bundesliga: Torsten Frings believes he can save Darmstadt from relegation">{{cite news|last1=Penfold|first1=Chuck|title=Bundesliga: Torsten Frings believes he can save Darmstadt from relegation|url=http://www.dw.com/en/bundesliga-torsten-frings-believes-he-can-save-darmstadt-from-relegation/a-36946538|access-date=30 December 2016|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=29 December 2016}}</ref>

Club president, Kevin Payne indicated that the team wanted to maintain a relationship with Frings "not just for next season, but for seasons to come." Frings himself said he wanted to return to the game as a coach.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/toronto-fc-captain-torsten-frings-retires/article9057703/ | title = Toronto FC captain Torsten Frings retires | date = 26 February 2013 | access-date = 26 February 2013 | work = The Globe and Mail}}</ref>

==International career==
Frings represented Germany at the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] in Japan and South Korea,<ref name="Not All Is Lost for U.S.">{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/22/sports/sp-worldcup22/2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910072212/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/22/sports/sp-worldcup22/2|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2016|title=Not All Is Lost for U.S.|work=Los Angeles Times|author1=Grahame L. Jones|date=22 June 2002|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref> where the German team reached the [[2002 FIFA World Cup Final|final]], only to be defeated 2–0 by [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]].<ref name="Happy Birthday to you!">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2014/m=11/news=happy-birthday-to-you-2475131.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222114032/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2014/m=11/news=happy-birthday-to-you-2475131.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 December 2015|title=Happy Birthday to you!|publisher=FIFA|date=16 November 2014|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref> During the tournament, he was part of a controversial call when he prevented a goal with his hand on the goal line in the quarter-final match against the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]];<ref>{{cite news | url = http://thebiglead.com/2014/06/26/usa-vs-germany-the-ghost-of-torsten-frings/ | title = USA vs. Germany: The Ghost of Torsten Frings | access-date = 1 August 2014}}</ref> the referee deemed the handball involuntary, however.<ref name="Not All Is Lost for U.S."/> Frings also took part at [[UEFA Euro 2004]] and at the [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup]] on home soil, winning a bronze medal in the latter tournament.<ref name="Happy Birthday to you!"/>

Frings was later also called up to Germany's squad for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] on home soil.<ref name="Happy Birthday to you!"/> On 9 June 2006, Frings scored Germany's fourth goal in a 4–2 win against [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] in the opening match of the World Cup, with a powerful drive from more than 30 yards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852498.stm|title=Germany 4–2 Costa Rica|work=BBC Sport|date=9 June 2006|access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref>

Following Germany's penalty shootout victory over [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] on 30 June 2006, Frings was fined and suspended by [[FIFA]] for two games (one of which is subject to a six-month probationary period) for his role in the brawl that broke out between the Argentine and German teams after the match.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/news/newsid=16350.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100430143521/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/news/newsid=16350.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 30 April 2010 | title = Frings missing but Germany remain confident | date = 4 July 2006 | access-date =29 March 2009 | publisher=FIFA}}</ref> After reviewing video footage of the brawl, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee determined that Frings had punched Argentine forward [[Julio Ricardo Cruz|Julio Cruz]] and levelled punishment accordingly, even though Cruz himself had denied that Frings punched him; the second game of the suspension was made probationary due to the Committee's determination that Frings had been provoked into fighting. This suspension decision, announced by FIFA only the day before Germany's semi-final versus [[Italy national football team|Italy]] on 4 July 2006, rendered Frings unavailable for the important match – which Germany subsequently lost; Germany finished the tournament in third place after defeating [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] in the bronze medal match.<ref name="Happy Birthday to you!"/>

The controversy of the decision was also sparked by the fact that Frings' role in the brawl had been widely accentuated in the Italian media after FIFA had already announced it closed its investigations against German players. Frings answered to the accusations in an interview: "This is all politics. The Argentinians attack us, I defend myself and the Italians get worked up. With this suspension, FIFA just wanted to show that Germany doesn't get special treatment as the World Cup hosts."

