Introduction 'Kicker' magazine, Germany's most famous sports paper, was first published in 1920. In January 1956, 'Kicker' first published the so-called "Rangliste des deutschen Fussballs" (ranking list of German football). In these lists, the writers assess the performances of players in Germany semi-annually and then categorize them according to the following categories: - World Class (Weltklasse) - International Class (Internationale Klasse) - Broad Circle (im weiteren Kreis) - Considered (im Blickfeld) In the first three categories, players are ranked according to their performances. In the last category, players are ranked alphabetically (except in 1956, 1957 and 1965 when they were also ranked by their performances). Each year, two rankings are published, the first one covers the period January to July, the second one August to December. The first ranking from January 1956 covers the whole of 1955. From 1955 to July 1970, only German players were assessed. Since December 1970, non-German players who played for German clubs are assessed as well. Since December 1990 German players who play outside of Germany are covered as well. No rankings were issued in July 1958 and July 1960. Instead, the rankings issued in December of these years cover the whole year. There was also no ranking issued in July 1962, however the December 1962 ranking does not cover the whole year but just the period August to December 1962. The categories in which players are ranked have changed considerably over the span of 60 years. From January 1956 to December 1965, the terms associated with the ‘WM-system’ were used (German term in brackets): - Goalkeeper (Torhüter) - Full Back (Verteidiger, literally ‘defender’) - Center Half (Stopper, lit. ‘stopper’) - Half Back (Aussenläufer, lit. ‘outside runner’) - Inside Forward (Halbstürmer, lit. ‘half striker’) - Outside Right (Rechtsaussen, lit. ‘right outside’)) - Outside Left (Linksaussen, lit. ‘left outside’) - Center Forward (Mittelstürmer, lit. ‘middle striker’) In July 1966, the change in tactics from ‘WM’ to 4-2-4 were mirrored as the following terms were introduced: - Goalkeeper (same as above) - Full Back (Aussenverteidiger, lit. ‘outside defender’) - Central Defender (Innenverteidiger, lit. ‘inside defender’) - Midfielder (Mittelfeldspieler, lit. ‘middle field player’) - Outside Right (same) - Outside Left (same) - Central Forward (Innenstürmer, lit. ‘inside striker’) ‘Central forwards’ means the two inside forwards in the 4-2-4 system, not to be confused with ‘center forward’. ‘Kicker’ used this term for the next 20 years (until July 1985), although the 4-2-4 system had already been superseded by the 4-3-3 system by the early-1970s. In my opinion it would have been better if ‘kicker’ had reintroduced the term ‘center forward’ (‘Mittelstürmer’) by the early 1970s as most teams played with two wingers and a center forward by that time. In July 1971, ‘kicker’ made the next change in splitting the ‘central defenders’ category into ‘libero’ and ‘stopper’ (German term ‘Vorstopper’, lit. ‘frontstopper’), reflecting the hierarchy which was established by all teams at that time. All other categories remained unchanged. The next change in the naming of the categories came in December 1982, when ‘midfielders’ category was split into ‘defensive midfielders’ and ‘offensive midfielders’ and the two categories ‘outside right’ and ‘outside left’ were merged into a single category called ‘wingers’ (‘Aussenstürmer, lit. ‘outside strikers’). In December 1985, ‘kicker’ merged the categories ‘full back’ and ‘defensive midfielder’ and just called it ‘defensive midfielder’ – ‘full backs’ were gone. The reasoning being, that with the change from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2, those players that used to be called ‘full backs’ were now actually midfield players. While that was a reasonable explanati0n, in my opinion it would have been better if they had rebranded the ‘full backs’ category as ‘wide midfielders’ or ‘wing backs’ instead. By throwing the wide midfielders/wing backs in the same category as the ‘defensive midfielders’, there were now two different types of players listed in the same category which was a less than perfect solution. For example, a full back like Andreas Brehme was now listed in the same category as a defensive midfielder like Wolfgang Rolff. Also gone was the term ‘stopper’, which was replaced by ‘defender’ (basically meaning the same as ‘stopper’ previously, a man-marking central defender, but now it was the two markers in the 3-5-2 who were cooperating with the sweeper, whereas the ‘stopper’ was a single man-marking central defender in the 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 system of previous years). Also in December 1985, the ‘central forwards’ were abandoned in favour of just ‘forwards’ (‘Stürmer’, lit. ‘striker’). A reasonable change as most teams played with only two forwards at that time, thus the term ‘central forward’ was badly outdated. Completely dropped was the ‘wingers’ category. In December 1990, the ‘defender’ category was renamed ‘markers’, which was now the prevalent term used for the two man-markers in the 3-5-2 system. Also, the category ‘Germans abroad’ (‘Deutsche im Ausland’) was entirely new, reflecting the exodus of Germany’s best players to foreign leagues. The next notable change in terminology came in December 1992, when the wide midfielders finally were grouped together in their own separate category (‘Mittelfeld aussen’, lit. ‘middle field outside’). Changed were also the defensive and offensive midfield categories, as they were now named ‘central defensive midfielders’ and ‘central offensive midfielders’. With these changes, the 3-5-2 system was now more exactly mirrored than in the previous years. In December 1997, the ‘central’ in the two midfielders categories was dropped again and the ‘wide midfielders’ were re-christened ‘laterals’ (‘Aussenbahn’, lit. ‘outside lane’) and a year later, December 1998, the term ‘marker’ was abandoned in favour of ‘defender’. The last and most notable change of terminology was made in December 2001, when – after exactly 30 years – the ‘libero’ was finally dropped and with it, also the term ‘defender’. In their places, one new category was introduced called ‘central defenders’ (‘Innenverteidiger’), which had already been used between 1966 and 1971. The old hierarchy in defense, the libero and the stopper/marker/defender was now a thing of the past as the ‘modern’ flat back four with two central defenders was finally also taking over German football tactics. That same December 2001, the ‘laterals’ category was divided into ‘defensive laterals’ (‘Aussenbahn defensive, lit. ‘outside lane defensive’) and ‘offensive laterals’ (‘Aussenbahn offensiv’). In my opinion ‘kicker’ could just as well have re-introduced the older term ‘full backs’ (‘Aussenverteidiger’, lit. ‘outside defender’) instead of ‘defensive lateral’ and ‘winger’ (Aussenstürmer’, lit. ‘outside striker’) instead of ‘offensive lateral’. Since December 2001, all categories have remained unchanged. This thread includes every player that was at least once rated ‘international class’ but also every player between 1955 and the mid-1980s that was included in the ‘broad circle’ three times or more. The following is a closer look at the tactical transition of the main positions in the Bundesliga from the 1960s to the 1990s. Goalkeeper There has never been a shortage of good or very good goalkeepers in the Bundesliga. The three most outstanding goalkeepers have been Sepp Maier, Harald Schumacher and Oliver Kahn. These three goalkeepers were towering above the rest, which meant that a variety of very good goalkeepers only were used sporadically or not at all in the German national team, like Norbert Nigbur (FC Schalke 04, Hertha BSC), Bernd Franke (Eintracht Braunschweig), Wolfgang Kleff (Bor. Mönchengladbach) or Rudi Kargus (Hamburg, Nürnberg), who never were able to supplant Sepp Maier and later Uli Stein (Hamburg, Frankfurt) and Eike Immel (Dortmund, Stuttgart) who were unable to get by Harald Schumacher. During Sepp Maier’s time, goalkeepers were usually not that tall and physically imposing like in later years. Most goalkeepers in those years were excellent on the goalline and of calm nature. Maier himself excelled with his excellent positioning and anticipation, less with spectacular saves. He was also a good footballer and thus able to use his feet sufficiently. Sepp Maier was also one of the first goalkeepers in Germany who set out to catch high balls instead of fisting them. A similar approach to goalkeeping during the 1960s/70s was shown by Manfred Manglitz (Duisburg, Köln), Volkmar Gross (Hertha BSC) and Bernd Franke (Braunschweig). Maier’s successor between the goal posts of the national team was Harald Schumacher of Köln. He was the man that introduced the ‘aggressive’ way of goalkeeping in the Bundesliga. An extremely ambitious character, Schumacher’s aim was to instill fear in his opponents. He achieved that by his dauntless actions in the penalty box, sparing neither himself nor others. Loaded with emotion, Schumacher was a very dominant character with mental strength in penalty shoot-outs. Schumacher’s main asset was his unconditional will to win, his fast reflexes on the goalline and brute actions outside his goal. His main rival Uli Stein was arguably a more talented goalkeeper but his personality was more doubtful. In the wake of Schumacher, a number of similar goalkeepers populated the Bundesliga during the next 20 years, goalkeepers like Bodo Illgner, Teddy De Beer, Stefan Klos, Gerry Ehrmann, Uwe Zimmermann, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Jörg Schmadtke, Georg Koch and Oliver Kahn. Illgner’s actions were less spectacular, rather calm due to his positioning and anticipation. But at the same time there were still goalkeepers of comparatively small stature like Raimond Aumann, Uwe Kamps and Andreas Köpke. Libero One of the most notable evolutions from the beginning of the Bundesliga in 1963 was the rise of the libero. During most of the 1960s, the sweeper was mainly tasked with defensive actions, playing as emergency force behind the stopper and the two man-marking full backs. The most famous incarnation of this type of player was Willi Schulz. The 1960s type of sweeper was usually of tall stature, physically robust, strong in defensive duels, good positioning and a good passer. When in possession, they would pass the ball safely to the nearest midfield player but would not get involved in any further buildup play, which doesn’t mean that they were pedestrian footballers, it was just not their job profile to advance upfield. But then came Franz Beckenbauer. At least since the early 1970s the defensive sweeper was ‘dead’, as the German national team impressed with a technically phenomenal central defender who was an extremely capable partner of the midfield maestro Günter Netzer. When Germany won the 1974 World Cup, the offensive libero was considered by many a tactical revolution, an approach countering the purely defensive ‘catenaccio’ of the 1960s by merging the role of defensive orchestrator with that of the midfield playmaker. The creator of and ideal player for this very demanding role was Franz Beckenbauer. As soon as he was in possession, Beckenbauer would switch to a playmaking role in midfield, either by spraying long passes for a counter attack, or building up with his intricate short passes which he often chipped effortlessly with the outside of his boot over several opposing players to a teammate or he would make inroads upfield with the ball close to his feet by dribbling towards the box either looking for a 1-2 or shooting himself. In Germany but also internationally, Beckenbauer’s offensive interpretation of the libero was style-forming. The old defensive sweepers were completely out of fashion while many young, gifted players who in the old days would have aspired to become midfielders or forwards were now set out to play as libero in the Beckenbauer style. But Beckenbauer was not only a disguised midfield playmaker, he could also fight like a defender of old, iron-out mistakes with last-ditch tackles although he preferred to solve defensive one-on-one situations with his good positioning and anticipation. One of Beckenbauer’s best defensive performances was in the 1974 World Cup final. But he felt far more at home in offensive manoeuvres. Typical for him was this scenario: as soon as his team was in possession, he would deliver the first offensive pass from defense to a midfielder and immediately he would move up to midfield where he would receive the ball again and distribute it upfield and more often than not he would get so close to the opposing box that he would play the final pass as well (or score himself after a short dribbling). Beckenbauer in 1972 Beckenbauer’s elegantly chipped passes over defenses to the point where Gerd Müller was lurking was a well-known manoeuvre in the Bundesliga, but still defenses found it hard to find a remedy for this move. During these years, Bayern München could allow itself to eschew the classic midfield maestro. Instead, Bayern’s midfield consisted of industrious ballwinners and runners with a good basic technique (Rainer Zobel, Franz Roth, Bernd Dürnberger) and the offensive turbo Uli Hoeness. But the essential strategist and conductor was the multi-tasking talent Beckenbauer. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, almost every club that played in the Bundesliga was looking for a vaguely similar player and usually they found these in midfield players with good ball control, distribution and tactical understanding. To name but a few: Horst Blankenburg, Klaus Fichtel, Bernd Cullmann, Dieter Bast, Jupp Tenhagen, Matthias Herget, Gerd Zewe, Horst Wohlers, Bruno Pezzey, Klaus Augenthaler, Uli Stielike, Kurt Niedermayer or in later years Manfred Binz, Matthias Sammer, Olaf Thon, Holger Fach, Miroslav Kadlec. When Beckenbauer left Germany in 1977, it was soon apparent that Bayern could no longer eschew the midfield maestro and thus brought Paul Breitner back to Munich after his years in Spain and Braunschweig. The impact Beckenbauer’s interpretation of the libero had on German football was so massive, that the position was still intact even 20 years after he had left the country and it wasn’t before the new century had dawned that the position was finally abandoned for good.
Stopper The center half of the old ‘WM’ was referred to as ‚stopper’ in Germany since the late 1940s. Before that, the term used for this player was ‘Mittelläufer’ (literally ‘middle runner’). That term however described a central midfielder in the 2-3-5 pyramid system but after the changes of the ‘WM’ with the center half being withdrawn to the center of the defense operating between the two full backs, his task was now to mark the opposing center forward hence the name change to ‘stopper’. In the 1960s the ‘WM’ system was gradually replaced by the 4-2-4 system as introduced by Brazil in the 1958 World Cup. The defensive set-up however was different from the Brazilian system as the majority of German clubs fully adopted the sweeper system instead of the Brazilian flat back four. The center half was now joined by a second central defender, both not playing on a parallel line with the two full backs but one of the two central defenders dropping back behind the other three defenders to act as sweeper. The center half – who was known as ‘stopper’ in Germany for many years – thus became the sweeper (‘Ausputzer’) and the second central defender was now picking up the marking duties of the center half. In German football language, the term ‘stopper’ was now changed to ‘Vorstopper’ (‘in front of the stopper’, lit. ‘frontstopper’). In the mid-1960s, many Bundesliga clubs played with four forwards, which meant that a new defensive concept was taking hold known as the ‘doppelstopper’ (‘double stopper’), which was nothing else but the catenaccio of the Italian clubs: two full backs wide, two central stoppers and behind these four defenders a sweeper. This system would not last into the 1970s, as by that time the 4-2-4 was abolished by most clubs and replaced by the 4-3-3, which meant that the fifth defender of the ‘doppelstopper’ system was not needed any more. Stuttgart’s stopper Karlheinz Förster November 1968 - Berti Vogts marking Gerd Müller Marker In the transition phase from the 4-3-3 with a sweeper/stopper system to the flat back four of the ‘modern’ zonal systems, the 3-5-2 system was immensely popular and in this system, the man-marker played a vital role. Zonal marking entered German football in little slices. In the 1970s, midfield players by and large were operating zonally, although there were still many ‘specialist’ markers assigned to cover the playmaker, while three of the four defenders (two full backs and a stopper) were man-to-man marking. This system was dubbed ‘composite marking’ (‘gemischte Deckung’), slightly similar to ‘zona mista’ in Italian football at the same time (but the German version was symmetric). During the 1980s, complete zonal systems were tried and tested (all of this rather cautiously). While the stopper of the 1970s would usually follow ‘his man’ in every defensive area of his half (and the full backs, too), the tactically more advanced marker of the 1980s was often operating in zones. By the late-1970s most teams had abandoned the three-forward system (two wingers and a center forward) in order to strengthen the midfield. Since there were no classic wingers anymore, the two full backs were advanced upfield to strengthen midfield while in defense, a second stopper was introduced to deal with the two remaining forwards. By the mid-1980s, most Bundesliga teams were operating in this new 3-5-2 system (or 5-3-2 in defensive situations). The libero was usually placed in front of the stoppers (now called markers). At first, these two markers were still closely following the two forwards. The marker of the 1980s had to be more mobile than the stopper of the 1970s, because the latter one would usually operate in central defense as the center forward would also concentrate his actions in that zone. The two forwards of the 3-5-2 however were a lot more mobile, they had more space to occupy as there were no classic wingers on the flanks hence they would often move out there or drop back. The marker thus had to be more flexible, faster and mobile in his approach. It became apparent that man-to-man marking of two very flexible forwards was not an optimal solution thus the two markers began to divide their field of operation in ‘left marker’ and ‘right marker’. In this sense, the first step of marking ‘zonally’ was made. Between them, in front of them or behind them was the libero who at times was seen operating like a defensive sweeper of old. The first breed of this new ‘zonal’ marker were players like Thomas Helmer, Dietmar Beiersdorfer, Roland Grahammer or Christian Wörns. Teams that were usually situated in the lower regions of the table would play with a defensive sweeper behind two markers and the two ‘wing backs’ were predominantly utilized defensively so that these teams actually played 5-3-2. The 3-5-2 system proved to be quite durable as Bayern München won the Champions League in 2001 with a variant of this system (the restrained Patrik Andersson in the center of defense, Thomas Linke as the left-sided marker and Sammy Kuffour as the right marker). Full Back In the founding years of the Bundesliga, the job profile of the full back was pretty much that of a defender that would cover the opposing winger and not much else. More or less a man-marker close to the byline. These duels close to the byline were among the most loved scenarios on the pitch from the viewpoint of the crowds. The full backs were usually agile, fast but physically compact defenders with great stamina who were uncompromising in duels and very adept at sliding tackling, which was their main weapon in fighting the winger. This sliding tackling had to be perfected so that they could also apply it in high pace running duels. Prototype of this kind of full back with important defensive duties were Horst-Dieter Höttges and of course Berti Vogts. January 1976 – Berti Vogts tackles left winger Dieter Herzog But already during the 1960s a new kind of full back was getting noticed, the offensive full back (Hans Nowak, Fahrudin Jusufi). By the early-1970s, Paul Breitner left the biggest mark as an attacking full back. Right from the first day of his professional career (in 1970), Breitner did not confine himself to covering the opposing winger. As a technically very good player, he participated in every offensive action that would take place on the left side of the pitch. In buildup, the dynamic and cultured passer Breitner was a de facto midfield player and in the opposing third of the pitch he acted like a straightforward winger who could cross and dribble well. Many managers were now looking for similar players who could provide superior numbers in midfield and attack. The trend in those years was to reskill mediumly talented wingers as full backs. An example would be Manfred Ritschel who would even briefly become a German international as a re-skilled right back, something he was not even remotely close to when he was playing as a right winger. Other examples are Bernard Dietz and Willi Neuberger, both former outside lefts who became some of the best attacking full backs of the 1970s and of course the physically massive Hans-Peter Briegel, another left winger that became a full back of great class once he was reskilled. Players like Briegel who had great stamina, dynamism and energy reserves were much better suited to a full back role where they could bomb down the wing and make inroads than as a winger. None of these players however possessed the same supreme technical level of Paul Breitner. In today’s methodical football, someone like Paul Breitner would be viewed as pretty close to the ideal conception of a full back. The stylistic device of the majority of these dynamically attacking full backs was breaking through on the wing closely to the touchline where they would cross the ball in full movement towards the physically present center forward. A new style was created by Manfred Kaltz, the Hamburg right back, who was subsisting less on his pace but on his technical abilities, when he introduced the cross from a slightly inside position, well removed from the byline. Kaltz was looking for a situation with an inactive ball so that he could time his precision crosses really well. His crosses were far more controlled and on the spot than those that were swung in hectically close to the touchline by the other full backs. Beyond that, due to his cultured passing, Manfred Kaltz was acting more like a midfield player than a defender when his team was in possession. He might be called the first true ‘wing back’ in German football, although due to his lack of high pace he was not ideally suited for that role. Midfielder For the most part the allocation of tasks of the two midfielders in the 4-2-4 system of the 1960s was that of one classic playmaker and one hard-running defensive ball-winning midfielder. With the midfield becoming ever more important, most clubs by the late-1960s opted to play the 4-3-3 system with the playmaker playing in central midfield and behind on the left and right side of the midfield two hard-running wide midfielders who had offensive and defensive responsibilities. The purely defensive ball winner was still a rarity around this time. Midfielders were expected to possess good to very good ball control coupled with great stamina. These right half back and left half back players were predominantly ‘water carriers’ of the playmaker. The playmaker was the ruler on the pitch to whom every offensive pass was addressed. These players were exceptionally good passers and strategists who would shape their team’s efforts, specialists for through balls as well as long passes. In Germany two players embodied this type of player: Wolfgang Overath and Günter Netzer. Overath was the combative conductor, who would marshal the game with his intricate short passing and break open the opposing defense with his long balls. Overath would not dread defensive duels, a completely committed team player, very ambitious with a great reach of action. This attitude made Overath become an outstanding midfielder for the German national team in the 1966, 1970 and 1974 World Cups. Günter Netzer was a more colourful character and when he was at his peak arguably also the better footballer, but over his career Netzer was a world class player almost exclusively for his club Borussia Mönchengladbach while his performances for Germany were often erratic. Netzer tried to avoid defensive duels, he was expecting his teammates to serve him the ball instead of winning them himself. When he was in possession, he expresses his creativity with precise long range passes, either low-flying or high-flying balls which he hit with the outside of his right boot. Netzer’s style was perfectly suited to a counter-attacking team like Borussia Mönchengladbach. Günter Netzer was especially renown for his ritual before taking a free-kick, when he was seen kneeling at the spot of the free-kick, gently caressing the ball a few seconds until he had made sure that the ball was now laying in the perfect position. April 1972 – Günter Netzer is about to score one of his three goals in a 7-1 rout of Mönchengladbach against Borussia Dortmund After the Overath/Netzer era, most newly emerging midfielders found it difficult to fit the shoes of these iconic players. Hansi Müller might have had the necessary talent but ultimately he failed while players like Erich Beer and Paul Breitner were different types of midfielders to begin with. Felix Magath got the closest although despite his supreme technical abilities he was not the type of player that would dominate and dictate his team’s efforts like the classic playmakers would. By the mid-1980s the classic playmaker had ceased to exist. The 1970s still saw a lot of lesser known players taking up this role at their clubs, namely Karl-Heinz Handschuh (Stuttgart, Braunschweig), Hannes Bongartz (FC Schalke 04, Kaiserslautern), Lorenz Horr (Hertha BSC), Jürgen Grabowski (Frankfurt), Lothar Ulsass (Braunschweig), Winfried Schäfer (Karlsruhe, Mönchengladbach), Heinz Flohe (Köln) and Dieter Bast (RW Essen). Felix Magath, Bernd Schuster and Hansi Müller were the last players in the playmaker vein. By the mid-1980s, the profile of the central midfielder had shifted from the glamour of the playmaker to that of a hard-running box-to-box midfielder. The outstanding midfielder of this time was Lothar Matthäus, who began his professional career as a technically sound holding midfielder who would dictate from a deep midfield position, his main asset being his incredible dynamism at high pace, less creative passing skills. In the national team, the intricate passing was delivered by Uwe Bein, who had the technical capabilites of the classic 1970s playmaker but lacked the will to dominate his teammates and whose main asset was the short played through ball and then there were also Pierre Littbarski, Thomas Hässler and Andreas Möller, players who would unfold their creativity in the last third of the pitch only, either out wide or in inside positions. Matthäus established himself as a hard-working organiser who – when he approached the opposing box – was less of a provider but was looking to finish the move. Matthäus was an individualist of a new kind who set himself apart with his willpower, high pace, determination and shooting skills but was also a fine passer of long balls from deep midfield. Next to the dominating central midfielders were the wide and defensive midfielders. The most notable names were Bernd Cullmann, Heinz Simmet, Werner Lorant, Erwin Hermandung and Rainer Bonhof, whose strengths were clearly in defense and players like Bernd Gersdorff, Horst Köppel, Herbert Lütkebohmert, Herbert Laumen, Klaus Zaczyk, Franz Roth, Uli Hoeness, Norbert Nachtweih, Wolfgang Sikda, Rainer Zobel and Caspar Memering who were more offensive-minded players. In the 1980s, with the 3-5-2 firmly established, roughly similar players to Lothar Matthäus in central midfield were Thorsten Fink, Dieter Eilts, Wolfgang Rolff, Thomas Strunz, Mirko Votava, Michael Zorc and Ingo Anderbrügge. Forwards The most notable development in this category have been the abolishment of the classic center forward who was predominantly looking to finish in the box and the abolishment of the classic wingers with the abandoning of the 4-3-3 system by the late-1970s. Around 1980 the large majority of clubs in the Bundesliga was playing 4-4-2, the two remaining forwards were usually one mobile center forward type and a winger who was drawn from the byline to an inside position where he was playing off the target striker and the offensive midfielders. This ‘support striker’ had a greater reach of action than the second striker. The ground on the flanks was henceforth covered very flexible wide midfielders with great acceleration and stamina who would also get involved in buildup play in midfield and could drop back as side defenders when the opposing wide midfielders were advancing. The 4-4-2 thus evolved into the 3-5-2 during the 1980s, the first club to successfully play it was Hamburg under Ernst Happel (1982-83) and Stuttgart under Helmut Benthaus (1983-84). Germany in 1990 played with a ‘classic’ attacking duo in Rudi Völler and Jürgen Klinsmann: two mobile and dangerous central forwards who would often roam around the box, dropping back, breaking out to the wings (especially Völler), were quick and unpredictable, equipped with a good sense for exploiting the space and varied positional play. September 1977 – Klaus Fischer is about to score a spectacular goal for FC Schalke 04 against Köln’s goalkeeper Harald Schumacher When the 4-3-3 was still in use, the center forward was an expert penalty box player who was able to finish off a move in every possible way. There were specialist headers which was not dependant on the height of the player but on the heading technique. There was a tall and towering giant center forward (Horst Hrubesch, Dieter Hoeness, Dieter Müller) but also many less tall center forwards like Uwe Seeler, Gerd Müller, Erwin Kostedde and Klaus Fischer who were lethal at heading due to their technique, timing and jumping power. All of these classic center forwards were defined by the number of goals they scored. The preeminent player in the 1960s and 1970s in this role was Gerd Müller. A player of small, stocky stature who would score in every possible way inside the box. A poacher who could literally ‘smell’ deflected balls, gaps and holes. An agile striker with phenomenally short reaction time, guided by his instinct and an expert of turn-and-shoot in one movement. Müller did not need any space at all in front of the goal as he would always find a hole anyway. His successors in the national team were Klaus Fischer, Dieter Müller and Horst Hrubesch. Then in the 1980s the flexible and mobile ‘wing forward’ goalgetters like Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Klaus Allofs and Rudi Völler superseded the penalty box specialists. Apart from Müller, Kostedde, Fischer and Hrubesch classic center forward types of the 1970s were Günter Pröpper, Hans Walitza, Wolfgang Frank and Klaus Toppmöller. The most flexible goalgetter of that decade was arguably Jupp Heynckes, who scored many of his goals as a nominal outside left but who actually was a cross between a winger and a center forward. In the 1980s and 90s, forwards that blossomed in the 3-5-2 system were Thomas Allofs, Frank Mill, Roland Wohlfarth, Bum Kun Cha, Stéphane Chapuisat, Stefan Kuntz and Fritz Walter. But there were still less mobile ‘old style’ center forwards around, players like Dieter Hoeness, Ulf Kirsten, Karl-Heinz Riedle, Jürgen Wegmann, Martin Max, Olaf Marschall, Bruno Labbadia and Oliver Bierhoff. All of them experts at heading and converting goal chances, but less suited to get involved in buildup or breaking out to the flanks. Gerd Müller playing for Bayern München in 1972 In the Bundesliga, the 1960s and 70s were the heydays of the classic winger. Absolute specialists at the byline, great acceleration, tricky, mobile, with great ball control and good crossers of active balls at high pace. Most notable names were Reinhard Libuda, Erwin Kremers, Sigfried Held, Jürgen Grabowski, Willi Lippens, Dieter Brenninger, Dieter Herzog, Wolfgang Seel, Rudi Seliger, Werner Görts, Bernd Rupp, Josef Pirrung, Georg Volkert, Rainer Geye and Wolfram Wuttke. Yet the establishment of the 3-5-2 brought about the end of the classic winger. The transition phase in the late-1970s can be focused by looking at one player: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. As a young talent he began as an orthodox outside right but soon evolved into a highly mobile support striker who would outscore the actual target striker. The 3-5-2 system when in defense was a 5-3-2 system which meant that space for the strikers was getting ever scarcer. The wingers had less space to unfold as they faced a wide midfielder who was acting like a full back if need be and when they managed to cut inside they would face a central defender plus a sweeper. Since the space on the flanks was restricted, managers instructed their forwards to attack predominantly from inside positions – with two flexible and mobile central forwards. _November 1982 –Briegel towers over Hrubesch and Kaltz
Tactical formations When the Bundesliga started in August 1963, the ‘WM’ system was by and large obsolete yet a good number of Bundesliga clubs were still playing it. The three forwards were backed by two withdrawn inside forwards and in front of the three defenders were two half backs. The three defenders were practising strict man-to-man marking (although there were exceptions like Nürnberg under manager Herbert Widmayer who were defending zonally). The first Bundesliga champion Köln was still playing ‘WM’: ----Hornig---------------C.Müller---------Thielen ------------Overath-------------------Schäfer ---------------Sturm----------------Benthaus ------------Regh--------------------------Pott ----------------------------Wilden -----------------------------Ewert Already the following season however, a team which played 4-2-4 (SV Werder Bremen) became Bundesliga champion: ----Klöckner------Matischak---------------Zebrowski -----------------------------------A.Schütz ----------------Ferner --------------------------------------Lorenz -------Höttges----------Steinmann--------Piontek ---------------------Jagielski ---------------------------Bernard The next champion however was back to playing ‘WM’, TSV 1860 München: ------Rebele----------Brunnenmeier---------Heiss --------------Konietzka---------------Grosser ---------------Luttrop----------------Perusic -----------Patzke------------------------Wagner ----------------------------Reich -------------------------Radenkovic That would be the last occasion that the ‘WM’ would be successfully used by a club. The next season unfancied Eintracht Braunschweig won the championship with a 4-3-3 disguised as 4-2-4: -----------Maas--------Saborowski-----Gerwien ----------------------Ulsass -----------------Dulz ------------------------------------Schmidt ---------Moll--------------Kaack------------Meyer ------------------------Bäse -----------------------Wolter The tactically most advanced managers in the Bundesliga were two foreigners: The two Hungarians Elek Schwartz of Frankfurt and Gyula Lorant of Kaiserslautern. These two clubs introduced the South American-styled 4-2-4 with a flat back four in a zonal system in 1965-66. When Braunschweig won the Bundesliga in 1967, they were the first team where the defensive players were more clearly important than the offensive players. By 1969-70 the default system used by the majority of Bundesliga teams was 4-3-3 with a sweeper behind three marking defenders and a three man midfield with playmaker as the dominant player. This system would prevail for the next 6 to 7 years. The Bundesliga champions of 1969, 1970 and 1971 were both playing asymmetric variants of the 4-3-3: Bayern München 1968-69 -------Brenninger-----------G.Müller----------Roth ---------------------------------------Ohlhauser ---------------------Starek ---------------------------------Schwarzenbeck ----------------------Beckenbauer ----------Pumm----------------------------Kupferschmidt ---------------------------------Olk -------------------------------Maier Franz Beckenbauer was acting as libero in front of the three defenders, with Georg Schwarzenbeck primarily in a defensive midfield position as a ball winner and marker of the opposing playmaker. Werner Olk was the stopper in a flexible defensive set-up (devised by Branko Zebec) that regularly saw Schwarzenbeck drop back to central defense to partner Olk. Beckenbauer would switch between a defensive sweeper behind four defenders and the role of midfield playmaker whenever the occasion allowed it. Borussia Mönchengladbach 1970-71 ---------Heynckes--------------Köppel ------------------------Laumen --------------------------------------------Wimmer ---------------------------Netzer ------------Dietrich ------------------------------Sieloff ---Wittmann---------L.Müller-----------Vogts --------------------------Kleff Herbert Laumen was the nominal center forward but de facto he was playing in a withdrawn role in central offensive midfield where he often interacted with the advancing Günter Netzer, who liked to initiate his actions from a deep-lying midfield position. The two nominal wingers Jupp Heynckes and Horst Köppel acted as two central forwards. The wide midfielders were Herbert Wimmer as the more offensive alignment (who often overlapped with the Berti Vogts) and Peter Dietrich who was used defensively and would often be seen filling the gaps in central midfield together with the offensive libero Klaus-Dieter Sieloff should Netzer advance upfield. For the next three years (1972 to 1974), Bayern München won the Bundesliga with a team that was atypical for the time, since it eschewed orthodox wingers and a midfield conductor: Bayern München 1973-74 -------------------G.Müller ---------------------------U.Hoeness--Torstensson -----------Kapellmann------------Zobel ----Breitner -------------------------------------Roth ----------------------Beckenbauer ----------------Schwarzenbeck------------Hansen ---------------------------Maier In home games, the formation was a very offensive 2-5-3 with Breitner and Beckenbauer both as de facto midfield players, Breitner acting as ersatz left winger and Beckenbauer as deep-lying midfield playmaker. In Johnny Hansen and Georg Schwarzenbeck, two solid defensive players would remain at the back and if need be, Franz Roth, the holding midfielder, would drop back to help out. Beckenbauer would be stationed in a defensive midfield position by default where he would pick up the passes of the defenders. In away games, this offensive set-up became a 4-3-3 with Beckenbauer behind Schwarzenbeck and Hansen and Breitner more reserved. In 1974-75 Borussia Mönchengladbach played with a symmetric and very flexible 4-3-3: -------------Heynckes--------Jensen--------Simonsen -------------------------Kulik-----------Wimmer ---------------------------------Stielike ----Klinkhammer-------------Bonhof---------------Vogts --------------------------------Wittkamp ----------------------------------Kleff The three forwards would constantly interchange their positions and often this team added a fifth midfielder (mostly Dietmar Danner) instead of the left back. This was made possible because by that time (mid-1970s), most mid- or low-tier teams would play with only two forwards against the top sides of the league. In 1978-79 Hamburg was the first top team that applied the 4-4-2 system when they won the Bundesliga under the management of Branko Zebec: ----------------Hrubesch ----------------------------Keegan ----------Memering-----------------Reimann -------------------Magath ------------------------------Hartwig ----------------------------------------------Kaltz -----Hidien-------------------Buljan ----------------------Nogly -------------------------Kargus The next two years, Bayern München would win the Bundesliga with a similar formation: ------------------------D.Hoeness ---------------------------------------K.Rummenigge -----------Dürnberger --------------------------Breitner-------Dremmler --------------------------------Kraus --------Horsmann -----------------------Augenthaler------------Weiner -----------------------------------Niedermayer -------------------------Junghans In 1982-83 and 1983-84, Hamburg and Stuttgart were the first teams to win the Bundesliga playing in a 3-5-2 formation. But teams played very flexible, often switching between 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 3-5-2. Hamburg 1982-83 ----------------Hrubesch --------------------------------Milewski ---------------Magath -----------------------Hartwig -----Wehmeyer--------------------Kaltz --------------------Rolff ----------------------Hieronymus -------------Groh------------Jakobs ---------------------Stein Sources Rangliste: ‘kicker’ (1956 to 1968) ‘kicker-sportmagazin’ (since 1968) Biographical information: ‘Spielerlexikon 1890 to 1963’ by Lorenz Knierim and Hardy Grüne ‘Spielerlexikon 1963 to 1994’ by Christian Karn and Reinhard Rehberg ‘Deutschlands Fussball-Nationalspieler’ by Jürgen Bitter Tactical evolution: ‘Spielerlexikon 1963 to 1994’ ‘kicker’ & ‘kicker-sportmagazin’ ‘Sportmagazin’ ( 1963 to 1968; merged with ‘kicker’ in 1968) ‘Westfälische Rundschau’ ‘Süddeutsche Zeitung’ ‘Münchner Merkur’ ‘Westdeutsche Zeitung’ ‘Kölnische Rundschau’ ‘Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger’ ‘General Anzeiger’
