Bundesliga Runners-up 2000. Bundesliga Runners-up 2002. DFB Cup final defeat 2002. Champions League final defeat 2002. World Cup final defeat 2002.

If footballers would be remembered for bad luck, Bernd Schneider would be up there with the very best.

No major titles

The Leverkusen and Germany midfielder has never won the titles his skills would have deserved.

However, that hasn't stopped him from being nicknamed "White Brazilian" and earning nationwide admiration.

Born in Jena

"Schnix", as Schneider is also called, was born in Jena on November 17, 1973. He joined Aufbau Jena at the tender age of six... and kept playing and playing.

"Sometimes I never even went home after school, I'd go straight to the field to play football. I used to use my school rucksack as a post. My school books didn't look good after that", Schneider recalls.

15 years at Carl Zeiss

That paid off as he was discovered by FC Carl Zeiss Jena scouts three years later.

Schneider went on to play for Carl Zeiss until 1998. Back then FCC lost the battle against relegation from the 2. Bundesliga, but for Schneider's football career Jena's decline had only positive consequences.

Bundesliga debut in 1998

"Schnix" joined Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt and finally gave his Bundesliga debut on August 14, 1998 in a 2-1 defeat at MSV Duisburg.

He moved on to Bayer Leverkusen in 1999, and has settled down there - despite quite a few disappointments agonisingly close to glory.

2002 heartbreak

Especially in 2002, when Bayer narrowly missed out on the Bundesliga title and lost the finals of both DFB Cup and Champions League.

Just as he always does, Schneider put the disappointments behind him to play a brilliant World Cup in Japan and South Korea - only to suffer another final defeat (2-0 against Brazil).

Settled in Leverkusen

His convincing and skillful displays led to a lot of offers from big clubs, but Schneider decided to stay at Leverkusen.

And the Bayer officials surely know that they can rely on Schneider. The versatile player always does what he's asked to do, whether on the right wing, at right back or in central midfield.

Völler: "He's a genius"

"I've always said that Bernd is one of the last street footballers. He's a genius with the ball, who can do things that are too much for his team mates. He does things you only expect from Brazilians", Bayer sporting director Rudi Völler acknowledges.

"I wouldn't overrate all that. I know where I come from. I'm a German player, and things like running and fighting are also important qualities", Schneider responds.

Just three international goals

Astonishingly, Schneider has scored just three goals for Germany so far - in 78 matches.

Two of those were meaningless on top of that, the first sealing off the 8-0 win over Saudi Arabia at the 2002 World Cup, the second sealing off the 13-0 over minnows San Marino in a Euro qualifier 2006.

Goal against Sweden

The third one came in a friendly against Sweden in August 2006, the opening goal after just four minutes. It may have been only a friendly, but it inspired Germany to a 3-0 win.

And who knows, maybe the last few years of the "White Brazilian's" career will also bring him at least one title on the big stage. He would definitely deserve it.

Christof Greiner