Meier's career as a player was spent mostly at SV Werder Bremen where he played first team football from 1980-1990. During this time he also made 16 appearances for West Germany in midfield scoring twice.
Meier is recently most noted as coach at MSV Duisburg when he lost his temper in their match against 1. FC Köln on December 6, 2005. In the 82nd minute, Meier was arguing with FC Köln's Albert Streit when Meier suddenly fell down. Referee Manuel Gräfe sent Streit off with a red card. After the incident was reviewed on television, it became clear that it had not been Streit who hit Meier, but that Meier was play-acting. In fact, Meier had given Streit a headbutt. The club suspended Meier on December 8, 2005, and the German FA banned him for three months from any management activities on December 15, 2005. He has also managed Dynamo Dresden but was sacked in September in 2007.