Frings was also called up to Germany's [[UEFA Euro 2008|Euro 2008]] squad, which reached the [[UEFA Euro 2008 Final|final]] of the tournament only to be defeated by [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]],<ref name="Happy Birthday to you!"/> but was later not included in the team for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]] by German coach [[Joachim Löw]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nola.com/sportsflash/index.ssf?/base/sports-194/1264006903169390.xml&storylist=soccer | title = Loew tells Frings he won't be going to World Cup | date = 20 January 2010 | access-date =22 January 2010 | work=nola.com}}</ref> He played his last international match on 11 February 2009 in a 0–1 home defeat against [[Norway national football team|Norway]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Norway upset adds to Germany's soccer woes |url=http://www.dw.de/norway-upset-adds-to-germanys-soccer-woes/a-4021321 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur |date=11 February 2009 |access-date=9 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/frings-intl.html | title = Torsten Frings – Goals in International matches | author = Matthias Arnhold | date = 19 May 2011 | access-date = 19 May 2011 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> In total, he earned 79 caps for Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/tfc-captain-torsten-frings-retires|title=TFC Captain Torsten Frings Retires|publisher=Toronto FC|author1=Mike Ulmer|date=26 February 2013|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref>

==Style of play==
Frings was an all-action, well-rounded and versatile [[midfielder]]. He was capable of playing anywhere across the midfield, although he was most comfortable in the [[Central midfielder|centre]], running deep from his own team's [[Midfielder#Box-to-box midfielder|box to the opposition's box]], due to his work-rate, vision, solid first touch and passing with either foot, despite his lack of notable pace.<ref name="Toronto FC captain Torsten Frings announces retirement">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/toronto-fc-captain-torsten-frings-announces-retirement-1.1345881|title=Toronto FC captain Torsten Frings announces retirement|publisher=CBC Sports|date=26 February 2013|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="TFC's Frings no slouch when it comes to international honours">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/tfcs-frings-no-slouch-when-it-comes-to-international-honours/article552149/|title=TFC's Frings no slouch when it comes to international honours|work=The Globe and Mail|author1=Jeff Blair|date=6 March 2012|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="With captain sidelined, Toronto FC looks to life without Torsten Frings">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/03/22/with-captain-sidelined-t_n_1373866.html|title=With captain sidelined, Toronto FC looks to life without Torsten Frings|work=HuffPost|author1=Neil Davidson|date=22 March 2012|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref> He was usually deployed as [[defensive midfielder]], however, where he excelled due to his tough tackling playing style.<ref name="Happy Birthday to you!"/><ref name="Toronto FC captain Torsten Frings announces retirement"/> A large, tenacious and physically strong player, and a vocal presence on the pitch, he also excelled in the air and was capable of playing as a [[Defender (association football)|defender]], as a [[centre-back]] or [[Sweeper (association football)|sweeper]], due to his organisational abilities, knowledge of the game, and fighting spirit on the pitch.<ref name="Not All Is Lost for U.S."/><ref name="Toronto FC captain Torsten Frings announces retirement"/><ref name="Toronto FC not ready for big time just yet">{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/soccer/breaking-down-toronto-fcs-season-opener|title=Toronto FC not ready for big time just yet|work=National Post|author1=Matthew Scianitti|date=19 March 2012|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="Toronto FC captain Frings out 4-6 weeks">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/frings-toronto-fc-injury/|title=Toronto FC captain Frings out 4–6 weeks|publisher=Sportsnet|author1=John Molinaro|date=20 March 2012|access-date=22 August 2016}}</ref> In addition to his defensive attributes, Frings was also known for his leadership on the pitch, as well as his explosive, powerful shot from distance.<ref name="Toronto FC captain Torsten Frings announces retirement"/><ref name="TFC's Frings no slouch when it comes to international honours"/><ref name="Toronto FC not ready for big time just yet"/><ref name="Toronto FC captain Frings out 4-6 weeks"/>