Rüdiger ABRAMCZIK International class: 3 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 13 times Rüdiger Abramczik was one of the great crowd-pleasers of the late-70s Bundesliga. A classic right winger, extremely gifted at dribbling, very good technique, tricky, fast and sprightly but most of all a master at crossing the ball. At his debut he was the youngest player in Bundesliga history with 17 years and 3 months. Abramczik can be rated as one of the league’s all-time best crossers. Many goals were scored by Klaus Fischer after a cross by Abramczik. What he lacked was the necessary ambition and consistency to succeed at the highest level. It appeared that to him, football was a bit of a laugh, not to be taken too seriously. Around 1980 his star started to fade as he found it hard to adapt to the tactical development of only two forwards instead of three and the abolishment of the classic winger. 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Outside Right] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Outside Right] 1975 not considered 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Outside Right] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#4 Outside Right] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#1 Outside Right] 1977 broad circle [12/ 77] [#2 Outside Right] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Outside Right] 1978 Internat. Cl.[12/78] [#1 Outside Right] 1979 Internat. Cl.[07/79] [#1 Outside Right] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Outside Right] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Outside Right] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Outside Right] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Outside Right] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Outside Right] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Outside Right] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Winger] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Winger] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 not considered 1985 played abroad 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered 1988 not considered 1989 no club 1990 not considered 1991 not considered [07/91] René ADLER International class: 6 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 2 times 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 not considered 2005 not considered 2006 not considered 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#1 Goalkeeper] 2008 Internat. Cl. [07/08] [#1 Goalkeeper] 2008 broad circle [12/08] [#1 Goalkeeper] 2009 considered_ [07/09] [Goalkeeper] 2009 Internat. Cl. [12/09] [#1 Goalkeeper] 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#1 Goalkeeper] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#8 Goalkeeper] 2013 not considered [12/13] 2014 considered_ [07/14] [Goalkeeper] 2014 not considered [12/14] AILTON Gonçalves da Silva International class: 3 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 4 times 1998 played abroad [07/98] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#3 Forward] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Forward] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Forward] 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Forward] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#6 Forward] 2002 broad circle [07/02] [#9 Forward] 2002 Internat. Cl. [12/02] [#1 Forward] 2003 not considered [07/03] 2003 Internat. Cl. [12/03] [#1 Forward] 2004 Internat. Cl. [07/04] [#2 Forward] 2004 considered_ [12/04] [Forward] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#10 Forward] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 not considered [07/06] 2006 played abroad [12/06] 2007 played abroad [07/07] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered [07/08] David ALABA International class: 5 times Broad circle: 1 time 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 not considered 2011 not considered 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#3 Defensive Lateral] 2012 broad circle [12/02] [#6 Defensive Lateral] 2013 Internat. Cl. [07/13] [#2 Defensive Lateral] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#1 Defensive Lateral] 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#1 Defensive Lateral] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#1 Defensive Lateral] Karl ALLGÖWER International class: 5 times Broad circle: 11 times Considered: 10 times An offensive midfielder who could play in the center as well as on the flanks. Fast, light-footed, dynamic with a sound technique, a good strategist. Feared were his freekicks, which he could hit hard and precise. As a peace activist during the 1980s, he was a very rare breed among footballers of the time. Outspoken and offensive about his political beliefs, he strangely lacked the necessary self-confidence as a footballer to reach a really high international level. 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Midfielder] 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Central Forward] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Central Forward] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Outside Left] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Outside Left] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#7 Central Forward] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#1 Outside Left] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1987 Internat. Cl. [12/87] [#6 Libero] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1988 Internat. Cl. [12/88] [#2 Libero] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#2 Libero] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#2 Libero] 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Libero] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] Klaus ALLOFS World class: 1 time International class: 9 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 5 times Klaus Allofs began his career as a classic outside left but quickly evolved into a withdrawn central forward. His left foot was blessed with an outstanding shooting technique, which allowed him to score many goals from outside the box. Notable for a very good technique and ball control, he was very adept at quick combinations and also at providing short through balls from a slightly withdrawn central position. 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 not considered 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#14 Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#13 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#16 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#4 Midfielder] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#1 Central Forward] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#3 Central Forward] 1980 Internat. Cl. [07/80] [#3 Central Forward] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#4 Central Forward] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#6 Central Forward] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Central Forward] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#4 Winger] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Winger] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#1 Winger] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#1 Winger] 1984 Internat. Cl. [12/84] [#1 Central Forward] 1985 World Class [07/85] [#2 Central Forward] 1985 not considered [12/85] 1986 Internat. Cl. [07/86] [#1 Forward] 1986 Internat. Cl. [12/86] [#4 Forward] 1987 Internat. Cl. [07/87] [#3 Forward] 1987 Played abroad [12/87] 1988 played abroad 1989 played abroad 1990 Played abroad [07/90] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#2 Forward] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Forward] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Forward] 1992 not considered 1993 not considered [07/93] Thomas ALLOFS International class: 1 time Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 9 times Although it was initially claimed by some that Thomas Allofs had greater talent than his older brother Klaus, he didn’t manage a comparable international career. He didn’t quite have the necessary physicality and also his aerial game was not the best. Like his brother he possessed a sound ball control and technique, was very agile in offensive actions and more two-footed than his brother. Similar to his brother he did feel well playing slightly withdrawn. Overall, a good but not outstanding forward. 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Outside Right] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Outside Right] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Outside Right] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Outside Right] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Outside Right] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#6 Central Forward] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#3 Central Forward] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#3 Winger] 1983 not considered 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Offensive Midfielder] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Central Forward] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#6 Forward] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Forward] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#4 Forward] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Forward] 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 not considered [07/90] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#8 Forward] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#3 Forward] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered Xabier ALONSO Olano World class: 1 time 2014 played abroad [07/14] 2014 World Class [12/14] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] Marcio AMOROSO International class: 2 times 2001 played abroad [07/01] 2001 Internat. Cl. [12/01] [#5 Forward] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#3 Forward] 2002 not considered [12/02] 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/04] 2004 played abroad [12/04] Hendrik ANDERSEN International class: 1 time A very good passer with a strong left foot who could be used in left midfield or as a left back. After breaking his patella in 1992 he was never the same player. 1990 not considered 1991 not considered 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered
Jørn ANDERSEN International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times The Norwegian striker wrote Bundesliga history when he became the first foreigner to be top scorer of the league in 1990. Technically limited yet a staggering presence in the box with a great aerial game and a poacher’s instinct. 1986 played abroad [07/86] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#5 Foreign player] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 not considered 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#4 Forward] 1990 Internat. Cl. [07/90] [#4 Forward] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 played abroad [12/95] Patrik ANDERSSON International class: 6 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 3 times The Swedish center back was at his best playing in a flat back four. Not the paciest player, he made up for that with his good reading of the game and positioning. Very good at heading and strong-willed. 1993 played abroad [07/93] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#3 Marker] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#2 Marker] 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#1 Marker] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#3 Marker] 1996 Internat. Cl. [07/96] [#3 Marker] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#4 Marker] 1997 broad circle [07/97] [#7 Marker] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Marker] 1998 considered_ [12/98] [Libero] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Libero] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#13 Defender] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#7 Defender] 2001 Internat. Cl. [07/01] [#1 Libero] 2001 played abroad [12/01] Juan ARANGO International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 1 time 2009 play abroad [07/09] 2009 considered_ [12/09] [Offensive Lateral] 2010 not considered 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 broad circle [12/11] [#5 Offensive Lateral] 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#5 Offensive Lateral] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#6 Offensive Lateral] 2013 not considered [07/13] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#11 Offensive Lateral] 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 played abroad [12/14] Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time 2013 played abroad [07/13] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#7 Offensive Lateral] 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#4 Forward] Klaus AUGENTHALER International class: 6 times Broad circle: 12 times Considered: 7 times As a junior player Augenthaler was quite a talent at playmaking however when he joined Bayern in 1975, he was initially only sporadically used as a defensive midfielder. After Franz Beckenbauer left Bayern in 1977, the long-time stopper Schwarzenbeck became the libero and Augenthaler gradually occupied the vacant role of the stopper. In this new role Augenthaler became an uncompromising man-marker with a quick temper which caused many a booking. By 1982 the libero position at Bayern was vacant again and Pal Csernai decided to give Augenthaler a chance in this important role. As a libero, Augenthaler became the decisive player at Bayern, very capable at buildup, spraying long, precise passes from a deep position, moving forward and often looking to complete a move with his very strong and hard shooting. Drawbacks were his lack of pace and sometimes a habit of losing concentration. 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Stopper] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Stopper] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#4 Stopper] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#3 Stopper] 1980 Internat. Cl. [12/80] [#4 Stopper] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#2 Stopper] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Stopper] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Stopper] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#3 Libero] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#5 Libero] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#6 Libero] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#5 Libero] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Libero] 1985 Internat. Cl. [07/85] [#2 Libero] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#1 Libero] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#2 Libero] 1986 Internat. Cl. [12/86] [#2 Libero] 1987 Internat. Cl. [07/87] [#2 Libero] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#5 Libero] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#3 Libero] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#1 Libero] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#5 Libero] 1990 Internat. Cl. [07/90] [#1 Libero] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Libero] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Libero] Renato AUGUSTO International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times 2008 played abroad [07/08] 2008 Internat. Cl. [12/08] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 played abroad [12/12] Raimond AUMANN International class: 5 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 2 times A highly-talented yet not remarkably tall goalkeeper with very quick reflexes. Very strong on the goalline, not so much at leaving his goal. At Bayern, Aumann spent many years as the back-up of Jean-Marie Pfaff. 1983 not considered 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1985 not considered [12/85] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 Internat. Cl. [12/88] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1990 Internat. Cl. [07/90] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Goalkeeper] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#10 Goalkeeper] 1993 broad circle [07/93] #11 Goalkeeper] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Goalkeeper] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#3 German abroad] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#3 German abroad] Horst ASSMY International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 3 times A fast and rascal-like outside right, the East German fled his country in 1959. He couldn’t quite meet the high expectations people had in the West. 1955 not considered [East G.] 1956 not considered [East G.] 1957 not considered [East G.] 1958 not considered [East G.] 1959 not considered [East G.] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#2 Outside Right] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#2 Outside Right] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Outside Right] 1962 not considered 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Outside Right] 1963 not considered [12/63] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Inside Forward] 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 not considered [07/65] Markus BABBEL International class: 3 times Broad circle: 10 times Considered: 6 times Babbel oscillated between right back and man-marker during most of his time in Germany, reliable in both roles. His strength was clearly the defense. Very good aerial game and a sound technique for a defender. 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Marker] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Marker] 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Marker] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#3 Marker] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#3 Marker] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#5 Marker] 1996 considered_ [12/96] [Marker] 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Marker] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#8 Marker] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#10 Marker] 1998 Internat. Cl. [12/98] [#2 Defender] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#4 Defender] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#3 Defender] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#10 Defender] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#3 German abroad] 2001 Internat. Cl. [07/01] [#1 German abroad] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 not considered 2003 not considered [07/03] 2003 broad circle [12/03] [#3 German abroad] 2004 considered_ [07/04] [Central Defender] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#11 Central Defender] 2005 not considered 2006 not considered [07/06] Holger BADSTUBER International class: 2 times Considered: 4 times 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 considered_ [12/09] [Central Defender] 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Defensive Lateral] 2010 considered_ [12/10] [Central Defender] 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 Internat. Cl. [12/11] [#1 Central Defender] 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#2 Central Defender] 2012 considered_ [12/12] [Defensive Lateral] 2013 not considered 2014 not considered
Joachim BÄSE International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 11 times Started out as a left back with good technique, then a defensive midfielder and by the mid-1960s he had evolved into a libero at Braunschweig, a team he captained to the German championship in 1967. At that time, he was considered by many as the second-best libero in Germany behind Beckenbauer. Similar to Beckenbauer, Bäse wasn’t content with playing as a defensive sweeper, he saw his role more like that of a withdrawn playmaker initiating attacks from the center of defense. 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 not considered 1961 not considered 1962 not considered 1963 not considered [07/63] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Half Back] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Half Back] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Half Back] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#14 Half Back] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Half Back] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Central Defender] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Central Defender] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#6 Central Defender] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#5 Central Defender] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#7 Central Defender] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#6 Central Defender] 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Central Defender] 1970 not considered 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Libero] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Libero] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Libero] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered [07/73] Krassimir BALAKOV World class: 1 time International class: 3 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 6 times 1995 played abroad [07/95] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#2 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#11 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#2 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 Internat. Cl. [07/97] [#2 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 World Class [12/97] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#10 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Offensive Midfielder] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Offensive Midfielder] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Offensive Midfielder] 2001 considered_ [12/01] [Offensive Midfielder] 2002 considered_ [07/02][Offensive Midfielder] 2002 considered_ [12/02][Offensive Midfielder] 2003 broad circle [07/03] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] Michael BALLACK World class: 1 time International class: 11 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 1 time 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered [07/98] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Defensive Midfielder] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 2000 Internat. Cl. [12/00] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2001 not considered [07/01] 2001 Internat. Cl. [12/01] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2002 World Class [07/02] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2002 Internat. Cl. [12/02] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2003 Internat. Cl. [07/03] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2003 broad circle [12/03] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2004 Internat. Cl. [07/04] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2004 Internat. Cl. [12/04] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2005 Internat. Cl. [07/05] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2005 Internat. Cl. [12/05] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 2006 Internat. Cl. [07/06] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2006 broad circle [12/06] [#3 German abroad] 2007 broad circle [07/07] [#3 German abroad] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 Internat. Cl. [07/08] [#1 German abroad] 2008 broad circle [12/08] [#1 German abroad] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#2 German abroad] 2009 Internat. Cl. [12/09] [#1 German abroad] 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#1 German abroad] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] Sergej BARBAREZ International class: 1 time Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 5 times 1992 played abroad [07/92] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 2000 not considered [12/01] 2001 Internat. Cl. [07/01] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 broad circle [07/02] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 2002 considered_ [12/02][Forward] 2003 considered_ [07/03] [Offensive Lateral] 2003 broad circle [12/03] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 2004 considered_ [07/04] [Offensive Midfielder] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 2005 not considered [07/05] 2005 broad circle [12/05] [#4 Forward] 2006 considered_ [07/06] [Forward] 2006 considered_ [12/06] [Forward] 2007 not considered [07/07] 2007 broad circle [12/07] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 2008 not considered [07/08] Lucas BARRIOS International class: 4 times 2009 played abroad [07/09] 2009 Internat. Cl. [12/09] [#6 Forward] 2010 Internat. Cl. [07/10] [#6 Forward] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#4 Forward] 2011 Internat. Cl. [07/11] [#2 Forward] 2011 not considered [12/11] 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 played abroad [12/12] Mario BASLER International class: 4 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 8 times A brilliant individualist with a work ethic not up to par with his talent. This lack of sobriety may have cost him a truly great career. 30 caps for a player of his talent are not that much. His strength was his right foot which he utilised very well for his precise crosses and passes. Defensively he was less than average though. 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 not considered 1989 not considered 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Defensive Midfielder] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Offensive Midfielder] 1991 not considered 1992 considered_ [07/92] [Offensive Midfielder] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Wide Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#2 Wide Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#1 Wide Midfielder] 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#1 Wide Midfielder] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#5 Wide Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#2 Wide Midfielder] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 broad circle [07/97] [#5 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#2 Lateral] 1998 not considered [07/98] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#4 Lateral] 1999 Internat. Cl. [07/99] [#5 Forward] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Defensive Midfielder] 2001 considered_ [12/01] [Offensive Lateral] 2002 not considered 2003 not considered [07/03] Yıldıray BAŞTÜRK International class: 3 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 3 times 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 not considered 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Offensive Midfielder] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Offensive Midfielder] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 broad circle [07/01] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2002 Internat. Cl. [12/02] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 2003 not considered 2004 not considered 2005 Internat. Cl. [Offensive Midfielder] 2005 considered_ [12/05] [Offensive Midfielder] 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 2006 not considered [12/06] 2007 not considered 2008 not considered 2009 not considered 2010 not considered [07/10] Dieter BAST International class: 4 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 14 times A commanding playmaker with a very good technique who was often on the cusp of the German national team but in the end there were always a number of players better than him standing in his way. His big drawback was a lack of pace, which caused him to move back from midfield to central defense where he became one of the Bundesliga’s finest liberos. With Beckenbauer as his rolemodel, he was convincing as conductor and leader from the back. 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 not considered 1972 not considered 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Central Forward] 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 not considered [07/74] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Midfielder] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Outside Right] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Outside Right] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#3 Outside Right] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#11 Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#17 Midfielder] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Midfielder] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Midfielder] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Midfielder] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#15 Libero] 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Libero] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#4 Libero] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#3 Libero] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#4 Libero] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#7 Libero] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#2 Libero] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#2 Libero] 1983 Internat. Cl. [12/83] [#4 Libero] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#4 Libero] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Libero] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Libero] 1985 not considered [12/85] 1986 not considered 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Libero] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Libero] 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Libero] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Libero] 1989 not considered [07/89] Lars BASTRUP International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 1 time 1975 played abroad [07/75] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 not considered 1977 played abroad 1978 played abroad 1979 played abroad 1980 played abroad 1981 played abroad [07/81] 1981 Internat. Cl. [12/81] [#2 Foreign player] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#7 Foreign player] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#6 Foreign player] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Foreign Player] 1983 played abroad [12/83] José BASUALDO International class: 2 times An offensive midfielder who lived on his fine technique and lightfootedness, more of a provider than an executor. Basualdo was not an absolute top player, not a playmaker but an industrious, intelligent midfielder who was hard to contain. 1989 Played abroad [07/89] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 Internat. Cl. [07/90] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 played abroad [12/91]
Franz BECKENBAUER World class: 27 times International class: 7 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 3 times Germany’s greatest ever player. Renown for inventing the attacking libero, Beckenbauer started his professional career as an outside left, then was withdrawn to the left side of defense where he didn’t stay long as his value as a central player soon became obvious to his manager, the former Yugoslavian World Class player Zlatko Cajkovski. Inspired by the Italian attacking full back Giacinto Facchetti, Beckenbauer soon dropped back to the center of the Bayern defense from where he had the best overview of the pitch in order to initiate his thrusts deep into the opposing half of the pitch. The tactical development of the mid-1960s suited him very well, as the change from the WM-System to the 4-2-4 introduced a fourth, “free” defender who did not have to mark a forward but who was intended to sweep behind the three man-marking defenders. Using this new freedom to the maximum, Beckenbauer became a sensation in German football in the mid-1960s since such elegant and technical players were not known to be playing in defense. Franz Beckenbauer started to play for Bayern Munich in 1958 at the age of 12. Already at this early stage he possessed his later trademarks of lightfootedness, playful elements and creativity to such a degree that he was soon selected to play for the German Youth team. Due to his maturity his way from the youth team to the seniors went smoothly. In 1964-65, Beckenbauer had to play his first professional year with the senior team in the regional Southern German league, where he played in 31 of 36 matches and scored 16 goals. He soon moved back from an inside forward position to central midfield, and almost instantly became the crucial player in Bayern`s aspiring team of hopefuls and seasoned players. During the next years, Beckenbauer perfected his interpretation of the “libero” role, the attacking sweeper, which was previously interpreted by players like Jonquet or Santamaria. Through Beckenbauer`s interpretation, the sweeper position reached a whole new dimension, for his interpretation was genuine and near to perfection. Beckenbauer changed the picture most people had of German football, from fighting, ruthless, rigid physical style to a more playful, creative, finesse style by interjecting his own elegant way of play, coupled with superior technical skills. With his well-timed, incredibly accurate long and short range passes (usually played with the outside of his right foot), and his overall elegant, seemingly effortless way of playing, Beckenbauer was a new sort of defender, a number 10 playing in central defense. 1963 not considered 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Half Back] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Center Half] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#4 Center Half] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#3 Half Back] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#3 Center Half] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#2 Half Back] 1966 World Class [07/66] [#1 Midfielder] 1966 Internat. Cl. [07/66] [#3 Central Defender] 1966 World Class [12/66] [#1 Midfielder] 1966 Internat. Cl. [12/66] [#3 Central Defender] 1967 World Class [07/67] [#1 Midfielder] 1967 World Class [07/67] [#1 Central Defender] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#2 Midfielder] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#3 Central Defender] 1968 World Class [07/68] [#1 Midfielder] 1968 World Class [07/68] [#1 Central Defender] 1968 World Class [12/68] [#1 Midfielder] 1968 World Class [12/68] [#1 Central Defender] 1969 World Class [07/69] [#1 Midfielder] 1969 World Class [07/69] [#1 Central Defender] 1969 World Class [12/69] [#1 Central Defender] 1970 World Class [07/70] [#1 Midfielder] 1970 World Class [07/70] [#1 Central Defender] 1970 World Class [12/70] [#1 Midfielder] 1970 World Class [12/70] [#1 Central Defender] 1971 World Class [07/71] [#1 Libero] 1971 World Class [12/71] [#1 Libero] 1972 World Class [07/72] [#1 Libero] 1972 World Class [12/72] [#1 Libero] 1973 World Class [07/73] [#1 Libero] 1973 Internat. Cl. [12/73] [#1 Libero] 1974 World Class [07/74] [#1 Libero] 1974 World Class [12/74] [#1 Libero] 1975 World Class [07/75] [#1 Libero] 1975 World Class [12/75] [#1 Libero] 1976 World Class [07/76] [#1 Libero] 1976 World Class [12/76] [#1 Libero] 1977 World Class [07/77] [#1 Libero] 1977 Played abroad [12/77] 1978 played abroad 1979 played abroad 1980 played abroad [07/80] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#7 Libero] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#2 Libero] 1982 not considered [07/82] 1982 Played abroad [12/82] 1983 played abroad [07/83] Erich BEER International class: 6 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 9 times A playmaker whose unusual attribute was his high work ethic, very industrious and a capable tackler who possessed a hard-hitting shooting technique which made him a frequent scorer of goals. What he lacked to become a great international player was pace and a really good technique. His peak years were between 1975 and 1978 when he was a starting player for the German national team. 1966 not considered [12/66] 1967 not considered 1968 not considered 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Central Forward] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Central Forward] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#12 Midfielder] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Midfielder] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Midfielder] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#10 Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Midfielder] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Midfielder] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#8 Midfielder] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#4 Midfielder] 1975 Internat. Cl. [12/75] [#3 Midfielder] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#3 Midfielder] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#3 Midfielder] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#3 Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#9 Midfielder] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#8 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#7 Midfielder] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#3 Midfielder] 1979 Played abroad [12/79] 1980 played abroad 1981 played abroad [07/81] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered 1984 not considered [07/84] Uwe BEIN International class: 9 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 9 times In German football, Uwe Bein’s through balls are regarded as the culmination of this fine art of playmaking. His sense for the perfect and ideal lowpass into the gap of a defense was unrivalled in German football. What he lacked was consistency, a more commanding presence and pace. When he was feeling well, he was a playmaker who saw his main function as a provider, not as someone who would marshall his team. When he was entering the box he was also an able finisher. Of course a player like him also was a keen and able freekick-taker. As a player he was a bit dreamy and quite dependant on his mood. 