Born in Weiler im Allgäu, Swabia, Riedle started his senior career in the Bayernliga with FC Augsburg,[5] being club top scorer in the 1985–86 season with a total of 20 goals.

[6] His performances attracted interest from newly promoted Bundesliga side SpVgg Blau-Weiß 1890 Berlin, who signed him for a fee of 33,000 Deutsche Mark;[7] he made his league debut for his new team on 9 August 1986, scoring in a 4–1 home loss against 1.

[8] After his team's relegation, as last, Riedle nonetheless signed with SV Werder Bremen, led by legendary Otto Rehhagel, and netted 18 times in his first season (second-best in the league behind Jürgen Klinsmann, and 24 overall) to help the club win the national title.

During his stint with the Roman the club failed to win any silverware or reach any final, and his best output occurred in the 1991–92 campaign when he scored 13 goals in 29 games[9] for an eventual 10th-place finish in Serie A; for two of his three years, he shared teams with countryman Thomas Doll.

He was a starter for most of his spell, often partnering Stéphane Chapuisat, but failed to reproduce his previous form, never scoring in double digits; he was however important in the conquest of the 1995 and 1996 national championships (13 goals combined) and, in the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League, netted twice[10] against Juventus in the final for a 3–1 success.

Selected by coach Franz Beckenbauer for the finals in Italy as a backup to Klinsmann and Rudi Völler, he contributed with four games as the national team won its third title, starting once due to suspension to the latter.