==Coaching career==
===Werder Bremen===
After ending his playing career, Frings became a youth coach at Werder Bremen.<ref name=Postretirement>{{cite news|title=Torsten Frings will Jugendtrainer bei Werder werden|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/bundesliga/werder-bremen/article13700297/Torsten-Frings-will-Jugendtrainer-bei-Werder-werden.html|access-date=1 October 2012|newspaper=[[Die Welt]]|date=5 November 2011|language=de}}</ref> Werder Bremen Ex-CEO [[Klaus Allofs]] stated that "''he can learn the coaching profession for us from the bottom up.''"<ref name=Postretirement/> On 25 October 2014, after Werder Bremen fired head coach [[Robin Dutt]], Bremen youth coach [[Viktor Skrypnyk]] was appointed as the head coach with [[Florian Kohfeldt]], [[Christian Vander (footballer)|Christian Vander]], and Frings all amongst Skripnik's coaching staff. He received a coaching license from the German FA after a 10-month coaching course<ref>{{cite news|title=Frings erhält Fußball-Lehrer-Lizenz des DFB|url=https://www.kicker.de/frings-erhaelt-fussball-lehrer-lizenz-des-dfb-624131/artikel|access-date=30 March 2015|publisher=kicker|date=30 March 2015|language=de}}</ref> in March 2015.<ref name="Former Germany international Torsten Frings named Darmstadt head coach">{{cite news|title=Former Germany international Torsten Frings named Darmstadt head coach|url=http://www.espnfc.com/darmstadt/story/3027316/darmstadt-appoint-former-germany-international-torsten-frings-as-head-coach|access-date=30 December 2016|work=ESPN FC|agency=PA Sport|publisher=ESPN|date=27 December 2016}}</ref>

===Darmstadt 98===
On 27 December 2016, Frings was appointed as the head coach of [[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]].<ref name="Former Germany international Torsten Frings named Darmstadt head coach"/><ref name="Torsten Frings wird Trainer bei Darmstadt 98">{{cite news|title=Torsten Frings wird Trainer bei Darmstadt 98|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/bundesliga-torsten-frings-wird-trainer-bei-darmstadt-1.3311604|access-date=28 December 2016|work=Süddeutsche Zeitung|date=27 December 2016|language=de}}</ref><ref name="SV Darmstadt 98 – Trainerhistorie">{{cite web|title=SV Darmstadt 98|url=https://www.kicker.de/sv-darmstadt-98/team-trainer/bundesliga/2016-17|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=29 December 2016|language=de}}</ref> Frings took over a team in last place and five points below the relegation playoff spot.<ref name="Bundesliga: Torsten Frings believes he can save Darmstadt from relegation"/> His first match was a 0–0 draw against [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]].<ref name="2016–17 season">{{cite web|title=SV Darmstadt 98|url=https://www.kicker.de/sv-darmstadt-98/spielplan/bundesliga/2016-17|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=28 January 2017|language=de}}</ref> Darmstadt 98 finished the 2016–17 season on the last place and was relegated to the [[2. Bundesliga]]. On 9 December 2017, Frings was relieved of his duties as Darmstadt's head coach.<ref name="Darmstadt sacking">{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/darmstadt-stellt-frings-frei-712690/artikel | title = Darmstadt stellt Frings frei | publisher = [[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]] | language = de | access-date=9 December 2017}}</ref> His final match was a 1–0 loss to [[FC Erzgebirge Aue|Erzgebirge Aue]] on 8 December 2017.<ref name="2017–18 season">{{cite web|title=SV Darmstadt 98|url=https://www.kicker.de/sv-darmstadt-98/spielplan/2-bundesliga/2017-18|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=22 January 2018|language=de}}</ref> He finished with a record of nine wins, eight draws, and 19 losses.<ref name="SV Darmstadt 98 – Trainerhistorie"/>

===SV Meppen===
He was appointed as the new head coach of [[SV Meppen]] on 14 July 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.svmeppen.de/3-Torsten_Frings_ist_neuer_Cheftrainer.html?action=article&articles_ID=2305|title=Torsten Frings ist neuer Cheftrainer|website=svmeppen.de|date=14 July 2020|access-date=14 July 2020|language=de}}</ref> He was sacked on 14 April 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.svmeppen.de/post/svm-trennt-sich-von-cheftrainer-torsten-frings|title=SVM trennt sich von Cheftrainer Torsten Frings|website=svmeppen.de|date=14 April 2021|access-date=14 April 2021|language=de}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Frings is married to Petra and they have two children, Lisa-Katharina and Lena Alina.<ref name="werder.de">{{cite web | url = http://www.werder.de/english/team/spieler/frings.php | title = Torsten Frings | access-date = 29 March 2009 | work = werder.de | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070509185220/http://www.werder.de/english/team/spieler/frings.php | archive-date = 9 May 2007 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> His hobbies include spending time with his family and riding his motorcycle.<ref name="werder.de"/>