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 not considered [07/80] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Midfielder] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Midfielder] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Offensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Offensive Midfielder] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 not considered 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 Internat. Cl. [12/88] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 Internat. Cl. [07/90] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1991 Internat. Cl. [07/91] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#2 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#4 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#6 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 broad circle [07/94] [#12 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#5 German abroad] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#4 German abroad] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#3 German abroad] 1996 considered_ [12/96] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 not considered [07/97] Stefan BEINLICH International class: 1 time Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 9 times 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#6 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#8 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 considered_ [12/96] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 broad circle [07/97] [#13 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#14 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Offensive Midfielder] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Offensive Midfielder] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 2000 Internat. Cl. [07/00] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Defensive Midfielder] 2001 not considered 2002 broad circle [07/02] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 2002 not considered [12/02] 2003 considered_ [07/03] [Defensive Midfielder] 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 not considered [07/04] 2004 considered_ [12/04] [Offensive Midfielder] 2005 considered_ [07/05] [Offensive Midfielder] 2005 broad circle [12/05] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2006 not considered 2007 not considered 2008 not considered [07/08] Karim BELLARABI International class: 1 time Considered: 1 time 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 not considered 2012 not considered 2013 not considered [07/13] 2013 considered_ [12/13] [Offensive Lateral] 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#3 Offensive Lateral] Michael BELLA Broad circle: 11 times Considered: 7 times A ruthless full back who relished the combative aspects of the game. A driving force of his club MSV Duisburg, he was a very consistent player that rarely missed a game in 13 years of professional football. In the early-1970s he was also knocking on the door of the German national team, earned four caps and was a member of the 1972 European Championship-winning side. His bad luck was that at his position, full backs like Berti Vogts, Paul Breitner and later his teammate Bernard Dietz were obstacles that he couldn’t move out of his way. 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 not considered 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Central Defender] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#6 Central Defender] 1967 not considered [07/67] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Full Back] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Central Defender] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#5 Full Back] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#4 Full Back] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#4 Full Back] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#4 Full Back] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#8 Central Defender] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#4 Full Back] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#3 Full Back] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#5 Full Back] 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#4 Full Back] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#4 Full Back] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Full Back] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Full Back] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Stopper] 1974 not considered [07/74] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Stopper] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered 1977 not considered 1978 not considered 1979 not considered [07/79] Diego BENAGLIO International class: 2 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 3 times 2002 not considered [12/02] 2003 not considered 2004 not considered 2005 not considered [07/05] 2005 played abroad [12/05] 2006 played abroad 2007 played abroad 2008 Internat. Cl. [07/08] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2008 considered_ [12/08] [Goalkeeper] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Goalkeeper] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 broad circle [12/11] [#10 Goalkeeper] 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#10 Goalkeeper] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#8 Goalkeeper] 2014 considered_ [07/14] [Goalkeeper] 2014 broad circle [12/14] [#6 Goalkeeper] Lars BENDER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 1 time 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 not considered 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 Internat. Cl. [12/11] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 2013 considered_ [12/13] [Defensive Midfielder] 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 broad circle [12/14] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] Sven BENDER International class: 3 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 1 time 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Defensive Midfielder] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2011 Internat. Cl. [12/11] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2012 not considered 2013 Internat. Cl. [07/13] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 broad circle [12/14] [#13 Defensive Midfielder] Helmut BENTHAUS International class: 4 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 4 times This defensive midfielder was renowned at his time for his good reading of the game, excellent diagonal and low passes. As an elegant half back he would also often be seen joining his team’s attacks. Benthaus was an intellectual who was interested in arts and literature and later became a successful manager. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 not considered 1957 not considered 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#4 Half Back] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#3 Half Back] 1959 Internat. Cl. [12/59] [#2 Half Back] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#3 Half Back] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#6 Half Back] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Half Back] 1962 not considered 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Half Back] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Half Back] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Half Back] 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 not considered [07/65]
Dimitar BERBATOV International class: 4 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 1 time 2001 played abroad [07/01] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 broad circle [07/02] [#15 Forward] 2002 not considered [12/02] 2003 not considered [07/03] 2003 broad circle [12/03] [#16 Forward] 2004 Internat. Cl. [07/04] [#3 Forward] 2004 Internat. Cl. [12/04] [#3 Forward] 2005 Internat. Cl. [07/05] [#3 Forward] 2005 considered_ [12/05] [Forward] 2006 Internat. Cl. [07/06] [#3 Forward] 2006 played abroad [12/06] Günter BERNARD International class: 2 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 12 times A goalkeeper of relatively small stature who made this more than up with his great reflexes and his commanding presence. 1958 not considered 1959 not considered 1960 considered_ [1960] [Goalkeeper] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Goalkeeper] 1964 not considered [07/64] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Goalkeeper] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1965 broad circle [12/65] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1966 Internat. Cl. [07/66] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1967 not considered [07/67] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Goalkeeper] 1968 Internat. Cl. [07/68] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Goalkeeper] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Goalkeeper] 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Goalkeeper] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Goalkeeper] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Goalkeeper] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Goalkeeper] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Goalkeeper] Thomas BERTHOLD International class: 4 times Broad circle: 10 times Considered: 9 times A quite talented defender who started out as a right back, then became a wing back and later settled as a man-marker. Berthold was already a starting player at Frankfurt aged 18. Many thought that he might be able to emulate Beckenbauer but these assumptions were premature. His strengths were high pace and an aerial and overall physical presence. He also had a certain elegance in his movements but he was not as technically sound as one might have expected. Unfortunately one of his traits was a certain arrogance which might also have hindered his rising to the very top of his profession. 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered [07/83] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Libero] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Full Back] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#5 Libero] 1985 Internat. Cl. [07/85] [#2 Full Back] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Offensive Midfielder] 1986 Internat. Cl. [07/86] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#6 Libero] 1987 not considered [07/87] 1987 played abroad [12/87] 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 played abroad [12/88] 1989 played abroad 1990 Internat. Cl. [07/90] [#2 Defender] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#9 German abroad] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#7 German abroad] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Defensive Midfielder] 1992 not considered 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#4 Marker] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#4 Marker] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#9 Marker] 1995 not considered 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#7 Marker] 1997 broad circle [07/97] [#6 Marker] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#6 Marker] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#5 Marker] 1998 considered_ [12/98] [Marker] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Defender] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Libero] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Defender] Oliver BIERHOFF World class: 2 times International class: 7 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 4 times As a traditional center forward who was very dependant on being fed from the flanks Bierhoff was a towering, commanding presence in the box who could sidestep his technical limitations due to his powerful aerial abilities. Coming from a wealthy background he was well-read and very articulate, which meant that he was never a darling of the crowds. 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered 1988 not considered 1989 not considered 1990 not considered [07/90] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#12 German abroad] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#8 German abroad] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#1 German abroad] 1996 Internat. Cl. [07/96] [#2 Forward] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#3 German abroad] 1997 Internat. Cl. [07/97] [#3 German abroad] 1997 World Class [12/97] [#2 German abroad] 1998 World Class [07/98] [#1 Forward] 1998 Internat. Cl. [12/98] [#2 German abroad] 1999 Internat. Cl. [07/99] [#3 German abroad] 1999 Internat. Cl. [12/99] [#2 German abroad] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#7 Forward] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#11 German abroad] 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Forward] 2001 considered_ [12/01] [Forward] 2002 considered_ [07/02] [Forward] 2002 considered_ [12/02] [Forward] 2003 not considered [07/03] Ulrich BIESINGER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 10 times Biesinger’s claim to fame might have been that he became a World Champion without having played a full international game up to that point. As a center forward Biesinger distinguished himself with his pretty good ball control which he topped off with a powerful shooting technique. 1955 considered [12/55] [#6 Inside Forward] 1955 considered [12/55] [#4 Center Forward] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#1 Center Forward] 1956 broad circle [12/56] [#3 Center Forward] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#8 Inside Forward] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#2 Center Forward] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#2 Center Forward] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Center Forward] 1959 considered_ [12/59] [Center Forward] 1960 not considered [1960] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Center Forward] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Center Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Center Forward] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Center Forward] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Center Forward] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Center Forward] 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 not considered 1966 not considered [07/66] Manfred BINZ International class: 2 times Broad circle: 10 times Considered: 4 times A playermaker by trade, he became one of the best liberos of the Bundesliga in the late-1980s who possessed a very sound technique and strategic qualities but also a phlegmatic nature. He was the successor to Klaus Augenthaler as standard libero of the German national team in the early-1990s. After a poor 1992 Euro, where he was dropped in the middle of the tournament, he was never again capped, but continued to be a vital player for Eintracht Frankfurt. 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 not considered [07/87] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#5 Libero] 1988 broad circle [97/88] [#4 Libero] 1988 not considered [12/88] 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#3 Libero] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#3 Libero] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#2 Libero] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#3 Libero] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#1 Libero] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#4 Libero] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#4 Libero] 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Libero] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Libero] 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#4 Libero] 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Libero] 1995 broad circle [12/95 [#6 Libero] 1996 not considered 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#3 German abroad] 1998 not considered 1999 not considered 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Libero] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered [07/03] Ulrich BITTCHER A dynamic wide midfielder with proper technique who was adept at crossing. Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 8 times 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 not considered 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Midfielder] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Midfielder] 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#14 Midfielder] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Midfielder] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Midfielder] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#17 Midfielder] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#8 Midfielder] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 not considered 1985 not considered 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered [07/87] Ole BJØRNMOSE Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 5 times A rock solid midfielder with great stamina and endurance who also was a goalscoring threat with his shooting from outside the box. Hardly missing a game between 1967 and 1977 for Werder Bremen and Hamburg, he was the foreign player with the highest number of Bundesliga games between 1977 and 2008 when he was finally overtaken by Sergej Barbarez. 1966 played abroad [07/66] 1966 not assessed [12/66] 1967 not assessed 1968 not assessed 1969 not assessed 1970 not assessed [07/70] 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Foreign Player] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#6 Foreign player] 1972 not considered 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#4 Foreign player] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Foreign Player] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Foreign Player] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#7 Foreign player] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Foreign Player] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#6 Foreign player] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#7 Foreign player] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Foreign Player] 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 played abroad [12/77] Rolf BLAU Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 4 times An untiring, relentlessly running midfield worker with a good technique and a capable scorer. 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered 1973 not considered 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Midfielder] 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Midfielder] 1978 not considered 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#10 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#24 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#9 Midfielder] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#22 Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Offensive Midfielder] Jakub BŁASZCZYKOWSKI International class: 3 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 2 times 2007 played abroad [07/07] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered [07/08] 2008 broad circle [12/08] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 considered_ [12/09] [Offensive Lateral] 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 considered_ [12/10] [Offensive Lateral] 2011 not considered 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2013 Internat. Cl. [07/13] [#5 Offensive Lateral] 2013 not considered [12/13] 2014 not considered
Jérôme BOATENG World class: 1 time International class: 3 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 4 times 2007 considered_ [12/07] [Defensive Lateral] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 considered_ [12/09] [Central Defender] 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Defensive Lateral] 2010 considered_ [12/10] [Central Defender] 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 broad circle [12/11] [#7 Central Defender] 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#6 Central Defender] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#10 Central Defender] 2013 Internat. Cl. [07/13] [#1 Central Defender] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#1 Central Defender] 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#2 Central Defender] 2014 World Class [12/14] [#1 Central Defender] Fredi BOBIC International class: 2 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 6 times 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Forward] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Forward] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Forward] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#10 Forward] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#5 Forward] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#9 Forward] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#4 Forward] 1997 Internat. Cl. [07/97] [#4 Forward] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#4 Forward] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#9 Forward] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Forward] 2000 not considered 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Forward] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 considered_ [07/02][Forward] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#6 Forward] 2003 broad circle [07/03] [#9 Forward] 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 not considered 2005 not considered 2006 not considered [07/06] Manfred BOCKENFELD International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 9 times A tall and lean industrious player, began as right-sided midfielder then an offensive right back and later again a midfielder. A technically strong and elegant player who was known for his good crossing ability and a threat at set pieces due to his height. The competition in his positions was too strong for him to manage more than one international game for Germany. 1980 not considered [07/80] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Midfielder] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Midfielder] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered [07/82] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Full Back] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Full Back] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#1 Full Back] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Full Back] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defensive Midfielder] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Defensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Offensive Midfielder] 1988 not considered [12/88] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 not considered 1991 not considered 1992 considered_ [07/92] [Defensive Midfielder] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered [07/94] Srečko BOGDAN Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 5 times Renowned as chief of the Karlsruhe defense after he had been vital for Dinamo Zagreb for nine years, Bogdan was a firm header of the ball and captain of his team. 1985 played abroad [07/85] 1985 not considered [12/85] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Foreign Player] 1986 not assessed [12/86] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Foreign Player] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#7 Foreign player] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#7 Foreign player] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#6 Libero] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#5 Libero] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#8 Libero] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#7 Libero] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Libero] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Libero] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Libero] 1992 not considered 1993 not considered [07/93] Rudolf BOMMER Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 14 times A tall, dynamic right-footed sprinter in midfield with great pace and good finishing skills in and around the box and a good aerial ability. Not a midfield strategist but an emotional “give me the ball let me do something” type of player. Was a bit unlucky that he never played for a top club, which limited his exploits and his standing. 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Midfielder] 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Midfielder] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Midfielder] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1984 not considered [12/84] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Offensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 not considered [07/87] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Defensive Midfielder] 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Offensive Midfielder] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Offensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 not considered 1991 not considered 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Wide Midfielder] 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 considered_ [12/96] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1997 not considered [07/97] Hans BONGARTZ International class: 2 times Broad circle: 12 times Considered: 7 times Hannes Bongartz was one of the last classic playmakers of the Bundesliga. Throughout his career he was likened to Günter Netzer, or at least seen as the one player that could resemble Netzer the most. Ultimately though “Beanpole”, as he was nicknamed, was too frail to meet this expectation. Apart from that, Bongartz possessed all the required abilities of a playmaker: lightfootedness, well-balanced movement (which he attributed to his time as a trick cyclist in his youth), a brilliant technique, a wonderful feeling for well-weighted long range passes and dangerous freekicking. In Kaiserslautern, he was considered to be the technically best midfield player since Fritz Walter 30 years before him. 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Midfielder] 1971 not considered 1972 not considered 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Midfielder] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Midfielder] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Midfielder] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#5 Midfielder] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#6 Midfielder] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#7 Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#7 Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#7 Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#10 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#13 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#5 Midfielder] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#5 Midfielder] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#17 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#10 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#13 Midfielder] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Midfielder] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#10 Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#18 Midfielder] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 not considered [07/84] Rainer BONHOF World class: 1 time International class: 10 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 3 times Bonhof was a very versatile defensive player who excelled as a defensive midfielder, full back and stopper but is most well-known as a right-sided midfielder, which was his standard role when playing for the German national team. Bonhof lived on his dynamism and his willpower which gave him a dominating position in the teams that he played for. His one standout ability was his freekicks and distant shots which he could unleash on his target with an hitherto almost unknown power and precision. For the kind of player he was, his technical ability in passing was above average, often using the outside of his right boot to deliver crosses and passes. 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 not considered 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#4 Full Back] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Full Back] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#5 Full Back] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#5 Full Back] 1974 Internat. Cl. [07/74] [#2 Midfielder] 1974 Internat. Cl. [07/74] [#2 Stopper] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#3 Full back] 1974 Internat. Cl. [12/74] [#2 Midfielder] 1975 Internat. Cl. [07/75] [#2 Full Back] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#4 Full Back] 1976 World Class [07/76] [#1 Midfielder] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#3 Full Back] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#1 Midfielder] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#2 Midfielder] 1977 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#2 Stopper] 1977 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#3 Midfielder] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#2 Midfielder] 1978 Played abroad [12/78] 1979 played abroad 1980 Played abroad [07/80] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Midfielder] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Midfielder] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#7 Midfielder] 1982 not considered 1983 not considered [07/83] Ronald BORCHERS Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 3 times A talented inside forward with a tendency to drift to the right wing to initiate attacks, he looked destined to become an international player for Germany already at 18, 19 years. In the late-1970s he was a candidate to become “the next Uli Hoeness”. He had very good premises: great talent coupled with physicality, pace, above average ball control and technique and an eye for goal scoring opportunities. In the end he was capped six times and a member of the 1982 World Cup squad but for a greater career he probably lacked the necessary professionalism. 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 not considered 1977 not considered 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Outside Right] 1979 not considered 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#16 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#11Midfielder] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#11 Midfielder] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#3 Outside Right] 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 not considered [12/85] 1986 not considered 1987 not considered 1988 not considered 1989 not considered 1990 not considered 1991 not considered 1992 not considered [07/92] Marcelo BORDON International class: 9 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 2 times 1999 played abroad [07/99] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#8 Defender] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 broad circle [07/01] [#6 Defender] 2001 Internat. Cl. [12/01] [#2 Central Defender] 2002 considered_ [07/02][Central Defender] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#7 Central Defender] 2003 broad circle [07/03] [#11 Central Defender] 2003 Internat. Cl. [12/03] [#1 Central Defender] 2004 Internat. Cl. [07/04] [#3 Central Defender] 2004 Internat. Cl. [12/04] [#1 Central Defender] 2005 Internat. Cl. [07/05] [#2 Central Defender] 2005 broad circle [12/05] [#4 Central Defender] 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#3 Central Defender] 2006 broad circle [12/06] [#3 Central Defender] 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#1 Central Defender] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#1 Central Defender] 2008 Internat. Cl. [07/08] [#2 Central Defender] 2008 broad circle [12/08] [#12 Central Defender] 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 Internat. Cl. [12/09] [#3 Central Defender] 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Central Defender] 2010 played abroad [12/10] Aleksandr BORODYUK International class: 1 time Considered: 3 times Started out as a forward who later became a midfielder, equipped with great footballing talent, good touch. Lacking was perseverance, passion and competitive spirit. Twice Soviet top scorer, in Germany he was playing as a midfielder who impressed with his subtle short passes. 1989 played abroad [07/89] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Forward] 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Forward] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Offensive Midfielder] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#3 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 played abroad [12/96]
Ulrich BOROWKA International class: 2 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 11 times Nicknamed ‘the axe’, Borowka had a reputation as one of the hardest men on the pitch. He mostly played as a full back on both sides, but preferred the left back position, and later was also often deployed as a man-marker. As a full back he was a dynamic player with a solid technique and a really hard shot who made a lot of use of his primitive, unspoilt power. 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Defensive Midfielder] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defender] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Defender] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Defender] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#5 Defender] 1987 Internat. Cl. [12/87] [#2 Defender] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#4 Defender] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Defender] 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Defender] 1990 not considered [07/90] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Marker] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Marker] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Marker] 1992 considered_ [07/92] [Marker] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#5 Marker] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#6 Marker] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 not considered 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Marker] 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 not considered 1997 not considered [07/96] Tim BOROWSKI International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 2 times 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 considered_ [07/04] [Offensive Midfielder] 2004 considered_ [12/04] [Offensive Midfielder] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 2005 Internat. Cl. [12/05] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 2006 not considered [12/06] 2007 not considered 2008 broad circle [07/08] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] Rune BRATSETH World class: 3 times International class: 7 times Broad circle: 5 times The tall, athletic Norwegian defender came to Bremen in 1986 where Otto Rehhagel first used him as a man-marker, a position he soon made a name for himself due to his fairness and calm way of going on about his task. However he really started to blossom when he was freed of marking duties in late-1988 when Rehhagel looked for a new libero as the injury-prone Gunnar Sauer needed to be replaced permanently. Rehhagel realized pretty soon that a very intelligent player like Bratseth was somewhat wasted as a marker, and when Sauer missed more and more games the decision was easy. His interpretation of the free role was conservative, more in tradition of a Willi Schulz than a Franz Beckenbauer, owing to Rehhagel’s conservative approach as well as Bratseth’s upbringing as a Scandinavian central defender in a flat back four, where no nonsense mentalities were more common for defenders than in the continental game with its libero tradition. On the pitch Bratseth distinguished himself with his fast acceleration (for his type of player), excellent positioning, great overview, technique and his personality. 1986 not assessed [12/86] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#6 Foreign Player] 1987 Internat. Cl. [12/87] [#1 Foreign Player] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#2 Foreign Player] 1988 World Class [12/88] [#1 Libero] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#3 Libero] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#2 Libero] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#9 Libero] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#3 Marker] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#5 Libero] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#6 Libero] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#1 Libero] 1992 World Class [12/92] [#1 Libero] 1993 World Class [07/93][#1 Libero] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/93] [#2 Libero] 1994 broad circle [07/94] [#5 Libero] Andreas BREHME World class: 1 time International class: 13 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 9 times One of the best and most complete full backs in German football history, gifted with a very good technique and a hard and precise shot, as a youth he was a midfielder, as a young professional he quickly made a name as a full back that would play equally well on both sides of the pitch, due to his absolute two-footedness, albeit with a slight preference of the left foot. One thing he did not have though was pace. He loved to swing in crosses from an inside and outside position, although he could have been better at crossing at high pace, hence he preferred to cross an inactive ball. His left-foot had a more subtle touch while his right had more power. Additionally to his full back duties, throughout his career he frequently was used as a wide midfielder as well as a defensive midfielder. 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Full Back] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Full Back] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Full Back] 1982 not considered 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Defensive Midfielder] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#3 Full Back] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#2 Full Back] 1984 Internat. Cl. [12/84] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1985 Internat. Cl. [07/85] [#1 Full Back] 1985 Internat. Cl. [07/85] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1985 Internat. Cl. [12/85] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 Internat. Cl. [07/86] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Defensive Midfielder] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Defensive Midfielder] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1988 played abroad [12/88] 1989 played abroad 1990 World Class [07/90] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#4 German abroad] 1991 Internat. Cl. [07/91] [#3 German abroad] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#4 German abroad] 1992 Internat. Cl.[07/92] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl.