Sebastian Rudy

Sebastian Rudy (born 28 February 1990) is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder or defender. He began his senior career at VfB Stuttgart in 2008 before moving to TSG Hoffenheim in 2010, where he spent a majority of his playing career. Rudy transferred to Bayern Munich in 2017 and won the Bundesliga during a one-year spell with the club. He moved to Schalke 04 in 2018, before returning to Hoffenheim on a loan in 2019 and a permanent transfer in 2021. Rudy retired from professional football in 2023. He currently plays for German amateur team SG Dilsberg.

Rudy was capped twenty-nine times and scored one goal for the Germany national team between 2011 and 2019. He won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017 with the national team.

Club career

VfB Stuttgart

Rudy joined VfB Stuttgart's youth academy in 2003 and started his senior career in 2007 with the club's reserve team, playing in the semi-professional Regionalliga Süd. He made his professional debut with the same team in the newly established 3. Liga on 2 August 2008 against Union Berlin.

During the summer of 2008, he also signed a contract with VfB Stuttgart's first team, for which he made his competitive debut in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on 10 August 2008 in their 5–0 away victory over Hansa Lüneburg.

TSG Hoffenheim

Rudy moved to TSG Hoffenheim in 2010. On 28 August 2010, Rudy made his debut in a Bundesliga match as a substitute by replacing Peniel Mlapa in the 89th minute in a 1–0 victory over St. Pauli. On 5 February 2011, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 victory over 1. FC Kaiserslautern.