Steffen Karl (born 3 February 1970) is a German former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Born in Hohenmölsen, Saxony-Anhalt, Karl started his professional career in East Germany, representing Hallescher FC and modest BSG Stahl Hettstedt.

In January 1990, he moved to the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, making his competition debut on 30 March, playing eight minutes in a 2–0 home win against SV Waldhof Mannheim.

Almost always a backup at Borussia during his four half-year spell (his best output consisted in 28 games in the 1991–92 season), Karl left the club in the 1994 summer, before the club's back-to-back league conquests; following a run-in with coach Ottmar Hitzfeld,[1] before this definitive release, he also played five months with Manchester City, on loan.

[3] He was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence for his role in the affair, and banned for eight months by the German Football Association.