[12/92] [#3 German abroad] 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 Internat. Cl. [12/93] [#1 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 broad circle [07/94] [#5 Wide Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Wide Midfielder] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#4 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#5 Libero] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 considered_ [12/96] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 not considered [07/98] Paul BREITNER World class: 7 times International class: 9 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 1 time One of Germany’s greatest ever players, he joined Bayern at the age of 18 in 1970 and quickly became a starter. In his first season, he was mostly used as a right back or as a midfielder player. In 1971 he filled the spot left vacant by Bayern’s Austrian left back Peter Pumm, who had returned to his home country. Breitner, who in his mind and mentality always saw himself as a midfielder, immediately impressed in this position as a relentlessly attacking full back that possessed every prerequisite needed for that demanding role. Very capable at buildup and passing, when in possession, he often acted as a fourth midfielder in Bayern’s 4-3-3 of the early-70s, who often broke through on the left flank either on his own or in neat 1-2s played with his teammate Gerd Müller. Although right-footed, he was very competent at crossing the ball with his left foot, even in high tempo. For a player of his talent, he had an unusually high work ethic and had created his own fitness program which he imposed on himself already in his teen years and adhered to faithfully in his spare time over the course of his career. Breitner was arguably one of the fittest players of the 1970s. When he joined Real Madrid in 1974 he left his full back position for good and settled as a midfield player for the rest of his career. Next to the classic playmaker Netzer, Breitner became a vital player who committed himself as a dynamic, hard-running “workhorse”, soon leaving the shadow of the ageing superstar Netzer. After three years in Madrid and one year in Braunschweig, Breitner returned to Bayern in 1978 where the successful team of the mid-1970s was slowly falling apart and which – after Beckenbauer had left the club – was desperately looking for a new leader on the pitch. In his last five years as a professional player, Breitner was at the peak of his powers, unanominously considered to be the Bundesliga’s best midfield player of that era. After an inauspicious 1982 World Cup, in his last year Breitner was plagued by injuries and decided to retire at the age of only 31 in 1983. 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Midfielder] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#4 Full Back] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#4 Full Back] 1972 World Class [07/72] [#1 Full Back] 1972 Internat. Cl. [12/72] [#1 Full Back] 1973 Internat. Cl. [07/73] [#1 Full Back] 1973 Internat. Cl. [12/73] [#2 Full Back] 1974 World Class [07/74] [#1 Full Back] 1974 played abroad [12/74] 1975 played abroad 1976 played abroad 1977 played abroad [07/77] 1977 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#4 Midfielder] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#9 Midfielder] 1978 Internat. Cl. [12/78] [#3 Midfielder] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#2 Midfielder] 1979 World Class [12/79] [#1 Midfielder] 1980 World Class [07/80] [#1 Midfielder] 1980 World Class [12/80] [#1 Midfielder] 1981 World Class [07/81] [#1 Midfielder] 1981 Internat. Cl. [12/81] [#1 Midfielder] 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#1 Midfielder] 1982 World Class [12/82] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 1983 not considered [07/83] Dieter BRENNINGER Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 11 times A quick, dangerous outside left who was one of the star players of the newly-emerging Bayern side of the mid-1960s. When he left Bayern in 1971, the left wing was a vacant spot in the Bayern team for many years to come. 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Inside Forward] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Inside Forward] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Inside Forward] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Inside Forward] 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#9 Outside Left] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Outside Left] 1966 broad circle [07/66] [#4 Outside Left] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#6 Outside Left] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Outside Left] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Outside Left] 1968 not considered 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#1 Outside Left] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#4 Outside Left] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#4 Outside Left] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#6 Outside Left] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Outside Left] 1971 played abroad [12/71] 1972 played abroad [07/72] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered [07/73] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Outside Left] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Outside Left] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered 1977 not considered 1978 not considered [07/78] Hans-Peter BRIEGEL World class: 1 time International class: 14 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 1 time At the start of his professional career in 1975 Briegel was a bit of a controversial player for football connaisseurs because he had excelled as a decathlete in his youth and thus was not deemed a proper football player. His physical appearance was clearly that of a decathlete and it didn’t help matters that his moves were looking clumsy to some observers. His true love had always been football though and he had played the sport from his youngest days and didn’t have to learn how to stop and pass a ball at the age of 17 as some ill-natured writers had claimed. Undeservedly, Briegel until this day has a bit of a stigma attached to him as he is used as the prime example for the end of the “golden age” of German football (the 1970s), where technique and ball trickery were allegedly the highest virtues, while with the start of the 1980s power, pace and stamina became the new virtues in German football, of which Briegel was the textbook example. What people forget is that football always had a mixture of all kind of different players and for a player of his size and upbringing, Briegel was actually quite a talented ball player, steadily working on his ball skills. By the early-1980s, he was an all-round complete athletic footballer with great physical presence coupled with sound technical passing and crossing skills in his left foot and a very good aerial ability. In his career Briegel started out as a left winger in his very early Bundesliga days but was subsequently withdrawn to midfield until he settled as a stopper by the late-1970s playing for Kaiserslautern. For Germany he was either deployed in a central defensive midfield position or as a wide midfielder and from 1981 onwards, after left back Bernard Dietz had been dropped by Germany manager Jupp Derwall after opposing the return of Paul Breitner to the national team, the left back position became his permanent place when playing for Germany. 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 not considered 1977 not considered 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Full Back] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#4 Stopper] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#3 Stopper] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#2 Stopper] 1980 Internat. Cl. [07/80] [#2 Stopper] 1980 Internat. Cl. [07/80] [#3 Midfielder] 1980 World Class [12/80] [#1 Stopper] 1980 Internat. Cl. [12/80] [#4 Midfielder] 1981 Internat. Cl. [07/81] [#1 Full Back] 1981 Internat. Cl. [12/81] [#2 Full Back] 1981 Internat. Cl. [12/81] [#2 Stopper] 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#1 Full Back] 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#2 Midfielder] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#2 Full Back] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#3 Stopper] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#4 Stopper] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#1 Full Back] 1984 played abroad [12/84] 1985 played abroad 1986 Internat. Cl. [07/86] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 played abroad [12/86] 1987 played abroad 1988 played abroad [07/88] Albert BRÜLLS International class: 7 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 6 times An inside left with a strong urge to attack centrally but also from the wing who played in Serie A in the 1960s but due to a phlegmatic character didn’t manage a really great career. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 considered_ [07/56] [#26 Inside Forward] 1956 broad circle [12/56] [#9 Inside Forward] 1957 considered_ [07/57] [Inside Forward] 1957 considered_ [12/57] [Center Forward] 1958 considered_ [1958] [Center Forward] 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#12 Inside Forward] 1959 Internat. Cl. [12/59] [#1 Inside Forward] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#1 Inside Forward] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#1 Inside Forward] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#2 Outside Left] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Outside Right] 1961 Internat. Cl. [12/61] [#1 Inside Forward] 1961 Internat. Cl. [12/61] [#1 Outside Left] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 played abroad [12/62] 1963 played abroad 1964 played abroad 1965 played abroad 1966 Internat. Cl. [07/66] [#1 Outside Right] 1966 played abroad [12/66] 1967 played abroad 1968 played abroad 1969 played abroad 1970 played abroad [07/70] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Central Forward] 1971 not considered 1972 not considered [07/72] Franz BRUNGS International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 12 times A center forward whose biggest asset was his strong heading ability, hence his nickname “golden head”. His most famous game came in December 1963 when he scored three goals in a 5-0 rout of Dortmund against European giants Benfica, four years later he even scored five goals in a 7-3 rout of Nürnberg vs. Bayern. That season, he was vital in Nürnberg winning their last German championship under manager Max Merkel when he scored 25 goals in their 1967-68 campaign. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 not considered 1957 not considered 1958 not considered 1959 not considered 1960 not considered [1960] 1961 not considered [07/61] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Outside Right] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Outside Right] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Outside Right] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Center Forward] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Center Forward] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Center Forward] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#10 Center Forward] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Center Forward] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Central Forward] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Central Forward] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Central Forward] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#3 Central Forward] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#6 Central Forward] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Central Forward] 1969 not considered 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Central Forward] 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 not considered 1972 not considered [07/72] Rudolf BRUNNENMEIER International class: 2 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 5 times A legendary center forward in the lore of TSV 1860 München, already in his first season as a 20 year old Brunnenmeier became top scorer of the Oberliga South in 1961 and two years later his goals assured that TSV 1860 would be a founding member of the newly-established Bundesliga. Brunnenmeier was a mobile forward who was also very good as a winger. On the outside he was a physical and tough looking player but inside he was a sensitive and unstable character who found it hard to cope with the fame football brought. 1960 considered_ [1960] [Center Forward] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Center Forward] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Center Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Center Forward] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#5 Center Forward] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#2 Center Forward] 1964 broad circle [07/64] [#3 Center Forward] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#3 Center Forward] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#1 Outside Right] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#2 Center Forward] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#1 Outside Right] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#2 Center Forward] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#1 Outside Right] 1966 broad circle [07/66] [#3 Central Forward] 1966 not considered [12/66] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Central Forward] 1967 not considered [12/67] 1968 not considered 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 played abroad [12/69] 1970 played abroad 1971 played abroad 1972 played abroad 1973 played abroad [07/73]
Hans-Günter BRUNS International class: 3 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 10 times A technically superb left-footed player who originally was a dominant player in midfield, not quite in the vein of a playmaker though. Bruns received most fame for his displays as an attacking libero. 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 not considered 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Libero] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Libero] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Libero] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Midfielder] 1979 not considered 1980 not considered 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#5 Libero] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#2 Libero] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#2 Libero] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#3 Libero] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#4 Libero] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#7 Libero] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Libero] 1987 Internat. Cl. [07/87] [#3 Libero] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Libero] 1988 not considered 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#6 Libero] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Defensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered [07/90] Delron BUCKLEY International class: 1 time Considered: 2 times 1995 played abroad [07/95] 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Forward] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/04] 2004 Internat. Cl. [12/04] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2005 considered_ [07/05] [Offensive Lateral] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 not considered 2007 not considered 2008 not considered 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 played abroad [12/09] 2010 played abroad [07/10] 2010 no club [12/10] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 played abroad [12/12] Guido BUCHWALD Word class: 1 time International class: 12 times Broad circle: 12 times Considered: 10 times A tall, powerful man-marker by nature with aerial prowess and hard-tackling ways, Buchwald was utilized by his club Stuttgart mainly as a defensive midfielder in the 1980s since the man-marking jobs were dealt with by Karlheinz Förster and Günther Schäfer. By the early-1990s Buchwald – now a player that was used in all defensive positions, even that of sweeper - had become the all-commanding presence in the Stuttgart team, forming a vital tandem with Matthias Sammer in the 1991-92 Bundesliga championship winning campaign. 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 not considered 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Midfielder] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Stopper] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Stopper] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Defensive Midfielder] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#1 Defender] 1987 Internat. Cl. [07/87] [#2 Defender] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Defender] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#3 Defender] 1988 Internat. Cl. [12/88] [#2 Defender] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#2 Defender] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#1 Defender] 1990 World Class [07/90] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#2 Marker] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#2 Marker] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#1 Marker] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#3 Marker] 1993 Internat. Cl. [12/93] [#3 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#2 Marker] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#4 German abroad] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#4 German abroad] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#3 German abroad] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#2 German abroad] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#4 German abroad] 1997 broad circle [07/97] [#4 German abroad] 1997 considered_ [12/97] [Libero] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#9 Libero] 1998 considered_ [12/98] [Libero] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Libero] Ivan BULJAN International class: 2 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 3 times The Yugoslavian international proved to be a technically superb stopper and full back who also was highly dangerous at set-pieces due to his aerial expertise. Buljan was a good reader of the game with lots of stamina, which allowed his managers to use him as a defensive midfielder as well. 1977 played abroad [07/77] 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Foreign Player] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Foreign Player] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#2 Foreign player] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#3 Foreign player] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#7 Foreign player] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Foreign Player] 1981 played abroad [12/81] Dieter BURDENSKI International class: 8 times Broad circle: 17 times Considered: 5 times For roughly fifteen years, Dieter Burdenski’s reputation was almost always that of one of German’s absolute top goalkeepers. Similar to several other fine goalkeepers he was unlucky that at the same time two outstanding goalkeepers in Sepp Maier and Harald Schumacher stood in the way of the German national team. When Sepp Maier had to retire due to a severe car crash in 1979, Burdenski was at first looking to become Maier’s successor, yet after a strong first half of the 1979-80 season, Burdenski began to struggle when his club Werder Bremen was in terrible shape and relegated at the end of that season. For Burdenski, this came at the most unsuitable time, in his place Harald Schumacher seized the opportunity. 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 not considered [06/71] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered [07/73] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Goalkeeper] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1977 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1978 Internat. Cl. [12/78] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#9 Goalkeeper] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Goalkeeper] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Goalkeeper] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Goalkeeper] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1983 Internat. Cl. [12/83] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#9 Goalkeeper] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Goalkeeper] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 not considered [07/88] Manfred BURGSMÜLLER International class: 6 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 15 times For his time, the streetwise Burgsmüller was a rare type of player in the Bundesliga, a hybrid between a striker and a midfielder who was difficult to classify. Always a great goalscorer, he was often found playing in a deep midfield position, often right in front of his defense where he did like to pick up the ball. Burgsmüller cherished the time on the ball hence he preferred to drop deep into midfield as he wouldn’t get too much time on the ball as a striker. On the ball, Burgsmüller demonstrated a high standard of ball control which allowed him to pass by defenders quite easily. In front of the goal he was a lethal finisher, great at volleying the ball and despite his small stature he was also a capable header of the ball. His specialty was sneaking into the box almost unnoticed, blessed with a real poacher’s instinct. Additionally to his finishing ability he also was a good provider for other players. What might have hindered his career in the national team was his reputation of being a “troublemaker”. Regardless, it is a bit of scandal that a player of this quality only made three international appearances. 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 not considered 1971 not considered [07/71] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Central Forward] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Central Forward] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Central Forward] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Central Forward] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Central Forward] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Central Forward] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#7 Central Forward] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Central Forward] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Central Forward] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#10 Midfielder] 1977 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#5 Midfielder] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#10 Midfielder] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Central Forward] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#3 Central Forward] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Midfielder] 1980 Internat. Cl. [12/80] [#3 Central Forward] 1981 Internat. Cl. [07/81] [#2 Central Forward] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#6 Midfielder] 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#4 Midfielder] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 not considered 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#5 Forward] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered [07/87] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Offensive Midfielder] 1988 not considered 1989 not considered 1990 not considered [07/90] Hansjörg BUTT International class: 5 times Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 6 times 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 considered_ [12/97] [Goalkeeper] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1999 Internat. Cl. [07/99] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1999 Internat. Cl. [12/99] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2000 Internat. Cl. [07/00] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 broad circle [07/01] [#9 Goalkeeper] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2002 broad circle [07/02] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2002 considered_ [12/02][Goalkeeper] 2003 not considered [07/03] 2003 broad circle [12/03] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2004 considered_ [07/04] [Goalkeeper] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#11 Goalkeeper] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#8 Goalkeeper] 2005 considered_ [12/05] [Goalkeeper] 2006 considered_ [07/06] [Goalkeeper] 2006 considered_ [12/06] [Goalkeeper] 2007 not considered 2008 not considered 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 Internat. Cl. [12/09] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] CACAU Claudemir Jerônimo Barreto International class: 1 time Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 3 times 2000 played abroad [07/00] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/04] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#10 Forward] 2005 considered_ [07/05] [Offensive Lateral] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 not considered [07/06] 2006 considered_ [12/06] [Forward] 2007 broad circle [07/07] [#7 Forward] 2007 considered_ [12/07] [Forward] 2008 broad circle [07/08] [#8 Forward] 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#7 Forward] 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 Internat. Cl. [07/10] [#2 Forward] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered 2013 not considered 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 played abroad [12/14] Rodolfo Esteban CARDOSO International class: 2 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 7 times 1989 played abroad [07/89] 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 not considered [07/90] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Offensive Midfielder] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Offensive Midfielder] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Offensive Midfielder] 1992 considered_ [07/92] [Offensive Midfielder] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#9 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 broad circle [07/94] [#7 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#3 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#9 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 Internat. Cl. [12/99] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Offensive Midfielder] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/04] Gonzalo CASTRO International class: 1 time Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 6 times 2004 not considered [12/04] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 not considered [07/06] 2006 considered_ [12/06] [Defensive Lateral] 2007 considered_ [07/07] [Defensive Lateral] 2007 broad circle [12/07] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2008 considered_ [07/08] [Defensive Lateral] 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Defensive Lateral] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 2011 considered_ [12/11] [Defensive Lateral] 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#5 Offensive Lateral] 2013 considered_ [07/13] [Offensive Midfielder] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 broad circle [12/14] [#3 Defensive Midfielder]
Bum Kun CHA World class: 1 time International class: 4 times Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 4 times The first Korean to play in the Bundesliga was an extremely quick and agile forward, sound technique, great finisher in the box who was difficult to contain. Cha was neither winger nor center forward but one of the first support strikers at a time when the tactical change from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 brought about this new type of player. 1978 played abroad [07/78] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 World Class [12/79] [#1 Foreign player] 1980 Internat. Cl. [07/80] [#5 Foreign player] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#4 Foreign player] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#7 Foreign player] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#7 Foreign player] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#6 Foreign player] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#2 Foreign player] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#2 Foreign player] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#3 Foreign player] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#5 Foreign player] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Foreign Player] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Foreign Player] 1985 Internat. Cl. [12/85] [#2 Foreign player] 1986 Internat. Cl. [07/86] [#5 Foreign player] 1986 not assessed [12/86] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Foreign Player] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Foreign Player] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#12 Foreign player] 1988 not considered [12/88] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#8 Defensive Midfielder] Eric-Maxim CHOUPO-MOTING International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 1 time 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 not considered 2012 considered_ [07/12] [Offensive Lateral] 2012 not considered [12/12] 2013 not considered 2014 broad circle [07/14] [#11 Offensive Lateral] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#4 Offensive Lateral] Julio CÉSAR International class: 3 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 2 times 1994 played abroad [07/94] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#1 Marker] 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#2 Marker] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#11 Marker] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#6 Marker] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#2 Marker] 1997 not considered 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Marker] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Libero] 2000 not considered [07/00] 2000 played abroad [12/00] Stéphane CHAPUISAT World class: 2 times International class: 4 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 2 times Counted among the greatest footballers ever coming from Switzerland, Chapuisat was one of the Bundesliga’s biggest stars during most of the 1990s, becoming the first foreign player to score 100 goals. Chapuisat started out as a left winger but became a cross between a support striker and poacher during his stay in Dortmund. He either was seen bustling around and inside the penalty box or attacking the goal straight away with great determination and dynamism. He loved to prevail in tight spaces and preferred his left foot for finishing the job. 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Forward] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#1 Forward] 1992 World Class [07/92] [#1 Forward] 1992 World Class [12/92] [#1 Forward] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#6 Forward] 1993 Internat. Cl. [12/93] [#3 Forward] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#8 Forward] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#2 Forward] 1995 not considered 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 considered_ [12/96] [Forward] 1997 broad circle [07/97] [#10 Forward] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#6 Forward] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 played abroad [12/99] Stanislav CHERCHESSOV International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 1 time 1993 played abroad [07/93] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#9 Goalkeeper] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#13 Goalkeeper] 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Goalkeeper] 1995 not considered [12/95] Hans CIESLARCZYK Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 2 times A powerful shooter of the ball, Cieslarczyk also had a deft winger’s touch, great pace and could attack from both sides of the flanks. Originally an inside forward he quickly moved wide and later in his career went back inside to attack centrally. Typically for many wingers of the time, he was sometimes a bit too wayward but this changed as his career progressed. In the second half of his career he evolved a proness for injuries and couldn’t live up to his earlier successes. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 not considered [07/56] 1956 considered_ [12/56] [Inside Forward] 1957 considered_ [07/57] [Inside Forward] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#5 Outside Right] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#4 Outside Left] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#4 Outside Left] 1959 not considered 1960 not considered 1961 not considered 1962 not considered 1963 not considered 1964 not considered 1965 not considered 1966 not considered 1967 not considered 1968 not considered [07/68] Papiss Demba CISSÉ International class: 2 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 1 time 2007 played abroad [07/07] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered [07/08] 2008 broad circle [12/08] [#12 Forward] 2009 not considered 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Forward] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#3 Forward] 2011 Internat. Cl. [07/11] [#2 Forward] 2011 played abroad [12/11] Hans-Jörg CRIENS Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 8 times As a young striker Criens had a very promising start in professional football and was already a bit of spectacular player in his early 20s. He was a forward of similar enthusiasm as a few years later Jürgen Klinsmann, yet thankfully without the diving antics. Criens was a tall forward who could play as a left winger as well as a central striker who scored a lot of his goals due to his aerial prowess. He is still Mönchengladbach’s best scorer since the retirement of Jupp Heynckes. 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 not considered 1980 not considered 1981 not considered 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Central Forward] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Central Forward] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Forward] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Forward] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Forward] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Forward] 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Forward] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#5 Forward] 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Forward] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#12 Forward] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#6 Forward] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#14 Forward] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered [07/95] Bernhard CULLMANN International class: 7 times Broad circle: 10 times Considered: 1 time In his 13 years playing for Köln he is most remembered for being a ‘classic’ attacking libero, albeit not so much in the Beckenbauer sense but more in the sense of a tall, commanding center half with good ball skills and a dangerous presence at set-pieces. He was also frequently used as a defensive midfielder and sometimes as a stopper. Together with Wolfgang Overath, Heinz Flohe, Dieter Müller and Wolfgang Weber, Bernd Cullmann was one of the defining figures of the fine Köln side of the 1970s. 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 not considered 1971 not considered 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#3 Libero] 1973 Internat. Cl. [07/73] [#2 Libero] 1973 Internat. Cl. [07/73] [#1 Stopper] 1973 Internat. Cl. [12/73] [#2 Libero] 1973 Internat. Cl. [12/73] [#5 Midfielder] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#2 Libero] 1974 Internat. Cl. [07/74] [#4 Midfielder] 1974 Internat. Cl. [12/74] [#2 Libero] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#2 Libero] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [Libero] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Libero] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#11 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#6 Midfielder] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#4 Libero] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#7 Midfielder] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#1 Libero] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#3 Libero] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#19 Midfielder] 1982 not considered 1983 not considered [07/83] Martin DAHLIN World class: 1 time International class: 2 times Broad circle: 4 times 1991 played abroad [07/91] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#4 Forward] 1993 Internat. Cl. [12/93] [#4 Forward] 1994 World Class [07/94] [#1 Forward] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#4 Forward] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#10 Forward] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#3 Forward] 1996 not considered 1997 broad circle [07/97] [#9 Forward] 1997 played abroad [12/97] 1998 played abroad [07/98] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered [07/99]
