Sebastian Rudy (born 28 February 1990) is a German professional footballer who played as a midfielder for SG Dilsberg. From 2014 to 2019, he played for the Germany national team, scoring one goal in twenty-nine caps.
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.[5] He made his professional debut with the same team in the newly established 3. Liga on 2 August 2008 against Union Berlin.[6]
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.[7]
TSG Hoffenheim
Rudy moved to TSG Hoffenheim in 2010.[8] 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.[9] On 5 February 2011, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 victory over 1. FC Kaiserslautern.[10]
Bayern Munich
On 15 January 2017, Rudy was transferred to Bayern Munich on 1 July 2017 after his Hoffenheim contract expired.[11] On 6 August 2017, Rudy made his debut in a 5–4 penalty-shootout victory over Borussia Dortmund in the 2017 DFL-Supercup.[12][13] In his first Bundesliga match with the club, he provided an assist from the free-kick to his fellow Bayern newcomer and his former Hoffenheim teammate Niklas Süle in a 3–1 win over Bayer Leverkusen.[14] Rudy scored his first goal for Bayern Munich in a 3–0 victory over Hannover in the Bundesliga.[15]
Schalke 04
On 27 August 2018, Rudy joined Schalke 04 on a four-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.[16]
Return to TSG Hoffenheim
On 31 July 2019, Rudy returned to Hoffenheim on a season-long loan deal.[17] On 5 October 2020, he was again loaned to Hoffenheim until the end of the 2020–21 season.[18]
On 16 June 2021, Rudy was released from his contract with Schalke 04.[19] On 28 June, Rudy signed a two-year contract with TSG Hoffenheim.[20]
On 27 September 2023, Rudy announced his retirement from professional football.[21]
International career
Rudy debuted for the German senior team on 13 May 2014 in a friendly against Poland in Hamburg's Imtech Arena.[22] On 6 October 2017, Rudy scored his first international goal from outside the box in a 3–1 victory over Northern Ireland and it was Germany's fastest goal in World Cup qualifiers which was scored in the 2nd minute of the match.[23]