==Legacy==
[[Gustavo Fring]], a fictional character from the television series ''[[Breaking Bad]]'' and its spinoff ''[[Better Call Saul]]'', was named after Frings.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 January 2017 |title=Breaking-Bad-Schurke nach deutschem Trainer benannt |work=[[Die Welt]] |url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/article161675759/Breaking-Bad-Schurke-nach-deutschem-Trainer-benannt.html |url-status=live |access-date=19 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201175142/https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/article161675759/Breaking-Bad-Schurke-nach-deutschem-Trainer-benannt.html |archive-date=1 February 2017}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club!!rowspan="2"|Season!!colspan="3"|League!!colspan="2"|Cup!!colspan="2"|Continental!!colspan="2"|Other!!colspan="2"|Total!!rowspan="2"|{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!League!!App!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Alemannia Aachen]]||[[1994–95 Regionalliga|1994–95]]||rowspan="3"|[[Regionalliga West]]||6||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||6||0||<ref name="statistics"/>
|-
|[[1995–96 Regionalliga|1995–96]]||32||12||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||12||<ref name="statistics"/>
|-
|[[1996–97 Regionalliga|1996–97]]||19||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||19||1||<ref name="statistics"/>
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!57!!13!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!57!!13!!—
|-
|[[SV Werder Bremen II|Werder Bremen II]]||[[1996–97 Regionalliga|1996–97]]||[[Regionalliga Nord]]||1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||1||<ref name="statistics"/>
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]]||[[1996–97 SV Werder Bremen season|1996–97]]||rowspan="6"|[[Bundesliga]]||15||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||15||0||<ref>{{cite web|title=Frings, Torsten|url=https://www.kicker.de/torsten-frings/spieler/bundesliga/1996-97/werder-bremen|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[1997–98 SV Werder Bremen season|1997–98]]||28||2||2||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||33||2||<ref>{{cite web|title=Frings, Torsten|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1997-98/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826232941/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1997-98/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 August 2009|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Frings, Torsten|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1997/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305004051/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1997/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 March 2016|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[1998–99 SV Werder Bremen season|1998–99]]||23||3||4||3||12||3||colspan="2"|—||39||9||<ref>{{cite web|title=Frings, Torsten|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1998-99/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221034349/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1998-99/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 December 2009|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Frings, Torsten|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1998/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122837/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1998/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[1999–2000 SV Werder Bremen season|1999–2000]]||33||3||4||0||9||0||2||0||48||3||<ref>{{cite web|title=Torsten Frings|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/fringstorsten/2000/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[2000–01 SV Werder Bremen season|2000–01]]||30||1||2||0||5||0||colspan="2"|—||37||1||<ref>{{cite web|title=Frings, Torsten|url=https://www.kicker.de/torsten-frings/spieler/bundesliga/2000-01/werder-bremen|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[2001–02 SV Werder Bremen season|2001–02]]||33||6||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||36||6||<ref>{{cite web|title=Frings, Torsten|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2001-02/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827051156/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2001-02/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 August 2009|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Frings, Torsten|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2001/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221343/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2001/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!162!!15!!13!!3!!31!!3!!2!!0!!208!!21!!—
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Borussia Dortmund]]||[[2002–03 Borussia Dortmund season|2002–03]]||rowspan="2"|Bundesliga||31||6||2||0||12||2||1||0||46||8||<ref name="Torsten Frings">{{cite web|title=Torsten Frings|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/vereine/borussiadortmund/2004/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[2003–04 Borussia Dortmund season|2003–04]]||16||4||0||0||0||0||1||0||17||4||<ref name="Torsten Frings"/>
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!47!!10!!2!!0!!12!!2!!2!!0!!63!!12!!—
|-
|[[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]||[[2004–05 FC Bayern Munich season|2004–05]]||rowspan="7"|Bundesliga||29||3||6||0||8||1||2||1||45||5||<ref>{{cite web|title=Torsten Frings|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/fringstorsten/2005/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="7"|Werder Bremen||[[2005–06 SV Werder Bremen season|2005–06]]||28||3||4||1||10||1||2||0||44||5||<ref>{{cite web|title=Torsten Frings|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/fringstorsten/2006/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[2006–07 SV Werder Bremen season|2006–07]]||33||1||0||0||6||1||2||1||41||3||<ref>{{cite web|title=Torsten Frings|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/fringstorsten/2007/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[2007–08 SV Werder Bremen season|2007–08]]||11||1||0||0||2||0||1||0||14||1||<ref>{{cite web|title=Torsten Frings|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/fringstorsten/2008/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[2008–09 SV Werder Bremen season|2008–09]]||30||4||5||0||13||0||colspan="2"|—||48||4||<ref>{{cite web|title=Frings, Torsten|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2008-09/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827051416/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2008-09/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 August 2009|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[2009–10 SV Werder Bremen season|2009–10]]||30||6||6||0||9||4||colspan="2"|—||45||10||<ref>{{cite web|title=Frings, Torsten|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2009-10/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221034504/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2009-10/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 December 2009|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|[[2010–11 SV Werder Bremen season|2010–11]]||32||6||1||0||6||1||colspan="2"|—||39||7||<ref>{{cite web|title=Frings, Torsten|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2010-11/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902020356/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2010-11/510/vereinsspieler_torsten-frings.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 September 2010|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=8 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!164!!21!!16!!1!!47!!6!!5!!1!!231!!30!!—
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Toronto FC]]||[[2011 Toronto FC season|2011]]||rowspan="2"|[[Major League Soccer|MLS]]||13||0||0||0||6||0||colspan="2"|—||19||0||<ref>{{cite web|title=Torsten Frings|url=http://www.espnfc.com/player/9828/torsten-frings?season=2011|website=ESPN FC|publisher=ESPN|access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[2012 Toronto FC season|2012]]||20||2||3||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||25||2||<ref>{{cite web|title=Torsten Frings|url=http://www.espnfc.com/player/9828/torsten-frings?season=2012|website=ESPN FC|publisher=ESPN|access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Impact draw Toronto FC in opening leg|url=http://www.canadasoccer.com/impact-draw-toronto-fc-in-opening-leg-p150369&t=championship_article|access-date=8 August 2014|publisher=Canadian Soccer Association|date=2 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Toronto FC advances to Championship final|url=http://canadasoccer.com/toronto-fc-advances-to-championship-final-p150494|access-date=8 August 2014|publisher=Canadian Soccer Association|date=9 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=ACC Recap: Late Lambe goal wins 4th straight title for TFC|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-05-23-tor-v-van/recap|access-date=8 August 2014|publisher=Major League Soccer|date=23 May 2012}}</ref>
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!33!!2!!3!!0!!8!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!44!!2!!—
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total!!493!!65!!40!!4!!105!!13!!11!!5!!649!!84!!—
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Germany national football team|Germany]]<ref>{{NFT player|2587|name=Torsten Frings|accessdate=10 August 2018}}</ref>
|2001||2||0
|-
|2002||17||2
|-
|2003||4||0
|-
|2004||12||2
|-
|2005||13||2
|-
|2006||16||2
|-
|2007||6||2
|-
|2008||8||0
|-
|2009||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!79!!10
|}