Dietmar DANNER International class: 2 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 8 times A technically very strong central midfielder, almost a playmaker, who – due to the great number of fine midfield players in Mönchengladbach’s 1970s side - often had to play as a full back on both sides. A lightweight and lightfooted player with a subtle left foot who could read and control a game. 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Central Forward] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Midfielder] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Central Forward] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Midfielder] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Midfielder] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#6 Midfielder] 1973 Internat. Cl. [12/73] [#4 Midfielder] 1974 not considered 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Midfielder] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1975 Internat. Cl. [12/75 [#5 Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#10 Midfielder] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered 1979 not considered 1980 not considered 1981 not considered [07/81] DANTE Bonfim Costa Santos International class: 4 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 4 times 2009 played abroad [07/09] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#8 Central Defender] 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Central Defender] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 considered_ [07/11] [Central Defender] 2011 Internat. Cl. [12/11] [#4 Central Defender] 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#11 Central Defender] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#1 Central Defender] 2013 Internat. Cl. [07/13] [#2 Central Defender] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#2 Central Defender] 2014 considered_ [07/14] [Central Defender] 2014 considered_ [12/14] [Central Defender] Wolfgang DE BEER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 6 times A tall and strong goalkeeper, brave inside the box but with weaknesses when he had to leave his goal. 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Goalkeeper] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Goalkeeper] 1986 not considered [07/86] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Goalkeeper] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Goalkeeper] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Goalkeeper] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Goalkeeper] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered 1999 not considered 2000 not considered 2001 not considered [07/01] Kevin DE BRUYNE World class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times 2012 played abroad [07/12] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 2013 not considered [12/13] 2014 broad circle [07/14] [#6 Offensive Lateral] 2014 World Class [12/14] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] DÉDÉ Leonardo de Deus Santos International class: 1 time Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 7 times 1998 played abroad [07/98] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#4 Lateral] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered [07/00] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Lateral] 2001 broad circle [07/01] [#8 Lateral] 2001 considered_ [12/01] [Defensive Lateral] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#3 Defensive Lateral] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#2 Defensive Lateral] 2003 broad circle [07/03] [#6 Defensive Lateral] 2003 broad circle [12/03] [#5 Defensive Lateral] 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#4 Defensive Lateral] 2004 not considered [12/04] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#4 Defensive Lateral] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#3 Defensive Lateral] 2006 not considered [12/06] 2007 broad circle [07/07] [#4 Defensive Lateral] 2007 considered_ [12/07] [Defensive Lateral] 2008 considered_ [07/08] [Defensive Lateral] 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 not considered 2012 considered_ [07/12] [Defensive Lateral] 2012 considered_ [12/12] [Defensive Lateral] 2013 considered_ [07/13] [Defensive Lateral] 2013 not considered [12/13] 2014 not considered [07/14] Sebastian DEISLER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 1 time 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#3 Lateral] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#3 Lateral] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 Internat. Cl. [07/01] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#6 Offensive Lateral] 2005 considered_ [12/05] [Offensive Lateral] 2006 not considered 2007 not considered [07/07] Karl DEL’HAYE Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 5 times In the late-1970s the lightweight 'Calle' Del’Haye was considered by many as the great new hope for the right wing, but the diminutive Mönchengladbach winger lacked the necessary punch and was almost a total non-threat in front of the goal. With years going by his style became less spectacular, more workman-like and hard-running as he became more of a wide midfielder. His biggest asset throughout his career was his great pace. 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Outside Right] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Outside Right] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#5 Outside Right] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#3 Outside Right] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Outside Right] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#2 Outside Right] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#1 Outside Right] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered 1982 not considered [07/82] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Winger] 1983 not considered [07/83] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Winger] 1984 not considered 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 not considered [07/87] Mathieu DELPIERRE International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 4 times 2004 played abroad [07/04] 2004 not considered [12/04] 2005 not considered [07/05] 2005 considered_ [12/05] [Central Defender] 2006 not considered [07/06] 2006 broad circle [12/06] [#4 Central Defender] 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#3 Central Defender] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered [07/08] 2008 considered_ [12/08] [Central Defender] 2009 considered_ [07/09] [Central Defender] 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Central Defender] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered 2013 not considered 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 played abroad [12/14] Martín DEMICHELIS International class: 3 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 2 times 2003 played abroad [07/03] 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 not considered 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2005 Internat. Cl. [12/05] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2006 not considered 2007 not considered [07/07] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#2 Central Defender] 2008 Internat. Cl. [07/08] [#1 Central Defender] 2008 considered_ [12/08] [Central Defender] 2009 not considered 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Central Defender] 2010 not considered [12/10] Lajos DETARI International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time A player with a wonderful technique, strategic playmaker with great 0verview and a supreme passer. In Hungary he was hailed as the best player since the 1960s. Spoke German fluently after only a few months in the country but left Frankfurt after only one season for a record transfer fee of 17 million marks when he joined Olympiakos in Greece. 1987 played abroad [07/87] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#12 Foreign player] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#1 Foreign player] 1988 played abroad [12/88]
Norbert DICKEL Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 2 times A tall and powerful center forward whose main quality was his commanding aerial presence. 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 not considered 1985 not considered 1986 not considered [07/86] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#5 Forward] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#5 Forward] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Forward] 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Forward] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#7 Forward] 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 not considered [07/90] DIEGO Ribas da Cunha International class: 4 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 1 time 2006 played abroad [07/06] 2006 Internat. Cl. [12/06] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2008 broad circle [07/08] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2008 broad circle [12/08] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2009 Internat. Cl. [07/09] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2009 played abroad [12/09] 2010 not considered 2011 considered_ [07/11] [Offensive Midfielder] 2011 played abroad [12/11] 2012 played abroad [07/12] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#14 Offensive Midfielder] 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 played abroad [12/14] Peter DIETRICH International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 6 times In Mönchengladbach, Dietrich was the adjutant of Günter Netzer in defensive midfield. In the second half of his career he was plagued by constant injuries. 1963 not considered [12/63] 1964 not considered 1965 not considered 1966 not considered [07/66] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Midfielder] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Midfielder] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Midfielder] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Midfielder] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Midfielder] 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#7 Midfielder] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#8 Midfielder] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#7 Midfielder] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Midfielder] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered 1973 not considered 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] Bernard DIETZ World class: 1 time International class: 10 times Broad circle: 11 times Considered: 5 times Bernard ‘Enatz’ Dietz started out as a left winger in 1970 playing for MSV Duisburg. In the summer of 1972 he was withdrawn to the left back position where he established himself as a very good attacking full back. A player with a pretty good technique, he was notable for his high work ethic and was unrelenting yet fair in one-on-one situations. In 17 years as a professional he was booked only 11 times and never sent-off. He is the defensive player with the highest amount of goals scored in Bundesliga history (76 goals). With his never say die mentality, dynamism, willingness to run and fight at all costs and self-sacrificial mentality he became one of the best left backs of the 1970s. He also managed to keep a high level of consistency between 1970 and 1985 when he almost never missed a game in all those years (played in 494 of 510 possible games). When Paul Breitner left for Spain after the 1974 World Cup Dietz became his successor in the left back position. He became captain of the German national team in 1978. In 1981 he expressed his dissent towards Jupp Derwall’s decision to bring Paul Breitner back to the national team. Derwall had decided to rely fully on Breitner and to build the team around his demands, something that Dietz was critical of. As a consequence, Derwall decided to drop Dietz, the captain of his team, and handed the captaincy to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. An undeserving end to a great international career which had culminated in winning the European Championship in Italy just a year before. Fr0m 1982 onwards Bernard Dietz picked up the role of sweeper, as the full back position began to be too demanding for a player of 34 years at that time. As a sweeper for Schalke 04 he played until in 1987 and retired at the ripe age of 39 years. 1970 not considered [12/1970] 1971 not considered 1972 not considered 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Full Back] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Full Back] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#5 Full Back] 1974 Internat. Cl. [12/74] [#2 Full Back] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#5 Full Back] 1975 Internat. Cl. [12/75] [#2 Full Back] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#2 Full Back] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#3 Full Back] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#3 Full Back] 1977 World Class [12/77] [#1 Full Back] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#2 Full Back] 1978 Internat. Cl. [12/78] [#1 Full Back] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#1 Full Back] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#2 Full Back] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#4 Libero] 1980 Internat. Cl. [07/80] [#2 Full Back] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#3 Full Back] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#3 Full Back] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#6 Full Back] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#6 Libero] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#4 Libero] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#9 Libero] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Libero] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Libero] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#3 Libero] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#4 Libero] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Libero] 1986 not considered 1987 not considered [07/87] Youri DJORKAEFF International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time 1999 played abroad [07/99] 1999 Internat. Cl. [12/99] [#1 Forward] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#5 Forward] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered [07/02] 2002 played abroad [12/02] Thomas DOLL World class: 1 time International class: 4 times Broad circle: 1 time Doll was an agile, fast and tricky winger at the start of his career in East Germany who later became an offensive midfielder. He could read a game quite well, was very dangerous in the box, tricky in one-on-one situations, yet quite prone to injury. 1987 not considered [East G.] 1988 not considered [East G.] 1989 not considered [East G.] 1990 not considered [East G.] [07/90] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#7 Forward] 1991 Internat. Cl. [07/91] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 1991 World Class [12/91] [#2 German abroad] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#6 German abroad] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#12 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered 1999 not considered 2000 not considered 2001 not considered [07/01] Bernd DÖRFEL International class: 3 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 3 times Like his older brother Gert Bernd Dörfel was a winger but moved back to midfield as the 1960s progressed. Not quite as talented as his brother he still was more successful in getting capped 15 times compared to the 11 caps of his older brother. 1963 not considered 1964 not considered 1965 not considered [07/65] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Outside Right] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Central Forward] 1966 Internat. Cl. [12/66] [#1 Outside Right] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#2 Outside Right] 1967 not considered [12/67] 1968 Internat. Cl. [07/68] [#1 Outside Right] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#6 Midfielder] 1968 Internat. Cl. [12/68] [#1 Outside Right] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#5 Midfielder] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#1 Outside Right] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#3 Outside Right] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Midfielder] 1970 not considered [07/70] 1970 played abroad [12/70] 1971 played abroad 1972 played abroad 1973 played abroad 1974 played abroad [07/74] Gert DÖRFEL International class: 4 times Broad circle: 10 times Considered: 10 times Started his career in Hamburg in 1958 and remained their outside left for the next eleven years. Gert Dörfel was an extroverted maverick who loved to entertain the crowds with his dribbling tricks. In his peak years (early- to mid-1960s) the German press even compared him to Francisco Gento of Real Madrid. Unfortunate for his international career was Sepp Herberger’s aversion to players with a flamboyant style like Gert Dörfel who also liked to express his opinion outspokenly. in 1965 ‘L’Equipe’ picked him as Europe’s best outside left but that didn’t help his international career as Herberger’s successor Helmut Schön too had not much love for his type of player. Uwe Seeler benefitted a lot from Dörfel’s crosses from the left flank. 1958 considered_ [1958] [Center Forward] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Outside Left] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#2 Outside Left] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#1 Outside Left] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#1 Outside Left] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#2 Outside Left] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#1 Outside Left] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#3 Outside Left] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#1 Outside Left] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#1 Outside Left] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#2 Outside Left] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#2 Outside Left] 1965 broad circle [12/65] [#4 Outside Left] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Outside Left] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#4 Outside Left] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Outside Left] 1967 not considered [12/67] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Outside Left] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#4 Outside Left] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#2 Outside Left] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Outside Left] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Outside Left] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Outside Left] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Outside Left] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered 1973 not considered [07/73] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Outside Left] 1974 not considered [07/74] Hans DORFNER International class: 2 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 2 times A highly talented offensive midfielder who didn’t quite reach the top international level as was predicted in his younger days. His career was cut short due to proneness to injuries. 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1987 Internat. Cl. [12/87] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#3 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered [07/94] Herbert DÖRNER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 3 times In his time he was considered a highly gifted player who didn’t fully realize his talents. His performance level had many up and down turns which explains why he only was capped two times. His preferred position was as an inside left but he performed best as left-sided half back and as left back. He was a very fast player ideally suited to counter attacking teams equipped with a very good eye for precision passes and a hard shot. 1955 considered [12/55] [#5 Half Back] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#2 Half Back] 1956 broad circle [12/56] [#8 Half Back] 1957 considered_ [07/57] [Half Back] 1957 not considered [12/57] 1958 considered_ [1958] [Half Back] 1959 not considered 1960 not considered 1961 not considered 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 not considered [12/62] 1963 not considered [07/63]
Julian DRAXLER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 3 times 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 considered_ [12/11] [Offensive Lateral] 2012 considered_ [07/12] [Offensive Lateral] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#13 Offensive Lateral] 2013 Internat. Cl. [07/13] [#6 Offensive Lateral] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#8 Offensive Lateral] 2014 considered_ [07/14] [Offensive Lateral] 2014 not considered [12/14] Wolfgang DREMMLER International class: 3 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 6 times A hard-running, hard-tackling, industrious and strong-willed defensive midfielder who very often was used as a right back. Dremmler had a pretty solid technique and good passing skills. 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Midfielder] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Midfielder] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Midfielder] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered 1979 not considered 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Full Back] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#6 Midfielder] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#4 Full Back] 1981 Internat. Cl. [12/81] [#3 Full Back] 1981 Internat. Cl. [12/81] [#3 Midfielder] 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#3 Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#6 Full Back] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#8 Full Back] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Full Back] 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Defensive Midfielder] 1985 not considered [07/85] Werner DRESSEL Broad circle: 4 times As a junior player and young professional Werner Dressel was hailed as a great talent, fast and tricky in his dribbling on the left wing, pretty good crosser of the ball and also quite a goal threat. He was however not able to maintain a high level which would have been necessary for a really great career as a winger. 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#5 Outside Left] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#3 Outside Left] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#3 Outside Left] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#2 Outside Left] 1981 not considered 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 not considered 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 not considered 1988 not considered 1989 not considered 1990 not considered 1991 not considered 1992 not considered [07/92] Bernd DÜRNBERGER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 10 times Bernd Dürnberger became a surprise starter in his first professional season at Bayern in 1972-73 when he initially was used as a left winger. Soon he dropped back to a midfield positon and also often played as a full back. Despite being right-footed, he preferred to play on the left side. He was an agile, quick off the mark kind of player with great energy reserves. Unable to get out of the shadow of the many star players at Bayern, he never was called up to play for Germany although he was often pretty close to knocking at the door of the national team. 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Outside Left] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Outside Left] 1974 not considered 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#6 Full Back] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Full Back] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#8 Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#9 Midfielder] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Midfielder] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Midfielder] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#15 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#14 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#12 Midfielder] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#12 Midfielder] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#15 Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Defensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Defensive Midfielder] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#4 Full Back] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Full Back] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Full Back] 1985 not considered [07/85] Sean DUNDEE International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 1 time 1992 played abroad [07/92] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#8 Forward] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#5 Forward] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#1 Forward] 1997 not considered 1998 not considered [07/98] 1998 played abroad [12/98] 1999 played abroad [07/99] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered [07/00] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Forward] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered [07/03] Carlos DUNGA World class: 1 time International class: 1 time 1993 played abroad [07/93] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 World Class [07/94] [#1 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#5 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 not considered [07/95] Edin DŽEKO World class: 2 times International class: 2 times Broad circle: 1 time 2007 played abroad [07/07] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered [07/08] 2008 broad circle [12/08] [#14 Forward] 2009 World Class [07/09] [#1 Forward] 2009 Internat. Cl. [12/09] [#4 Forward 2010 World Class [07/10] [#1 Forward] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#7 Forward Horst ECKEL World class: 1 time International class: 6 times Considered: 1 time As a junior Eckel’s preferred role was that of center forward and indeed he scored many goals. He debuted in Kaiserslautern’s first team in 1950 at the age of 18. Nicknamed ‘greyhound’ because of his lean, haggard stature, Eckel was the replacement of the injured center forward Ottmar Walter. With his eagerness in training, Eckel constantly worked on his lack of technique. Since the position of center forward was Ottmar Walter’s, Eckel tried his luck as an outside right in the early 1950s. Approaching the 1954 World Cup Germany manager Sepp Herberger had already set an eye on Eckel as he was looking for a hard-running right half with lots of stamina. Herberger, who had good contacts to Kaiserslautern’s manager Richard Schneider, suggested to Schneider to test Eckel as a half back in spring 1952. Eckel at first was not so delighted about his new role but after he performed well in these games the new role appealed to him because he was now finally a definite starter at Kaiserslautern. His sphere of action was immense and not as restricted as on the right wing, he could also make great use of his great stamina and debuted for Germany as a right half in October 1952. For the next 5-6 years Eckel was considered to be among the best half backs in German football. In the 1954 World Cup final his task was to man-mark Hungary’s Nandor Hidegkuti - a task he accomplished well. 1955 World Class [12/55] [#1 Half Back] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#1 Half Back] 1956 Internat. Cl. [12/56] [#2 Half Back] 1957 Internat. Cl. [07/57] [#2 Half Back] 1957 Internat. Cl. [12/57] [#2 Half Back] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#3 Half Back] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#4 Half Back] 1959 considered_ [12/59] [Half Back] 1960 not considered 1961 not considered 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 not considered [12/62] 1963 not considered 1964 not considered 1965 not considered 1966 not considered [07/66] Dieter ECKSTEIN Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 6 times Dieter Eckstein was one of the Bundesliga’s most sorely afflicted players. As a teenager he lost both parents and in 1988 he lost his third son. In 1992 his house burnt down and some years later he beat cancer. In between these personal catastrophes the lightfooted left winger featured in 289 Bundesliga games scoring 84 times. To achieve a great career as a winger Eckstein was probably born 10-15 years too late as by the mid-1980s the outside forward was almost non-existent anymore. 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Winger] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Winger] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Forward] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#11 Forward] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#6 Forward] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#8 Forward] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#5 Forward] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#6 Forward] 1988 not considered [12/88] 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Forward] 1990 not considered 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Forward] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#5 Forward] 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Forward] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered [07/98] Norbert EDER International class: 2 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 11 times A late bloomer whose career really only took off after he joined Bayern at the age of 29 in 1984. Eder was primarily a man-marker after having started out as a defensive midfielder in the mid-1970s. In his first two years at Bayern he became one of the very best man-markers of the Bundesliga but found it difficult in 1987-88 to adapt to Bayern’s new defensive zonal system introduced by new manager Jupp Heynckes. 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Midfielder] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Midfielder] 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Midfielder] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Midfielder] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Stopper] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Stopper] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Stopper] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#9 Stopper] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Stopper] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#3 Stopper] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#4 Stopper] 1985 Internat. Cl. [12/85] [#1 Defender] 1986 Internat. Cl. [07/86] [#2 Defender] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Defender] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#3 Defender] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Defender] 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Defender] 1988 played abroad [12/88] 1989 played abroad 1990 played abroad [07/90]
Stefan EFFENBERG World class: 1 time International class: 12 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 4 times By nature a defensive midfielder with great offensive capalities. Because of his personality and strong will he became the leading figure in the club teams he played for yet was unable to achieve the same status when playing for Germany. As a midfielder with a sound technique and great skills at long balls, he dominated the midfield with his stamina and bossy mentality. Dangerous at long range shots and freekicks, Effenberg never had any inhibitions committing hard fouls, indeed often he used this as a means to wake up his teammates when things weren’t going well. He was booked 111 times, more than any other Bundesliga player. 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Offensive Midfielder] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Offensive Midfielder] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Offensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#8 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 1991 Internat. Cl. [07/91] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#4 German abroad] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#6 German abroad] 1993 Internat. Cl. [12/93] [#4 German abroad] 1994 broad circle [07/94] [#3 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#4 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#2 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#4 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#7 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#13 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 Internat. Cl. [07/98] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1999 Internat. Cl. [07/99] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 2000 World Class [07/00] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 Internat. Cl. [07/01] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 not considered [07/02] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 2003 not considered [07/03] 2003 played abroad [12/03] Gerald EHRMANN International class: 1 time Broad circle: 12 times Considered: 5 times In his first seven seasons Gerry Ehrmann was the reserve goalkeeper behind Harald Schumacher at Köln. In 1984 he joined Kaiserslautern where he replaced Swedish legend Ronnie Hellström and remained K‘lautern’s keeper for the next ten years. An impulsive, highly emotional goalkeeper with an imposing physical presence (his hobby was bodybuilding) who guarded his goal without taking any prisoners. 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 not considered 1979 not considered 1980 not considered 1981 not considered 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Goalkeeper] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1986 not considered [07/86] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Goalkeeper] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Goalkeeper] 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#9 Goalkeeper] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Goalkeeper] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#10 Goalkeeper] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1994 broad circle [07/94] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Goalkeeper] 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered [07/97] Dieter EILTS International class: 3 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 10 times The prototype of the 1990s defensive midfielder, Dieter Eilts impressed with his hard-running and ball winning qualities but also was able to engage in buildup play due to his solid passing skills. Modest by nature, Eilts always committed himself to the team, never looking for a place in the limelight, going on about things in a calm and sober way, he was a regular starter for Bremen for 12 consecutive seasons. 1985 not considered [12/85] 1986 not considered 1987 not considered 1988 not considered 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Defensive Midfielder] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Offensive Midfielder] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Defensive Midfielder] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Defensive Midfielder] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 considered_ [07/92] [Defensive Midfielder] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#6 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#3 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#1 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#1 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1996 Internat. Cl. [07/96] [#1 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#9 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#9 Defensive Midfielder] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Defensive Midfielder] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Defensive Midfielder] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered [07/02] ÉLBER de Souza International class: 8 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 3 times 1994 played abroad [07/94] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#2 Forward] 1996 considered_ [07/96] [Forward] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#2 Forward] 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Forward] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#8 Forward] 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Forward] 1998 Internat. Cl. [12/98] [#1 Forward] 1999 not considered 2000 Internat. Cl. [07/00] [#4 Forward] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#6 Forward] 2001 Internat. Cl. [07/01] [#2 Forward] 2001 Internat. Cl. [12/01] [#1 Forward] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#7 Forward] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#7 Forward] 2003 Internat. Cl. [07/03] [#1 Forward] 2003 played abroad [12/03] 2004 played abroad 2005 not considered EMERSON Ferreira da Rosa World class: 2 times International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 2 times 1997 played abroad [07/97] 1997 considered_ [12/97] [Offensive Midfielder] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 considered_ [12/98] [Offensive Midfielder] 1999 Internat. Cl. [07/99] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1999 World Class [12/99] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2000 World Class [07/00] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2000 played abroad [12/00] Lothar EMMERICH International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 12 times Lothar Emmerich started his career in 1960 when he joined Borussia Dortmund but struggled in his first three seasons to find a place in the team, he had his breakthrough in the first season of the Bundesliga in 1963-64. An outside left with a real poacher’s instinct coupled with great firepower in his left foot, Emmerich’s peak years were 1965 to 1967 when he became the best scoring forward in Germany for two consecutive seasons. In Dortmund’s 1965-66 European campaign he scored 14 goals in 9 games. Germany manager Helmut Schön had not been impressed by Emmerich and originally did not intend to use him for the national team as Emmerich had grave technical limitations which is why Schön considered him unsuited to fit well into the national team, but because he was a favorite of the fans and the tabloids, Schön gave in and called him up to play in the 1966 World Cup. In the late-1960s his luck at goal scoring somewhat faded and in 1969 he left the Bundesliga for good to pursue a career in Belgium where became top scorer in his first season for Beerschot. 1960 not considered [1960] 1961 not considered 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 not considered [12/62] 1963 not considered [07/63] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Outside Left] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Outside Left] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Outside Left] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#5 Outside Left] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Outside Left] 1966 Internat. Cl. [07/66] [#2 Outside Left] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#3 Outside Left] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#3 Outside Left] 1967 not considered [12/67] 1968 not considered [07/68] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Outside Left] 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 played abroad [12/69] 1970 played abroad 1971 played abroad 1972 played abroad 1973 played abroad 1974 played abroad [07/74] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Central Forward] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Central Forward] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Central Forward] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Central Forward] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Outside Left] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Central Forward] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Central Forward] Stephan ENGELS Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 4 times A lanky, slim midfielder for Köln with a good touch in his left foot who was known for his passing skills and freekick-taking and for a short time in 1982-83 was a member of the national team. 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 not considered 1980 not considered 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Midfielder] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#7 Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Defensive Midfielder] 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Defensive Midfielder] 1988 not considered 1989 not considered 1990 not considered [07/90] Robert ENKE International class: 7 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 2 times 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered [07/98] 1998 considered_ [12/98] [Goalkeeper] 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#3 German abroad] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#2 German abroad] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#2 German abroad] 2001 broad circle [07/01] [#3 German abroad] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#4 German abroad] 2002 broad circle [07/02] [#2 German abroad] 2002 not considered [12/02] 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/04] 2004 Internat. Cl. [12/04] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2005 Internat. Cl. [07/05] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2005 Internat. Cl. [12/05] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#7 Goalkeeper] 2006 considered_ [12/06] [Goalkeeper] 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2008 Internat. Cl. [07/08] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 Internat. Cl. [07/09] [#2 Goalkeeper] Herbert ERHARDT International class: 13 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 2 times Gave his debut in 1948 aged 18 as a right half for Fürth. An athletic defender with a good touch on the ball and impressive aerial presence, he first played as a full back before switching to center half by the late-1950s. In both positions he was counted among the very best in 1950s German football. Known for his hard tackling and doggedness, Erhardt captained Germany between 1959 and 1962 and was a member of the 1954 (did not play), 1958 and 1962 World Cup squads. 1955 considered_ [12/55] [#13 Full Back] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#3 Full Back] 1956 Internat. Cl. [12/56] [#3 Full Back] 1957 Internat. Cl. [07/57] [#3 Full Back] 1957 Internat. Cl. [12/57] [#2 Full Back] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#1 Center Half] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#1 Center Half] 1959 Internat. Cl. [12/59] [#1 Center Half] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#2 Full Back] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#1 Center Half] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#2 Full Back] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#1 Center Half] 1961 Internat. Cl. [12/61] [#2 Full Back] 1961 Internat. Cl. [12/61] [#2 Center Half] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#6 Full Back] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#3 Center Half] 1963 not considered [12/63] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Half Back] Fabian ERNST International class: 2 times Broad circle: 10 times Considered: 10 times 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 not considered 1998 not considered [07/98] 1998 considered_ [12/98] [Defensive Midfielder] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Defensive Midfielder] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered [07/00] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Defensive Midfielder] 2001 not considered [07/01] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 2002 considered_ [07/02][Defensive Midfielder] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2003 broad circle [07/03] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 2003 Internat. Cl. [12/03] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 not considered 2007 not considered [07/07] 2007 considered_ [12/07] [Defensive Midfielder] 2008 Internat. Cl. [07/08] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2008 considered_ [12/08] [Defensive Midfielder] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#1 German abroad] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#3 German abroad] 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#2 German abroad] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#3 German abroad] 2011 considered_ [07/11] [Defensive Midfielder] 2011 considered_ [12/11] [Defensive Midfielder] 2012 considered_ [07/12] [Defensive Midfielder] 2012 considered_ [12/12] [Defensive Midfielder] 2013 not considered 2014 not considered
