Career
The qualified industrial clerk played on the Fullback position. Due to his rough playing style he earned the nickname Eisen-Dieter - Iron Dieter. Clubs
In his youth he played for Football Club Germania 06 Karlsdorf.
With SV Waldhof Mannheim, who signed him in 1977, he promoted in 1983-1984 to the Bundesliga auf.
In 1986 he moved to Werder Bremen but stayed just one season appearing only three times. From 1989-1990 he played for Football Club Saint Pauli, where he captained the squad.
His last professional match took place on March 16, 1996 statt: Against Borussia Mönchengladbach (result 0-2) he bid farewell with a red card. In total he had taken part in 186 Bundesliga and 214 second tier fixtures.
Caps
Schlindwein was capped five times for the German under-21 and once for the German national amateur team and once in the German olympic team that took part at the Olympic games in Los Angeles).
Schlindwein caused a scandal in 1994 when he abused his club fellow Leonardo Manzi from Brazil as "black prick" while being in a training camp with Football Club Saint Pauli.