:''Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Frings goal.''<ref>{{Cite news|title=Torsten Frings – Goals in International matches|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/frings-intl.html|access-date=10 August 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Torsten Frings
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 27 March 2002 || [[Ostseestadion]], [[Rostock]], Germany || {{fb|USA}} || align="center"|4–1 || align="center"|4–2 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 9 May 2002 || [[Schwarzwald-Stadion]], [[Freiburg im Breisgau|Freiburg]], Germany || {{fb|KUW}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|7–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|3 || 27 May 2004 || Schwarzwald-Stadion, Freiburg, Germany || {{fb|MLT}} || align="center"|4–0 || align="center"|7–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|4 || 15 June 2004 || [[Estádio do Dragão]], [[Porto]], Portugal || {{fb|NED}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–1 || [[UEFA Euro 2004]]
|-
| align="center"|5 || 9 February 2005 || [[Merkur Spielarena]], [[Düsseldorf]], Germany || {{fb|ARG}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–2 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|6 || 12 October 2005 || [[Volksparkstadion]], [[Hamburg]], Germany || {{fb|CHN}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|7 || 27 May 2006 || Schwarzwald-Stadion, Freiburg, Germany || {{fb|LUX}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|7–0 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|8 || 9 June 2006 || [[Allianz Arena]], [[Munich]], Germany || {{fb|CRC}} || align="center"|4–2 || align="center"|4–2 || [[2006 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|9 || 7 February 2007 || Merkur Spielarena, Düsseldorf, Germany || {{fb|SWI}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|3–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|10 || 2 June 2007 || [[Max-Morlock-Stadion]], Nuremberg, Germany || {{fb|SMR}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|6–0 || [[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group D|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying]]
|}