Johann ETTMAYER International class: 2 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 5 times A legendary Austrian left-footed midfielder renown today mostly because of his overweight (that’s why some dubbed him ‘Fettmayer’), “Buffy” Ettmayer possessed a delicate touch in his left foot and also a very powerful shooting technique. A non-conformist flair player with a low work ethic and not too keen on running too much plus a touch of insanity and hence a clear favorite of the fans. 1971 played abroad [07/71] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#2 Foreign player] 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#2 Foreign player] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Foreign Player] 1973 Internat. Cl. [12/73] [#1 Foreign player] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#2 Foreign player] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Foreign Player] 1976 not considered 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 played abroad [12/77] 1978 played abroad [07/78] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Midfielder] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Foreign Player] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Foreign Player] 1981 not considered [07/81] Fritz EWERT International class: 5 times Broad circle: 6 times Renowned for his jumping power, excellent positional play and his long and precise kicks, around 1960 Fritz Ewert was rated as Germany’s second best goalkeeper behind Hans Tilkowski. 1956 not considered [12/56] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1957 not considered [12/57] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1959 Internat. Cl. [12/59] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1964 broad circle [07/64] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 not considered 1966 not considered [07/66] 1966 played abroad [12/66] 1967 played abroad 1968 played abroad 1969 played abroad 1970 played abroad [07/70] EWERTHON Henrique de Souza International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 1 time 2001 played abroad [07/01] 2001 Internat. Cl. [12/01] [#4 Forward] 2002 considered_ [07/02][Forward] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#9 Forward] 2003 not considered 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#9 Forward] 2004 not considered [12/04] 2005 not considered 2005 played abroad [12/05] 2006 played abroad 2007 played abroad [07/07] 2007 not considered [12/07] Holger FACH International class: 1 time Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 12 times A tall, gangly, technically sound sweeper with good finishing skills when advancing forward and a good header of the ball. With his good positional sense he was also frequently deployed as a defensive midfielder, he was known to go about things a bit grimly. 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Defensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Defensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Defensive Midfielder] 1984 not considered 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#6 Libero] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Libero] 1987 not considered [07/87] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Offensive Midfielder] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Defensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered [07/90] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#4 Libero] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#8 Libero] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#3 Libero] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Libero] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#3 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#3 Libero] 1996 not considered 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Libero] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 not considered [07/98] Helmut FAEDER Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 9 times An inside forward with slight shortcomings in terms of fitness and pace yet gifted with an unusual ball control and an enormously powerful shot. A player goalkeepers feared when they had to face his freekicks or penalties. At Hertha BSC he was considered the genuine successor to the legendary Hanne Sobeck. Sepp Herberger attested that Faeder could have been a regular starter for Germany if he had played for a club which faced more competition than Hertha BSC faced in the small Berlin regional league. Thus Faeder only once played for Germany. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 broad circle [07/56] [#11 Inside Forward] 1956 considered_ [12/56][Inside Forward] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#12 Inside Forward] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#12 Inside Forward] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#10 Inside Forward] 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#10 Inside Forward] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#9 Inside Forward] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#10 Inside Forward] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#6 Inside Forward] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Inside Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Inside Forward] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Inside Forward] 1963 not considered [12/63] 1964 not considered 1965 not considered [07/65] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Inside Forward] 1966 not considered 1967 not considered 1968 not considered [07/68] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Central Forward] 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Midfielder] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Central Forward] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Midfielder] 1971 not considered 1972 not considered [07/72] Ralf FÄHRMANN International class: 2 times 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 not considered 2012 not considered 2013 not considered 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#2 Goalkeeper] Wolfgang FAHRIAN International class: 4 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 15 times He rose as fast as lightning from an unknown to first keeper of the national team within 18 months. Originally he was a defender in his youth and only became a goalkeeper at the age of 18. He embraced his new task with an almost fanatical study of that role. Fahrian debuted as a goalkeeper for TSG Ulm in September 1960 after one year of constant training. Incredibly, he did so well that Sepp Herberger decided in April 1962 to drop his standard goalkeeper Hans Tilkowski – himself rated at that time as one of the very finest keepers Germany ever produced – and to replace him with the untried and untested Fahrian five weeks before the 1962 World Cup would commence. Fahrian guarded Germany’s goal in all four World Cup games and was counted among the few positive aspects for Germany after the Chile adventure. As a goalkeeper Fahrian impressed with quick reflexes which prompted Fritz Walter to state that he rarely saw a goalkeeper with such bold parades. His career suffered a blow in 1965 when he joined Hertha BSC only after cashing in 80,000 Marks which was a violation of the contract player’s statute. The German FA suspended him for 12 months and he had to pay a hefty fine. Needless to say that his international career was finished by that point. 1960 not considered [12/60] 1961 not considered [07/61] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 Internat. Cl. [12/62] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1963 Internat. Cl. [07/63] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1965 not considered [12/65] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Goalkeeper] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Goalkeeper] 1967 not considered [07/67] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Goalkeeper] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Goalkeeper] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Goalkeeper] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Goalkeeper] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Goalkeeper] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Goalkeeper] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Goalkeeper] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Goalkeeper] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Goalkeeper] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Goalkeeper] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Goalkeeper] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Goalkeeper] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Goalkeeper] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] Ralf FALKENMAYER International class: 5 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 3 times Ralf Falkenmayer was already regarded to be a very great playmaker talent in his juniors days and he subsequently found a regular place in the Eintracht Frankfurt side of the early-1980s at the age of 18. Despite some ups and downs he remained a starter until 1995. He was blessed with a delicate touch in his left foot which enabled him to deliver superbly weighted passes. As a player he was probably a bit too lightfooted and frail, never really fully unlocking his great potential. He was mostly playing either in defensive midfield or as an attacking left back. 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#8 Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#10 Midfielder] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#7 Full Back] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#7 Full Back] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1984 Internat. Cl. [12/84] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1985 not considered 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Defensive Midfielder] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 not considered 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#9 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#4 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 not considered [07/96] Jefferson FARFÁN International class: 1 time Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 2 times 2008 played abroad [07/08] 2008 considered_ [12/08] [Forward] 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#8 Forward] 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#10 Forward] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#9 Offensive Lateral] 2011 broad circle [12/11] [#6 Offensive Lateral] 2012 considered_ [07/12] [Offensive Lateral] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#10 Offensive Lateral] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#9 Offensive Lateral] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#9 Offensive Lateral] 2014 not considered Wolfgang FEIERSINGER International class: 1 time Considered: 1 time 1996 played abroad [07/96] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Libero] 1997 Internat. Cl. [12/97] [#4 Libero] 1998 not considered 1999 not considered 2000 not considered [07/00] 2000 played abroad [12/00]
Diethelm FERNER Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 8 times A midfield workhorse with an offensive orientation who was one of Werder’s most vital players of the 1960s. 1960 not considered 1961 not considered 1962 not considered 1963 not considered [07/63] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#6 Inside Forward] 1964 not considered [07/64] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#9 Inside Forward] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#9 Inside Forward] 1965 broad circle [12/65] [#8 Inside Forward] 1966 broad circle [07/66] [#7 Midfielder] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#6 Midfielder] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Midfielder] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Midfielder] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Midfielder] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Midfielder] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Midfielder] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Midfielder] 1970 not considered 1971 not considered 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Midfielder] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Midfielder] Klaus FICHTEL International class: 14 times Broad circle: 11 times Considered: 9 times Klaus Fichtel started out as a central defensive midfielder but quickly evolved into one of the Bundesliga’s all-time best sweepers. A very calm and sober presence in defense, Klaus ‘Tanne’ Fichtel was always the undisputed defensive anchorman of Schalke 04 and later Werder Bremen for roughly 18 successive seasons. Not only an outstanding defender but also a capable conductor from the back. Fichtel was still playing in top flight football at the age 43 years and 5 months, retiring after 552 Bundesliga games in the summer of 1988. His international career was promising but ended prematurely because of his involvement in the 1971 Bundesliga scandal. For Germany, he was either deployed as a stopper or as a defensive midfielder. 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 not considered [07/65] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Center Half] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Central Defender] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Central Defender] 1967 Internat. Cl. [07/67] [#4 Central Defender] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#4 Central Defender] 1968 Internat. Cl. [07/68] [#4 Central Defender] 1968 Internat. Cl. [12/68] [#4 Central Defender] 1969 Internat. Cl. [07/69] [#5 Central Defender] 1969 Internat. Cl. [12/69] [#3 Central Defender] 1970 Internat. Cl. [07/70] [#4 Central Defender] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#3 Central Defender] 1971 Internat. Cl. [07/71] [#3 Libero] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#3 Libero] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#4 Stopper] 1972 Internat. Cl. [07/72] [#2 Libero] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#2 Libero] 1973 not considered 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#3 Libero] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#4 Libero] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#5 Libero] 1975 Internat. Cl. [12/75] [#2 Libero] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#5 Libero] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#3 Libero] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Libero] 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Libero] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#4 Libero] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#1 Libero] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#3 Libero] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#6 Libero] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Libero] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Libero] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#5 Libero] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Libero] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Libero] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#8 Libero] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 not considered 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 not considered 1988 not considered [07/88] Roberto FIRMINO International class: 2 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 1 time 2011 played abroad [07/11] 2011 considered_ [12/11] [Offensive Midfielder] 2012 not considered 2013 not considered [07/13] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] Klaus FISCHER International class: 7 times Broad circle: 16 times Considered: 6 times Without doubt one of the all-time best center forwards in German football history. His specialty was converting high-flying crosses with spectacular bicycle kicks or with his great aerial ability. He benefitted like no other forward from the service of three of the best wingers of 1970s German football in Reinhard Libuda, Erwin Kremers and later Rüdiger Abramczik. While he only was of average height, he possessed an exceptional aerial quality, not only with his head but also with his feet. He would have played more than 45 times for Germany if he didn’t have to compete with Gerd Müller for the center forward spot and even after Müller had retired from international play in 1974, he still was not an option for the national team because of his involvement in the 1971 Bundesliga scandal. When the ban was finally lifted in 1977, he immediately established himself as the no. 1 forward of the national team, scoring 11 times in his first 9 games. Of all times, he lost his goal scoring form right before the 1978 World Cup and was thus one of the biggest disappointments from a German perspective. Suffered a terrible injury in March 1980 when he broke his shinbone in a very complicated way which put him out of action for over a year but then he had a remarkable comeback in 1981 when he was swiftly re-introduced into the national team, again enjoying a goal scoring rout of 11 goals in his first 9 games just like in 1977. His 1982 World Cup was a more successful affair for him personally than the previous one, at the start of the tournament he was benched in favour of Horst Hrubesch but after the disappointing first round he was again the starter as center forward supplying two vital goals against Spain and France. He retired in 1988 after 20 consecutive seasons in top flight, scoring 268 goals in 535 games for TSV 1860, FC Schalke 04, Köln and VfL Bochum. 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Central Forward] 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Central Forward] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#7 Central Forward] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Central Forward] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Central Forward] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#6 Central Forward] 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#3 Central Forward] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered [07/73] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#4 Central Forward] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#4 Central Forward] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#6 Central Forward] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#6 Central Forward] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#1 Central Forward] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#2 Central Forward] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#2 Central Forward] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#1 Central Forward] 1977 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#1 Central Forward] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#2 Central Forward] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#1 Central Forward] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#2 Central Forward] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#2 Central Forward] 1980 not considered 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#4 Central Forward] 1981 Internat. Cl. [12/81] [#2 Central Forward] 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#2 Central Forward] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#5 Central Forward] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#6 Central Forward] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#3 Central Forward] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#6 Central Forward] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Forward] 1986 not considered 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Forward] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 not considered [07/88] Heinz FLOHE World class: 1 time International class: 7 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 3 times One of the technically most gifted midfielders of German football, like his teammate Wolfgang Overath he possessed a very strong left foot but had to play second fiddle to Overath for roughly ten years. After Overath’s retirement in 1977 he played his strongest season, now equipped with all liberties that Overath had enjoyed previously, he blossomed and led Köln to their very last German championship in 1977-78. Flohe was always a touch more offensively-minded than Overath, with good stamina and a strong and precise shot, great at freekicks and high quality passing game. What he lacked was ruggedness, something his counterpart Overath had in abundance. In the national team he usually was counted as an “also-ran” before he was chosen by Helmut Schön to become Germany’s playmaker in the 1978 World Cup. He actually did quite well in that tournament, definitely better than most of his teammates, but an injury in the game vs. Italy meant that the tournament was over for him before the crucial game vs. Austria. Carlos Babington, the Argentine midfielder who played in Germany during the time, compared him with Roberto Rivelino (in 1977). He had retired in 1980 after a broken leg was irreparably damaged. 1966 not considered [12/66] 1967 not considered 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Midfielder] 1968 not considered [12/68] 1969 not considered 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#11 Midfielder] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#9 Midfielder] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#6 Midfielder] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#5 Midfielder] 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#5 Midfielder] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#6 Midfielder] 1973 Internat. Cl. [07/73] [#4 Midfielder] 1973 Internat. Cl. [12/73] [#3 Midfielder] 1974 Internat. Cl. 07/74] [#3 Midfielder] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#5 Midfielder] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#6 Midfielder] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Midfielder] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#4 Midfielder] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#2 Midfielder] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#4 Midfielder] 1977 World Class [12/77] [#2 Midfielder] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#1 Midfielder] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Midfielder] 1980 not considered [07/80] Franco FODA Broad circle: 13 times Considered: 9 times Initially a man-marker then later a libero and defensive midfielder. Technically solid but his greatest assets were his stamina and brute force in one-on-one situations. 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Defensive Midfielder] 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 not considered [07/87] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#4 Libero] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#6 Libero] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Defensive Midfielder] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#11 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#3 Defender] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#8 Defensive Midfielder] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#7 Libero] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#2 Libero] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#5 Libero] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#3 Libero] 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Libero] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Libero] 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Marker] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 considered_ [12/95] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1996 not considered 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#4 German abroad] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#2 German abroad] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#4 German abroad] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Libero] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Libero] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Libero] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered [07/01] Bernhard FÖRSTER International class: 3 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 3 times An industrious utility player who was used in all defensive positions (full back, sweeper, libero, stopper and defensive midfield). He spent most of his time as a right-footed left back and had a reputation as a very hard-playing defender with great tackling skills. Offensively he didn’t offer much and his full back duties were generally almost exclusively man-marking jobs. 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Full Back] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Full Back] 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 not considered 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#5 Full Back] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#3 Full Back] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#6 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#6 Full Back] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#8 Full Back] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#4 Full Back] 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#2 Full Back] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#5 Libero] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#1 Full Back] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#5 Full Back] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Full Back] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#3 Full Back] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered [07/85] Karlheinz FÖRSTER World class: 3 times International class: 13 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 2 times Arguably Germany’s best pure defender, a very reliable and consistent stopper who like his older brother Bernd did not offer much in terms of offense. A rough edged man-marker with a decent touch, aerial prowess in spite of his average height. His great asset was that his performance level remained constantly high year after year, always reaching between 90-100% of his potential, which made him Germany’s no. 1 stopper from 1978 until his premature retirement from international duties after the 1986 World Cup when he was just 27 years old. Despite his combative edge he avoided to get sent-off more than one time in his 272 Bundesliga games. His playing style was considered as hard as that of his older brother but his touch was definitely superior. 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Stopper] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Stopper] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#6 Stopper] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#2 Stopper] 1978 Internat. Cl. [12/78] [#2 Stopper] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#1 Stopper] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#1 Stopper] 1980 Internat. Cl. [07/80] [#1 Stopper] 1980 Internat. Cl. [12/80] [#2 Stopper] 1981 Internat. Cl. [07/81] [#1 Stopper] 1981 Internat. Cl. [12/81] [#1 Stopper] 1982 World Class [07/82] [#1 Stopper] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#1 Stopper] 1983 World Class [07/83] [#1 Stopper] 1983 Internat. Cl. [12/83] [#2 Stopper] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#1 Stopper] 1984 Internat. Cl. [12/84] [#1 Stopper] 1985 Internat. Cl. [07/85] [#1 Stopper] 1985 Internat. Cl. [12/85] [#2 Defender] 1986 World Class [07/86] [#1 Defender] 1986 played abroad [12/86] 1987 played abroad 1988 played abroad 1989 played abroad 1990 played abroad [07/90] Wolfgang FRANK Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 6 times A similar player to Klaus Fischer albeit not able to reach his level and certainly not as consistent as Fischer. Like Fischer he was not a tall forward but had an expertise aerial ability. Inside the box an agile and tricky finisher who liked to work hard for his team. 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Central Forward] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Central Forward] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Central Forward] 1973 not considered 1974 not considered [07/74] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Central Forward] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Central Forward] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Central Forward] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#3 Central Forward] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#4 Central Forward] 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 not considered 1979 not considered 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#5 Central Forward] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 not considered 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 not considered 1988 not considered [07/88] Bernd FRANKE International class: 12 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 10 times A very fine goalkeeper, arguably the best in Germany during the 1970s until the early-1980s right after Sepp Maier and then Harald Schumacher. Franke was a loyal reserve keeper who had no problems accepting his role as a second or third keeper of the national team. A very reliable player who radiated a sense of calmness, very strong on the goalline and also – despite only being of average height – very firm and composed when leaving his goal. 1968 not considered [12/68] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Goalkeeper] 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 not considered 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Goalkeeper] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Goalkeeper] 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1973 Internat. Cl. [07/73] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1974 Internat. Cl. [12/74] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1975 Internat. Cl. [07/75] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1975 Internat. Cl. [12/75] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1977 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Goalkeeper] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Goalkeeper] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Goalkeeper] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Goalkeeper] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Goalkeeper] 1981 Internat. Cl. [12/81] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Goalkeeper] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Goalkeeper]
Alexander FREI International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 2 times 2006 played abroad [07/06] 2006 considered_ [12/06] [Forward] 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#6 Forward] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 considered_ [07/08] [Forward] 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#2 Forward] 2009 played abroad [12/09] Jürgen FRIEDRICH Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 11 times Jürgen ‘Atze’ Friedrich was an excellent libero as well as midfielder whose career ended prematurely in 1973 due to a broken leg. 1962 not considered [12/62] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Inside Forward] 1963 not considered [12/63] 1964 not considered 1965 not considered 1966 not considered 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Midfielder] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Midfielder] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Midfielder] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#11 Midfielder] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#9 Midfielder] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#8 Midfielder] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#12 Midfielder] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Midfielder] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Midfielder] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Libero] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Midfielder] 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 not considered [07/74] Torsten FRINGS World Class: 1 time International class: 6 times Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 3 times 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Lateral] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Lateral] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 broad circle [07/01] [#5 Lateral] 2001 Internat. Cl. [12/01] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2002 Internat. Cl. [12/02] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2003 considered_ [07/03] [Defensive Midfielder] 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#8 Defensive Midfielder] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 2005 Internat. Cl. [12/05] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2006 World Class [07/06] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2006 Internat. Cl. [12/06] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered [07/08] 2008 broad circle [12/08] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#10 Defensive Midfielder] 2011 not considered [12/11] 2012 not considered 2013 not considered [07/13] Michael FRONTZECK Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 11 times A very offensive full back who would swing in excellent crosses from the left wing. Possessed a very good shooting technique, good ball control and aerial game, was sometimes used as a man-marker. Frontzeck was first capped in 1984 but it took eight years before he actually participated in a tournament. In 1992 he played in the defeat to the Netherlands as a left wing back because Andreas Brehme had moved centrally after Guido Buchwald’s injury. 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered [07/83] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#6 Full Back] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#5 Full Back] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Full Back] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#3 Full Back] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [07/86] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Defensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Defensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Defensive Midfielder] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#11 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 not considered 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Defensive Midfielder] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 considered_ [07/96] [Wide Midfielder] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Wide Midfielder] 1997 considered_ [12/97] [Lateral] 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Lateral] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Lateral] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered [07/00] Friedhelm FUNKEL Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 15 times A very hard-running and hard-working offensive midfielder who could also be used as a central forward. Solid technique, excellent aerial ability, Funkel liked to roam in midfield and then looking for the lethal finish near or inside the box. 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 not considered [07/74] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Midfielder] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Central Forward] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Midfielder] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Central Forward] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Midfielder] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Midfielder] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Midfielder] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Midfielder] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Midfielder] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#13 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#7 Midfielder] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#9 Midfielder] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#6 Central Forward] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered [07/83] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Offensive Midfielder] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [07/86] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 not considered 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Libero] 1989 not considered 1990 not considered [07/90] Wolfgang FUNKEL International class: 1 time Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 10 times Younger brother of Friedhelm, Wolfgang Funkel was a very tall man-marker and defensive midfielder with excellent heading qualities who was very dangerous at set-pieces. Lacked a bit of pace but possessed above average ball skills for a defensive player of this height. 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Stopper] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Stopper] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Stopper] 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 Internat. Cl. [07/86] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Defensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Defensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Defender] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#9 Defensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Defensive Midfielder] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Defender] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#6 Defender] 1990 not considered 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#6 Marker] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#4 Libero] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#7 Marker] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Marker] 1993 not considered 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Marker] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered [07/95] Jan FURTOK International class: 2 time Considered: 5 times A support striker who lacked consistency for a more permanent role among the Bundesliga’s top scorers. His best season was the second half of 1990-91 when he scored 15 of his 20 goals that season. 1988 played abroad [07/88] 1988 not considered [12/88] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#2 Forward] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Forward] 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Forward] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Forward] 1991 Internat. Cl. [07/91] [#1 Forward] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Forward] 1992 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Forward] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 not considered 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 played abroad [12/95] Tomáš GALÁSEK International class: 2 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 1 time 2006 played abroad [07/06] 2006 broad circle [12/06] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2008 not considered [07/08] 2008 played abroad [12/08] 2009 considered_ [07/09] [Defensive Midfielder] 2009 played abroad [12/09] Maurizio GAUDINO International class: 2 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 7 times The son of Italian immigrants was a technically sound offensive midfielder with an lower than average work ethic who found it difficult to adapt to tactical restrictions. An elegant individualist who ended up as an “eternal talent”. 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 not considered 1985 not considered 1986 not considered [07/86] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1987 not considered 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Offensive Midfielder] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Offensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#4 Forward] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#9 Forward] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 Internat. Cl. [12/93] [#2 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 broad circle [07/94] [#11 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 not considered 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Offensive Midfielder] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered 2000 not considered 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Offensive Midfielder] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 not considered [07/02] Wolfgang GAYER Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 4 times Wolfgang Gayer was a withdrawn inside forward with a nose for goals who started and finished his career in Austria. In between he spent seven seasons in Germany playing for Neunkirchen, Hertha BSC and TSV 1860 München. He joined Austria Wien in 1963 and became top scorer of the Austrian league in his second season there. By the late 1960s he had evolved into a central midfielder and was an established Bundesliga player for Hertha BSC but his career in Germany was cut short due to his involvement in the 1971 Bundesliga scandal. 1966 played abroad [07/66] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Central Forward] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Central Forward] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Central Forward] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Central Forward] 1968 not considered [12/68] 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [Midfielder] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#5 Midfielder] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#13 Midfielder] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#8 Midfielder] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered 1973 not considered 1974 not considered 1974 played abroad [12/74]
Rolf GEIGER International class: 4 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 4 times Once described by a sports writer as a player who relied on his unerring instincts and who possessed a sixth sense, Geiger was an excellent technical player and a dangerous goalscorer. Not rarely did the bricklayer make headlines because he was involved in brawls. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 not considered [07/56] 1956 Internat. Cl. [12/56] [#3 Inside Forward] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#11 Inside Forward] 1957 not considered [12/57] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#5 Inside Forward] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#4 Inside Forward] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#8 Inside Forward] 1960 considered_ [1960] [Inside Forward] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Inside Forward] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#6 Inside Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 played abroad [12/62] 1963 played abroad [07/63] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Center Forward] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#3 Inside Forward] 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#21 Inside Forward] 1965 not considered [12/65] 1966 not considered 1967 not considered [07/67] Theofanis GEKAS International class: 2 times Broad circle: 2 times 2006 played abroad [07/06] 2006 broad circle [12/06] [#7 Forward] 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#1 Forward] 2007 broad circle [12/07] [#11 Forward] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#2 Forward] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 played abroad [12/12] Karl-Heinz GEILS Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 9 times A rock-hard man-marker with great physicality who would play sometimes as a stopper but mainly as a full back on both sides, preferring the right side. Certainly not a great footballer, more a ruthless fighting machine. 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Full Back] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Full Back] 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Full Back] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#7 Stopper] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Stopper] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Stopper] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Stopper] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#7 Midfielder] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#7 Full Back] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#13 Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#15 Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Full Back] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#9 Full Back] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Full Back] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Full Back] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defensive Midfielder] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Defensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered 1988 not considered 1989 not considered 1990 not considered [07/90] Roland GERBER Broad circle: 5 times A tough-tackling sweeper whose peak years were the late-1970s when he won the Bundesliga championship with Köln in 1977-78 but on the whole he didn’t leave remarkable footprints in the league and faded relatively fast. 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#4 Libero] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#4 Libero] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#3 Libero] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#3 Libero] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#2 Libero] 1979 not considered 1980 not considered 1981 not considered 1982 not considered 1983 not considered [07/83] Pedro GEROMEL International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 1 time 2008 played abroad [07/08] 2008 Internat. Cl. [12/08] [#2 Central Defender] 2009 considered_ [07/09] [Central Defender] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#11 Central Defender] 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#5 Central Defender] 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#4 Central Defender] 2011 not considered [12/11] 2012 not considered 2013 not considered [07/13] 2013 played abroad [12/13] Klaus GERWIEN International class: 1 time Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 5 times A vivacious winger in the successful Braunschweig side of the 1960s. His strength was service, not finishing. As a winger he was fast and tricky and would also be used as an inside forward or center forward, his best position however was as an outside right. 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 not considered 1961 not considered 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 not considered [12/62] 1963 not considered [07/63] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#2 Outside Right] 1964 not considered [07/64] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#2 Outside Right] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#9 Outside Right] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Outside Right] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Outside Right] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Outside Right] 1967 Internat. Cl. [07/67] [#3 Outside Right] 1967 broad circle [12/67] [#5 Outside Right] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#3 Outside Right] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#2 Outside Right] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#1 Outside Left] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Outside Right] 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 not considered [07/70] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Outside Right] 1971 not considered 1972 not considered 1973 not considered [07/73] Reiner GEYE Broad circle: 14 times Considered: 15 times Known for his good shooting technique and capable to swing in good crosses after high tempo outbursts on the wing, Reiner Geye was a defining figure in Fortuna Düsseldorf’s rise as a respected force in German football in the 1970s. 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Central Forward] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Central Forward] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Central Forward] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Central Forward] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Central Forward] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Central Forward] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [OutsideRight] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#3 Outside Right] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#3 Outside Right] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#2 Outside Right] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#2 Outside Right] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#1 Outside Right] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#2 Outside Right] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#5 Outside Right] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Outside Right] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#6 Outside Right] 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Outside Right] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#11 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#2 Outside Right] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#1 Outside Right] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#3 Outside Right] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Outside Right] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#10 Offensive Midfielder] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 not considered 1986 not considered [07/86] Fabian GIEFER International class: 1 time 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#7 Goalkeeper] 2013 not considered 2014 not considered Willi GIESEMANN International class: 3 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 10 times Giesemann impressed as an athletic defender at the start of his career, but continued to work on his ball control so that Sepp Herberger was convinced that the fast and committed allround-defender’s footballing level was good enough for a call up to the national side. His strength clearly remained one-on-one situations. His preferred assignment was that of a left back, he was mostly used as a central defender or defensive midfielder though. 1956 not considered [12/56] 1957 not considered 1958 considered_ [1958] [Center Half] 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#5 Full Back] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#5 Full Back] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#2 Half Back] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#7 Center Half] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#5 Half Back] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#3 Half Back] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 not considered [12/62] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Half Back] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Half Back] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Half Back] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#1 Center Half] 1964 Internat. Cl. [12/64] [#1 Center Half] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#2 Center Half] 1965 not considered [12/65] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Central Defender] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Midfielder] 1967 not considered 1968 not considered 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Central Defender] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Midfielder] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Central Defender] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Libero] Anders GISKE International class: 1 time Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 3 times A sober-minded Norwegian man-marker who was good at heading and in one-on-one duels. In 1985 he became captain of the Norway national team as well as Nürnberg in the Bundesliga. In Köln he was a decent replacement of Jürgen Kohler when he joined Bayern in 1989. 1983 played abroad [07/83] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Foreign Player] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#7 Foreign player] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#7 Foreign player] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#8 Foreign player] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#9 Foreign player] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Defender] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#9 Defender] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Defender] 1990 not considered [07/90] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#4 Marker] 1991 not considered 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#2 Marker] 1992 played abroad [12/92]
Bjarne GOLDBAEK International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 3 times A small, bustling, fast offensive midfielder who could excel on the wing however not a great goal threat. 1987 played abroad [07/87] 1987 Internat. Cl. [12/87] [#6 Foreign player] 1988 not considered 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Offensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered [07/90] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Offensive Midfielder] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Wide Midfielder] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 played abroad [12/96] Richard GOLZ International class: 1 time Broad circle: 10 times Considered: 9 times A very tall goalkeeper whose drawback were comparably slow reflexes on the goalline and hence he never really was sure of his starting place in Hamburg despite his 273 Bundesliga games. He joined little SC Freiburg in 1999 where he benefitted from the calm atmosphere compared to Hamburg. A player who was liked by the fans due to his sympathetic nature and high intelligence. 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 not considered 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Goalkeeper] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Goalkeeper] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#9 Goalkeeper] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#9 Goalkeeper] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#9 Goalkeeper] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Goalkeeper] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Goalkeeper] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1996 considered_ [07/96] [Goalkeeper] 1996 considered_ [12/96] [Goalkeeper] 1997 not considered 1998 not considered [07/98] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Goalkeeper] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Goalkeeper] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Goalkeeper] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2001 Internat. Cl. [07/01] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered 2005 not considered 2006 not considered 2007 not considered 2008 not considered [07/08] Mario GOMEZ World class: 2 times International class: 4 times Broad circle: 5 times 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 not considered 2005 not considered 2006 not considered [07/06] 2006 broad circle [12/06] [#4 Forward] 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#5 Forward] 2007 broad circle [12/07] [#5 Forward] 2008 broad circle [07/08] [#2 Forward] 2008 broad circle [12/08] [#13 Forward] 2009 Internat. Cl. [07/09] [#3 Forward] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#7 Forward] 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#1 Forward] 2011 World Class [07/11] [#1 Forward] 2011 World Class [12/11] [#1 Forward] 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#2 Forward] 2012 not considered [12/12] 2013 not considered 2014 not considered Werner GÖRTS Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 20 times A small, agile, bustling winger with a bag of tricks, good goalscorer as well who often knocked on the door of the national team but unfortunately never made the final step. His competition (Reinhard Libuda, Jürgen Grabowski, Hannes Löhr, Sigfried Held….) proved to be a tad too strong. 1962 broad circle [1962] [#3 Outside Left] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Outside Left] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#4 Outside Left] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Outside Left] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Outside Left] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#8 Outside Left] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Outside Left] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Outside Left] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Outside Left] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Outside Left] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Central Forward] 1967 broad circle [12/67] [#7 Outside Right] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#4 Outside Right] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#4 Outside Right] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#5 Outside Right] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Outside Right] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Outside Right] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Outside Left] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Outside Right] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [OutsideRight] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Outside Left] 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Outside Left] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Outside Right] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Outside Left] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Outside Left] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#3 Outside Left] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Outside Left] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Outside Left] 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 not considered [07/78] Armin GÖRTZ International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 3 times 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered 1984 played abroad 1985 played abroad 1986 played abroad 1987 not considered [07/87] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Defensive Midfielder] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Defensive Midfielder] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Defensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered 1991 not considered 1992 not considered 1993 not considered Mario GÖTZE World class: 1 time International class: 6 times Broad circle: 1 time 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2011 Internat. Cl. [07/11] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2011 Internat. Cl. [12/11] [#3 Offensive Lateral] 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 World Class [12/12] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2013 Internat. Cl. [07/13] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2013 broad circle [12/03] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#5 Offensive Lateral] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#2 Offensive Lateral] Uwe GOSPODAREK International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 2 times 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 considered_ [12/95] [Goalkeeper] 1996 considered_ [07/96] [Goalkeeper] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1997 Internat. Cl. [07/97] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 not considered 1999 not considered 2000 not considered 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered 2005 not considered 2006 not considered 2007 not considered 2008 not considered [07/08] Jürgen GRABOWSKI World class: 1 time International class: 20 times Broad circle: 11 times One of the best football players Germany ever produced, definitely the best who ever played for Eintracht Frankfurt in the long history of that club. An outside right by trade who became a withdrawn “false 9” playmaker in the Di Stéfano vein in the second half of his career. A superb technician with delicate ball control, lightfooted dribbler, two-footed, fast, very down-home type of player. With his specialty as a winger, first sidestepping and then delivering well-timed crosses, he assisted a number of important goals for the German national team. His most noteworthy performances came in the 1970 World Cup when he was considered to be the best substitute of the tournament. While he was a defining player in the Bundesliga, he strangely did not have that many great games for the national team. Considering his great talent he is not that renown in international football. 1960 not considered 1961 not considered 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 not considered [12/62] 1963 not considered 1964 not considered 1965 not considered [07/65] 1965 broad circle [12/65] [#4 Outside Right] 1966 broad circle [07/66] [#3 Outside Right] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#2 Outside Right] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#1 Outside Right] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#4 Outside Right] 1968 not considered [07/68] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#5 Outside Right] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#4 Outside Right] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#2 Outside Right] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#3 Outside Left] 1970 Internat. Cl. [07/70] [#1 Outside Right] 1970 Internat. Cl. [07/70] [#2 Outside Left] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#8 Midfielder] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#1 Outside Right] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#3 Outside Left] 1971 Internat. Cl. [07/71] [#1 Outside Right] 1971 Internat. Cl. [07/71] [#3 Midfielder] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#1 Outside Right] 1972 Internat. Cl. [07/72] [#1 Outside Right] 1972 Internat. Cl. [12/72] [#1 Outside Right] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#1 Outside Right] 1973 Internat. Cl. [12/73] [#1 Outside Right] 1974 Internat. Cl. [07/74] [#1 Outside Right] 1974 Internat. Cl. [12/74] [#1 Midfielder] 1975 Internat. Cl. [07/75] [#1 Central Forward] 1975 Internat. Cl. [12/75] [#2 Midfielder] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#2 Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#6 Midfielder] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#1 Midfielder] 1977 World Class [12/77] [#1 Midfielder] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#3 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#8 Midfielder] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#2 Midfielder] 1980 not considered [07/80] GRAFITE Edinaldo Batista Libânio World class: 1 time International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 1 time 2007 played abroad [07/07] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 broad circle [07/08] [#6 Forward] 2008 Internat. Cl. [12/08] [#3 Forward] 2009 World Class [07/09] [#2 Forward] 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Forward] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#12 Forward] 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 played abroad [12/11] Roland GRAHAMMER Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 10 times For a man-marker, Roland Grahammer was quite talented on the ball and possessed an above average technique. Good positioning and reading of the game which meant that he didn’t have to tackle all that much. It was predicted early in his career that he would once play as a decent libero but when he joined Bayern after the 1988 Olympics he stalled in his progression. Klaus Augenthaler was the libero so Grahammer had to continue as a man-marker, which he did sufficiently but he never reached the next level. A grave injury in August 1992 ended his career premature. 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered [07/83] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Full Back] 1984 not considered 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Stopper] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defender] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Defender] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Defender] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Defender] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#3 Defender] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#10 Defender] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Defender] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Defender] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Defender] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#8 Defender] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Marker] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered 1992 not considered [12/92]
Holger GREILICH International class: 1 time Considered: 4 times A physical man-marker with good pace, strong at heading and good distribution. As a junior he was a midfielder and thus felt at home when in possession. After the international retirement of Jürgen Kohler after the 1998 World Cup, Greilich was discussed as a replacement of Kohler in the national team but a cartilage damage meant the premature end of his career as a professional. 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Marker] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Marker] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Marker] 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Marker] 1998 Internat. Cl. [12/98] [#3 Marker] 1999 not considered 2000 not considered 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/04] Gilbert GRESS International class: 1 time An outside right with the qualities of a playmaker, Frenchman Gilbert Gress was the undisputed star player of VfB Stuttgart in the late-1960s. Apparently Gress had a hard time getting into the French national side because his long hair was not tolerated. 1966 played abroad [07/66] 1966 not assessed [12/66] 1967 not assessed 1968 not assessed 1969 not assessed 1970 not assessed [07/70] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#3 Foreign player] Wolfgang GROBE Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 7 times A tall, withy defensive midfielder and stopper with a knack for goal scoring. Mostly a midfielder during his time in Braunschweig, when he joined Bayern in 1982, Grobe was mainly used as a stopper, taking up the role Klaus Augenthaler had vacated since he became Bayern’s libero that year. A player with good ball control and distribution skills from the back, Grobe’s years at Bayern were troubled by recurring injury problems which finally led to his retirement at the age of 28 in 1985. 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Midfielder] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Stopper] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#18 Midfielder] 1980 not considered [07/80] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Libero] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Libero] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#11 Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#14 Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Stopper] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Stopper] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#5 Stopper] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Defensive Midfielder] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered [07/85] Jürgen GROH International class: 1 time Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 9 times A lightfooted defensive midfielder and full back who mainly lived on his stamina, but still had a solid technique for a player of his position and good passing skills. Joined Hamburg in 1981 and immediately became vital in Ernst Happel’s tactical plans. Groh was used as a retainer in front of the defense during his time in Hamburg but also as a marker. When playing in midfield, Groh was an important assistant to playmaker Felix Magath. 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Full Back] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Midfielder] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Full Back] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#10 Midfielder] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#4 Full Back] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#6 Full Back] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#4 Full Back] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#11 Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Defensive Midfielder] 1985 not considered 1986 not considered [07/86] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Defensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Libero] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Defensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Defensive Midfielder] 1988 not considered [12/88] 1989 not considered [07/89] Volkmar GROSS International class: 3 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 2 times A very tall and present, quite charismatic goalkeeper who excelled at mastering high balls and during his time playing for Hertha BSC (1967-72) was rated as one of the very best keepers in the Bundesliga. Due to his involvement in the 1971 Bundesliga scandal, his international career was over after only one international game. During his suspension he played in South Africa, which was not part of FIFA, and then for Twente Enschede in the Eredivisie. Gross had a comeback in the Bundesliga in 1977 doing very well for lowly Tennis Borussia Berlin, then he joined Schalke 04 in 1977 where he was in constant rotation with Yugoslavian international keeper Enver Maric and then spent six years in the NASL before retiring in 1983. 1967 not considered [12/67] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Goalkeeper] 1968 not considered [12/68] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Goalkeeper] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1970 Internat. Cl. [07/70] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 played abroad [12/72] 1973 played abroad 1974 played abroad 1975 played abroad 1976 played abroad [07/76] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1978 not considered 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 played abroad [12/79] Peter GROSSER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 10 times Playmaker of Bayern München who caused a bit of an uproar when he joined local rivals TSV 1860 in 1963, where he immediately became the dominating presence in midfield and together with Petar Radenkovic and Rudolf Brunnenmeier formed the backbone of the successful TSV 1860 team of the mid-1960s. 1957 considered_ [12/57] [Inside Forward] 1958 considered_ [1958] [Outside Right] 1958 considered_ [1958] [Inside Forward] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Inside Forward] 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 not considered 1961 not considered 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Outside Right] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Inside Forward] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Inside Forward] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Inside Forward] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Inside Forward] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#10 Inside Forward] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#4 Inside Forward] 1966 broad circle [07/66] [#4 Midfielder] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#4 Midfielder] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Midfielder] 1967 not considered [12/67] 1968 not considered 1969 not considered 1970 not considered [07/70] 1970 played abroad [12/70] 1971 played abroad [07/71] Kevin GROSSKREUTZ International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 4 times 2006 not considered [12/06] 2007 not considered 2008 not considered 2009 not considered 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#9 Offensive Lateral] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#8 Offensive Lateral] 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#6 Offensive Lateral] 2011 not considered [12/11] 2012 considered_ [07/12] [Offensive Lateral] 2012 considered_ [12/12] [Offensive Lateral] 2013 considered_ [07/13] [Offensive Lateral] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#2 Defensive Lateral] 2014 considered_ [07/14] [Offensive Lateral] 2014 not considered [12/14] Heinz GRÜNDEL Broad circle: 4 times A fleet-footed, nimble right winger with a very fine technique, Heinz Gründel was a full-blooded dribbler who spent the first half of his career successfully in the Belgian league playing for THOR Waterschei and Standard Liège before joining Hamburg in 1985 where he immediately became a star player and also became an international. In the second part of his career he played more centrally in midfield and was part of the very fluent and technical Eintracht Frankfurt team of the early-1990s which also featured Uwe Bein, Andreas Möller, Ralf Falkenmayer and Anthony Yeboah. 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 played abroad [12/78] 1979 played abroad 1980 played abroad 1981 played abroad 1982 played abroad 1983 played abroad 1984 played abroad 1985 played abroad [07/85] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#7 Forward] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#12 Forward] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered 1988 not considered 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#12 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered 1992 not considered 1993 not considered [07/93] Ilkay GÜNDOĞAN World class: 1 time International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 1 time 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 considered_ [12/10] [Offensive Midfielder] 2011 not considered 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 2013 World Class [07/13] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2013 not considered [12/13] 2014 not considered Helmut HALLER World class: 1 time International class: 6 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 5 times The temperamental and also a bit plaintive inside right already impressed at young age with his subtle ball control. Haller quickly gained a reputation as a cunning provider and an able finisher and became a celebrated star player in Serie A playing for Bologna and later Juventus before returning to his native Augsburg in 1973 where he continued to play until 1979, aged 39. 1957 considered_ [12/57] [Inside Forward] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#3 Inside Forward] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#3 Inside Forward] 1959 considered_ [12/59] [Inside Forward] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#2 Inside Forward] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#2 Inside Forward] 1961 Internat. Cl. [12/61] [#2 Inside Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 played abroad [12/62] 1963 played abroad 1964 played abroad 1965 played abroad 1966 World Class [07/66] [#3 Midfielder] 1966 played abroad [12/66] 1967 played abroad 1968 played abroad 1969 played abroad 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#6 Midfielder] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#5 Midfielder] 1971 played abroad 1972 played abroad 1973 played abroad [07/73] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Midfielder] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Midfielder] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Midfielder] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered 1979 not considered [07/79]