===Managerial statistics===
{{updated|matches played on 4 April 2020}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team!
!rowspan="2"|From!
!rowspan="2"|To!
!colspan="9"|Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|M|Matches coached}}!!{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}}!!{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}}!!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}!!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}!!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}!!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}!!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|[[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]]||27 December 2016<ref name="Former Germany international Torsten Frings named Darmstadt head coach"/><ref name="Torsten Frings wird Trainer bei Darmstadt 98"/><ref name="SV Darmstadt 98 – Trainerhistorie"/>||9 December 2017<ref name="Darmstadt sacking"/>
{{WDL|36|9|8|19|for=42|against=61|diff=yes}}
|<ref name="SV Darmstadt 98 – Trainerhistorie"/><ref name="2016–17 season"/><ref name="2017–18 season"/>
|-
|[[SV Meppen]]||14 July 2020||14 April 2021
{{WDL|31|11|3|17|for=32|against=51|diff=yes}}
|
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|67|20|11|36|for=74|against=112|diff=yes}}
!—
|}

==Honours==
'''Werder Bremen'''
* [[DFB-Pokal]]: [[1998–99 DFB-Pokal|1998–99]], [[2008–09 DFB-Pokal|2008–09]]
* [[DFB-Ligapokal]]: 2006
* [[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]: [[1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup|1998]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leballonrond.fr/jogo.php?id=4835448 |title=FK Vojvodina 1–1 Werder Bremen |publisher=leballonrond.fr |access-date=28 November 2019}}</ref>

'''Bayern Munich'''
* [[Bundesliga]]: [[2004–05 Bundesliga|2004–05]]
* [[DFB-Pokal]]: [[2004–05 DFB-Pokal|2004–05]]
* [[DFB-Ligapokal]]: 2004

'''Toronto FC'''
* [[Canadian Championship]]: [[2012 Canadian Championship|2012]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Torsten Frings ist wieder Meister – in Kanada|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/article106370313/Torsten-Frings-ist-wieder-Meister-in-Kanada.html|access-date=26 May 2012|newspaper=[[Die Welt]]|date=24 May 2012|language=de}}</ref>

'''Germany'''
*[[FIFA World Cup]] runner-up: [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]]; third place: [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]]
*[[FIFA Confederations Cup]] third place: [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup|2005]]
*[[UEFA European Championship]] runner-up: [[UEFA Euro 2008|2008]]

'''Individual'''
*''[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]]'' [[Bundesliga]] Team of the Season: 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200102/startseite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018190520/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200102/startseite.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Bundesliga Historie 2001/02|language=de|publisher=kicker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200304/startseite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018212349/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200304/startseite.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Bundesliga Historie 2003/04|language=de|publisher=kicker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200506/startseite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018190533/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200506/startseite.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Bundesliga Historie 2005/06|language=de|publisher=kicker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200607/startseite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018212356/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200607/startseite.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Bundesliga Historie 2006/07|language=de|publisher=kicker}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}} {{in lang|de}}
*{{Sports links}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Germany squads
| bg = white
| fg = black
| bordercolor = black
| list1 = 
{{Germany squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Germany squad UEFA Euro 2004}}
{{Germany squad 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Germany squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Germany squad UEFA Euro 2008}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list =
{{2001–02 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{2003–04 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{2005–06 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{2006–07 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list =
{{SV Darmstadt 98 managers}}
{{SV Meppen managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frings, Torsten}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Würselen]]
[[Category:German men's footballers]]
[[Category:Alemannia Aachen players]]
[[Category:SV Werder Bremen players]]
[[Category:SV Werder Bremen II players]]
[[Category:Borussia Dortmund players]]
[[Category:FC Bayern Munich footballers]]
[[Category:Toronto FC players]]
[[Category:Germany men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's B international footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:German expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Canada]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada]]
[[Category:Designated Players (MLS)]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:SV Darmstadt 98 managers]]
[[Category:Bundesliga managers]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga managers]]
[[Category:SV Meppen managers]]
[[Category:3. Liga managers]]
[[Category:German football managers]]
[[Category:Regionalliga players]]
[[Category:SV Werder Bremen non-playing staff]]
[[Category:West German men's footballers]]