Dietmar HAMANN International class: 5 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 2 times 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 Internat. Cl. [12/97] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1998 Internat. Cl. [07/98] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 Internat. Cl. [07/99] [#2 German abroad] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#6 German abroad] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#6 German abroad] 2001 broad circle [07/01] [#5 German abroad] 2001 Internat. Cl. [12/01] [#1 German abroad] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#2 German abroad] 2003 broad circle [07/03] [#2 German abroad] 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 considered_ [07/04] [Defensive Midfielder] 2004 considered_ [12/04] [Defensive Midfielder] 2005 not considered 2006 not considered 2007 not considered [07/07] 2007 broad circle [12/07] [#1 German abroad] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 not considered [07/11] Karl-Heinz HANDSCHUH Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 16 times A classic playmaker that channelled all of his team’s offensive actions, had good ball control and passing skills and was a dangerous goalscorer. His bad luck was that the national team didn’t need him as they had Overath and Netzer. 1966 not considered [12/66] 1967 not considered [07/67] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Central Forward] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Central Forward] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Central Forward] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Outside Right] 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Central Forward] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Central Forward] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Central Forward] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#11 Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Midfielder] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Midfielder] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#6 Midfielder] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Midfielder] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#7 Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#11 Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#12 Midfielder] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Midfielder] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Midfielder] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Midfielder] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Midfielder] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Midfielder] 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 not considered [07/80] Wilfried HANNES International class: 4 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 6 times The one-eyed Libero Wilfried Hannes started out as a center forward aged 18 in 1975 playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach, however his skillset wasn’t sufficient for that position thus he was retreated to a defensive position soon, first as a stopper, then as a libero. As a player he was extremely good at heading and thus quite a goal threat at set-pieces, once even managing 16 goals in a single season. His ball control was above average but not as good as that of other liberos at that time. 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 not considered 1977 not considered 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#3 Stopper] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#7 Libero] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#1 Libero] 1980 Internat. Cl. [12/80] [#2 Libero] 1981 Internat. Cl. [07/81] [#1 Libero] 1981 Internat. Cl. [12/81] [#1 Libero] 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#2 Libero] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Libero] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#6 Libero] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Stopper] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Stopper] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#2 Stopper] 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#3 Defender] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Defender] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Libero] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Libero] 1988 not considered [07/88] Johnny HANSEN Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 2 times A Danish right back with a rock solid defensive mentality, not an offensive full back. When in possession, he moved forward to get involved in the build up but he wasn’t seen often bombing down the wing to deliver crosses like Paul Breitner did on the left side. 1968 played abroad [07/68] 1968 not assessed [12/68] 1969 not assessed 1970 not assessed [07/70] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#5 Foreign player] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#6 Foreign player] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#4 Foreign player] 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#4 Foreign player] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#3 Foreign player] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#2 Foreign player] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Foreign Player] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#3 Foreign player] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Foreign Player] 1976 played abroad [12/76] Michael HARFORTH Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 6 times Initially a right winger who later became a central midfield player. His assets were his long diagonal passes and his precise shot. Michael Harforth was a regular at Karlsruhe for more than 13 consecutive seasons. He was also notable for his mane which made him resemble Günter Netzer in appearance. 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 not considered 1979 not considered 1980 not considered 1981 not considered 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 not considered 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Offensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [07/86] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#10 Offensive Midfielder] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Offensive Midfielder] 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Offensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered [07/98] Martin HARNIK International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 2 times 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#5 Offensive Lateral] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 broad circle [12/11] [#7 Offensive Lateral] 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#3 Offensive Lateral] 2012 considered_ [12/12] [Offensive Lateral] 2013 not considered 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 considered_ [12/14] [Offensive Lateral] Gerhard HARPERS International class: 2 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 3 times A left half who only just missed making the 1954 World Cup squad. The fun-loving player didn’t care a lot for virtues like discipline and it is said that he annoyed Sepp Herberger with his cheekiness and unconventional actions that Herberger gladly eschewed Harpers’ services. Herberger already had a player like Harpers in Helmut Rahn and apparently was not keen on having to deal with a second character like that. 1955 Internat. Cl. [12/55] [#3 Half Back] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#4 Half Back] 1956 considered_ [12/56][Half Back] 1957 not considered [07/57] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#10 Half Back] 1958 not considered [1958] 1959 not considered [07/59] William HARTWIG International class: 1 time Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 7 times Son of an American soldier and a German woman, he started out as an offensive right back with a great urge towards the goal., then settled as a defensive midfielder by the late-1970s. William ‘Jimmy’ Hartwig was a great fighter who loved the physical aspects of the game more than the finesse. That being said, he had a good control of the ball, and his aerial ability made him always a threat in front of the opposing goal. After his retirement he survived cancer in the mid-1990s and then became an accomplished part-time stage actor. He was always an outspoken player and made headlines ahead of the 1982 World Cup when he stated that he "was probably not blond enough to play in the national team" after Jupp Derwall did not include him in 1982 World Cup squad. 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Full Back] 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Full Back] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Full Back] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Full Back] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#18 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#11 Midfielder] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#14 Midfielder] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#19 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#21 Midfielder] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Midfielder] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#8 Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#9 Defensive Midfielder] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1984 not considered 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 not considered 1988 not considered [07/88] Thomas HÄSSLER World class: 4 times International class: 13 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 3 times Thomas ‘Icke’ Hässler was one of the most prominent and beloved midfielders of German football in the 1990s. A diminutive, stocky player with a low center of gravity who possessed a brilliant technique and was very adept at quick turns in close space with the ball tied to his right foot. A great short passer and very fine tempo dribbler. Another specialty was bending the ball viciously at freekicks. A successful blend of a tireless midfield worker, a playmaker and a tricky winger. A rare breed in that he was an individualist who was committed to teamplay. 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 not considered [07/87] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1988 World Class [12/88] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 Internat. Cl. [07/90] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 World Class [12/90] [#1 German abroad] 1991 Internat. Cl. [07/91] [#4 German abroad] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#9 German abroad] 1992 World Class [07/92] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#2 German abroad] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#4 German abroad] 1993 Internat. Cl. [12/93] [#3 German abroad] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#2 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#7 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#3 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#3 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#4 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 World Class [12/96] [#1 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 Internat. Cl. [12/97] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Offensive Midfielder] 2001 broad circle [07/01] [#10 Offensive Midfielder] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 2002 considered_ [07/02][Offensive Midfielder] 2002 considered_ [12/02][Offensive Midfielder] 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/14] Roland HATTENBERGER Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 6 times A Tyrolian defensive midfielder and central defender with a tough never say die mentality. Excelled in one-on-one situations, a tireless midfield workhorse. He participated in two World Cups with Austria, but didn’t play a single minute in the 1978 World Cup due to an injury. 1974 played abroad [07/74] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Foreign Player] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Foreign Player] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Foreign Player] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Foreign Player] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#9 Foreign player] 1978 not considered 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Foreign Player] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#10 Foreign player] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#11 Foreign player] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#6 Foreign player] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Foreign Player] 1981 played abroad [12/81]
Hartmut HEIDEMANN Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 8 times A combative right back for MSV Duisburg who started out as an outside left in the late-1950s. In the mid- to late-1960s he was counted among the Bundesliga’s best full backs, often engaged in offensive actions. Due to the emergence of the young Berti Vogts, Heidemann only collected a couple of caps. By the early 1970s, Heidemann had moved from right back to sweeper. He had to retire in 1973 after two meniscus surgeries. 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 not considered 1961 not considered 1962 not considered 1963 not considered 1964 not considered 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#14 Full Back] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Full Back] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Full Back] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#3 Full Back] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#4 Full Back] 1967 broad circle [12/67] [#4 Full Back] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#3 Full Back] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Full Back] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Full Back] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Full Back] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#5 Full Back] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Full Back] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Libero] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Libero] Jörg HEINRICH International class: 1 time Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 2 times 1988 not assessed [East G.] 1989 not assessed [East G.] 1990 not assessed [East G.] [07/90] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Wide Midfielder] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#4 Wide Midfielder] 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#1 Wide Midfielder] 1997 Internat. Cl. [07/97] [#1 Wide Midfielder] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#1 Lateral] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#7 Lateral] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#7 German abroad] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#7 German abroad] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#5 German abroad] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#4 German abroad] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#5 Libero] 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Defensive Midfielder] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/04] Gerhard HEINZE Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 14 times One of the smallest goalkeepers of the Bundesliga, Heinze was a classic example of a goalkeeper who excelled with his reflexes on the goalline but struggled a little bit when he had to leave his goal. In spite of very good performances as a goalkeeper he was never fully undisputed due to his lack of height. Despite these shortcomings, he was a regular starter in goal over the course of 15 consecutive professional seasons. 1967 not considered [12/67] 1968 not considered [07/68] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Goalkeeper] 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 not considered 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Goalkeeper] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Goalkeeper] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Goalkeeper] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Goalkeeper] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Goalkeeper] 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Goalkeeper] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Goalkeeper] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Goalkeeper] 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Goalkeeper] 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Goalkeeper] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Goalkeeper] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Goalkeeper] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Goalkeeper] 1983 not considered [07/83] Alfred HEISS International class: 1 time Broad circle: 15 times Considered: 2 times A temperamental outside forward for TSV 1860 München with great stamina who felt at home on both flanks. 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 considered_ [1960] [Outside Right] 1961 not considered 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#4 Outside Right] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#2 Outside Left] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#2 Outside Right] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#1 Outside Left] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#4 Outside Right] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#2 Outside Left] 1964 broad circle [07/64] [#3 Outside Right] 1964 broad circle [07/64] [#2 Outside Left] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#3 Outside Right] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#3 Outside Left] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#2 Outside Right] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#4 Outside Left] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#2 Outside Right] 1965 broad circle [12/65] [#2 Outside Left] 1966 broad circle [07/66] [#4 Outside Right] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#3 Outside Right] 1967 not considered [07/67] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Outside Right] 1968 not considered 1969 not considered 1970 not considered 1971 not considered 1972 not considered [07/72] Sigfried HELD International class: 14 times Broad circle: 11 times Considered: 11 times A fantastic outside and central forward, one of the few players who could use both feet equally well. A very fast player who preferred providing goal chances to scoring himself. Held was still active at the ripe age of 38 years when a played as a sweeper for Bayer 05 Uerdingen in the last few years of his careers. 1963 not considered [12/63] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Center Forward] 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#7 Center Forward] 1965 broad circle [12/65] [#3 Center Forward] 1966 Internat. Cl. [07/66] [#2 Central Forward] 1966 Internat. Cl. [12/66] [#1 Outside Left] 1966 Internat. Cl. [12/66] [#2 Central Forward] 1967 Internat. Cl. [07/67] [#6 Central Forward] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#6 Central Forward] 1968 Internat. Cl. [07/68] [#1 Central Forward] 1968 Internat. Cl. [12/68] [#2 Central Forward] 1969 Internat. Cl. [07/69] [#3 Central Forward] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#2 Outside Left] 1969 Internat. Cl. [12/69] [#3 Central Forward] 1970 Internat. Cl. [07/70] [#3 Outside Left] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#5 Outside Left] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#9 Central Forward] 1971 Internat. Cl. [07/71] [#2 Outside Left] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#5 Central Forward] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Outside Left] 1972 Internat. Cl. [07/72] [#2 Outside Left] 1972 Internat. Cl. [12/72] [#2 Outside Left] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#3 Outside Left] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#3 Outside Left] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#6 Outside Left] 1974 Internat. Cl. [12/74] [#1 Outside Left] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#3 Outside Left] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Outside Left] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#6 Outside Left] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Outside Left] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Outside Left] 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Midfielder] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Libero] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#14 Midfielder] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Midfielder] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Midfielder] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Midfielder] Ronnie HELLSTRÖM World class: 1 time International class: 11 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 1 time Legendary goalkeeper who played ten seasons for Kaiserslautern and is rated among the all-time greatest Swedish players. Excellent on the goalline but like many keepers of the 1970s not faultless when he had to leave his goal. A very tall player, Hellström privately enjoyed listening to the music of Tchaikovsky. 1974 played abroad [07/74] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#5 Foreign player] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#5 Foreign player] 1975 Internat. Cl. [12/75] [#5 Foreign player] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#6 Foreign player] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#3 Foreign player] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#3 Foreign player] 1977 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#3 Foreign player] 1978 World Class [07/78] [#1 Foreign player] 1978 Internat. Cl. [12/78] [#2 Foreign player] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#3 Foreign player] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#4 Foreign player] 1980 Internat. Cl. [07/80] [#6 Foreign player] 1980 Internat. Cl. [12/80] [#2 Foreign player] 1981 Internat. Cl. [07/81] [#2 Foreign player] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Foreign Player] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#6 Foreign player] Thomas HELMER International class: 8 times Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 7 times Originally a left-footed man-marker and also a left back when he started out in the mid-1980s, the intelligent Helmer became noted as a libero with a very good touch around 1990 playing for Dortmund. At that time, he made his first international steps when Germany was looking for a successor to Klaus Augenthaler at the libero position after the 1990 World Cup. When he joined Bayern in 1992 he reversed back to playing as man-marker for the rest of his career, since at Bayern, Olaf Thon, Lothar Matthäus and Thomas Strunz were all preferred playing as Libero. In all these roles Helmer played very convincingly, always interpreting them in an offensive way. Good distribution and dangerous at set pieces due to his height. 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Defensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Defensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Defender] 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Defensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Defender] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#6 Defender] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#5 Defender] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#5 Libero] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#1 Libero] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#2 Libero] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#7 Libero] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#2 Libero] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#2 Marker] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#4 Marker] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Marker] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#5 Marker] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#6 Marker] 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#2 Libero] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#1 Marker] 1996 Internat. Cl. [07/96] [#1 Marker] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 Internat. Cl. [07/97] [#2 Marker] 1997 Internat. Cl. [12/97] [#1 Marker] 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Marker] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#11 Defender] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered 2001 not considered [07/01] Patrick HELMES International class: 2 times Broad circle: 1 time 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 not considered 2005 not considered 2006 not considered 2007 not considered 2008 not considered [07/08] 2008 Internat. Cl. [12/08] [#2 Forward] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#11 Forward] 2009 not considered[12/09] 2010 not considered 2011 not considered 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#2 Forward] 2012 not considered [12/12] [#6 Forward] 2013 not considered 2014 not considered Stéphane HENCHOZ International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 1 time 1995 played abroad [07/95] 1995 considered_ [12/95] [Marker] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#7 Marker] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#3 Marker] 1997 not considered [07/97] 1998 played abroad [12/97] Matthias HERGET International class: 6 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 7 times A classic libero who in possession immediately acted as a forward-moving midfielder, Herget was gifted with a superb technique and a love for adventure on the pitch. From 1983 to 1988 Herget was regarded as one of the very best Bundesliga players. Not at all a tackler, the lightfooted Herget was a libero in the vein of Beckenbauer who wanted to solve every defensive situation in a playful way. Very good at short and long passes and a good reader of the game. A downside was his habit to sometimes lose concentration which could lead to severe blunders, hence his reputation as a happy-go-lucky chap. Herget is still the only player in German professional football who managed to score a hattrick with three penalties. 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Midfielder] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Midfielder] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Libero] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Libero] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Libero] 1983 Internat. Cl. [12/83] [#1 Libero] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#3 Libero] 1984 Internat. Cl. [12/84] [#1 Libero] 1985 Internat. Cl. [07/85] [#1 Libero] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#2 Libero] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#3 Libero] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#5 Libero] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#5 Libero] 1987 Internat. Cl. [12/87] [#2 Libero] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#1 Libero] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Offensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered 1990 not considered [07/90]
Friedrich HERKENRATH World class: 1 time International class: 8 times Considered: 2 times A very likeable goalkeeper who stood out for his quick reflexes, his audacity inside the box and good catching. Herkenrath liked to parry the ball in a spectacular way but despite this love for showboating was a staunch and reliable keeper. 1955 World Class [12/55] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1956 Internat. Cl. [12/56] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1957 Internat. Cl. [07/57] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1957 Internat. Cl. [12/57] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1959 Internat. Cl. [12/56] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Goalkeeper] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Goalkeeper] Kai Erik HERLOVSEN Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 2 times A hard-running defensive midfielder whose task was primarily man-marking, the Norwegian was an uncompromising defensive player and workhorse. 1982 played abroad [07/82] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Foreign Player] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Foreign Player] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#7 Foreign player] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#8 Foreign player] 1986 not considered 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#4 Foreign player] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#13 Foreign player] 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#9 Libero] 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 played abroad [12/89] Heiko HERRLICH International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 3 times A promising talent who needed many years to realize his potential in the Bundesliga. In his first four years as a professional the very tall Herrlich was never more than a complementary player at Leverkusen to Ulf Kirsten and Andreas Thom, scoring only six goals altogether. When he joined Mönchengladbach in 1993, he finally became a star player, even winning the top scorers’ award in 1995. Herrlich was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2001 which eventually ended his career. 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 not considered 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Forward] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Forward] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#3 Forward] 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#2 Forward] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#9 Forward] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#7 Forward] 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 considered_ [12/97] [Forward] 1998 not considered 1999 not considered 2000 not considered [07/00] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#5 Forward] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/04] Günther HERRMANN International class: 2 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 7 times Considered a great offensive talent in his youth, Herrmann was blessed with a supreme technique, which prompted Fritz Walter to assert that Herrmann “has outstanding technical attributes”. Herrmann was a playmaker and goalscorer at the same time, however he did not manage to have a career as great as his talent had promised. 1957 considered_ [07/57] [Inside Forward] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#11 Inside Forward] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#13 Inside Forward] 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#6 Inside Forward] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#6 Inside Forward] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#3 Inside Forward] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#3 Inside Forward] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#3 Inside Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Inside Forward] 1963 not considered [07/63] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Inside Forward] 1964 not considered 1965 not considered [07/65] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Inside Forward] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Midfielder] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Midfielder] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#8 Midfielder] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Midfielder] 1968 not considered 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 played abroad [12/69] 1970 played abroad 1971 played abroad 1972 played abroad 1973 played abroad 1974 played abroad [07/74] Richard HERRMANN International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 1 time As a prisoner of war he was almost signed by Derby County in the late-1940s, yet the English FA denied him a licence. An outside left with great stamina and energy, very good touch and a hard shot and good goal scoring record, he was regarded as the fastest outside forward in German football during his time. A modest character who throughout his career used a bike to travel to training sessions. Internationally, Richard Herrmann stood always in the shadow of Köln’s Hans Schäfer. His only World Cup game was in the 3-8 debacle against Hungary in 1954. He died early of a liver cirrhosis in 1962 aged 39. 1955 Internat. Cl. [12/55] [#2 Outside Left] 1956 broad circle [07/56] [#5 Outside Left] 1956 not considered [12/56] 1957 not considered 1958 considered_ [1958] [Outside Left] 1959 not considered 1960 not considered Andreas HERZOG International class: 5 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 4 times One of Austria’s all-time best players, Andreas Herzog was a classic representative of the old Viennese school of football, fast and lightfooted with a very subtle yet powerful left foot who was known for subtle chips as well as hard shots. Very adept freekick-taker. A master of the “deadly” through ball he could also be used as a left winger with good crossing ability. What this intelligent footballer, who was always playing on a consistently high level, lacked was mental toughness, probably the main reason why he failed in his one season at Bayern during the mid-1990s. Placid Bremen was a place where he blossomed and he quickly returned to Werder in 1996 where he soon recovered from the nightmarish Bayern episode. 1992 played abroad [07/92] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#1 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#1 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Forward] 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#6 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#2 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#5 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 broad circle [07/97] [#4 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#10 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Offensive Midfielder] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Offensive Midfielder] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Offensive Midfielder] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 played abroad [07/02] Dieter HERZOG Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 16 times A classic outside left winger who by all means also often surged towards the box to score himself. A very fine crosser, a straightforward character with a solid technique but could never get past other left wingers like Jupp Heynckes, Sigfried Held or Erwin Kremers and thus only collected five caps. 1965 not considered [12/72] 1966 not considered 1967 not considered [07/67] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Outside Left] 1968 not considered 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Outside Left] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Outside Left] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Outside Left] 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Outside Left] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Outside Left] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#5 Outside Left] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#4 Outside Left] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#3 Outside Left] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Outside Left] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Outside Left] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Outside Left] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Outside Left] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Outside Left] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Outside Left] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Outside Left] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Outside Left] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Outside Left] 1980 not considered [07/80] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Outside Left] 1981 not considered 1982 not considered 1983 not considered [07/83] Josef HEYNCKES International class: 15 times Broad circle: 10 times Considered: 5 times After Gerd Müller and Klaus Fischer the third highest-scoring goalgetter in Bundesliga history, who played most of his career as a right-footed left winger. By no means a classic left winger, Heynckes always had a desire and an urge to move infield as soon as he was in possession. He benefitted from Mönchengladbach’s flexible forward line in which Henning Jensen was the center forward and Allan Simonsen the right wing only by name. But de facto the three forwards constantly interchanged positions. Heynckes, who was not very tall, could rise high in the air thanks to his extraordinary jumping power and scored many goals with headers, could shoot very well with both feet. In his last ever Bundesliga game he managed to score five goals. For Germany, Heynckes played a far more humble role. With Gerd Müller firmly occupying the center forward spot, Heynckes found it hard to replicate his goal scoring ratio in club football, as playing for Germany he in fact had to play like a classic winger that had to service the center forward. A role for which better suited players than Heynckes were available. After Müller’s retirement from the German national team in 1974, Heynckes got more playing time and became a regular starter for the national team but in his last three years as a professional he was constantly plagued by trouble with his knee which limited his playing time for club and country considerably. 1963 not considered [12/63] 1964 not considered [07/64] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Inside Forward] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#7 Inside Forward] 1965 broad circle [12/65] [#7 Inside Forward] 1966 broad circle [07/66] [#7 Central Forward] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#5 Central Forward] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#5 Central Forward] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Central Forward] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Central Forward] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Central Forward] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#6 Central Forward] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#5 Central Forward] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#3 Central Forward] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#3 Central Forward] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#2 Outside Left] 1971 Internat. Cl. [07/71] [#1 Outside Left] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#2 Central Forward] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#1 Outside Left] 1972 Internat. Cl. [07/72] [#2 Central Forward] 1972 Internat. Cl. [12/72] [#2 Outside Right] 1972 Internat. Cl. [12/72] [#2 Central Forward] 1973 Internat. Cl. [07/73] [#2 Outside Left] 1973 Internat. Cl. [12/73] [#1 Outside Left] 1974 Internat. Cl. [07/74] [#2 Outside Left] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Outside Left] 1975 Internat. Cl. [07/75] [#1 Outside Left] 1975 Internat. Cl. [12/75] [#1 Outside Left] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#1 Outside Left] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#1 Outside Left] 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#3 Outside Left] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#6 Outside Left] Josef HICKERSBERGER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 6 times A technically profound Austrian midfielder, dangerous in front of the goal, hard-running and committed teamplayer who played more offensively in his clubs than in the Austrian national team, where he was the ball winner who safeguarded Herbert Prohaska. 1972 played abroad [07/72] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#4 Foreign player] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Foreign Player] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Foreign Player] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#8 Foreign player] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Foreign Player] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Foreign Player] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Foreign Player] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Foreign Player] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#8 Foreign player] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#7 Foreign player] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#7 Foreign player] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#4 Foreign player] 1978 played abroad [12/78] Peter HIDIEN Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 7 times A small, bustling attacking left back who was a starter for Hamburg in most of his ten seasons at the club. 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered [07/73] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Full Back] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Full Back] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Full Back] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Full Back] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#7 Full Back] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#6 Full Back] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#8 Full Back] 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Full Back] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Full Back] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Full Back] 1980 not considered 1981 not considered 1982 not considered [07/82]