Uwe REINDERS Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 10 times Uwe Reinders was a physically imposing, tall right winger, not very fast but with a good eye for the penalty box and a very strong right foot. 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Central Forward] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Outside Left] 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Outside Right] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Outside Right] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Outside Right] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Outside Right] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Outside Right] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#4 Outside Right] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#3 Outside Right] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#4 Winger] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Winger] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Winger] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Winger] 1985 played abroad [12/85] 1986 played abroad 1987 played abroad [07/87] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 not considered 1989 not considered [07/89] Alois REINHARDT International class: 1 time Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 5 times A tall, gawky man-marker whose main asset was his heading. 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 not considered 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Stopper] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Stopper] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Stopper] 1983 not considered [07/83] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#5 Stopper] 1984 not considered 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defender] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Defender] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#4 Defender] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#6 Defender] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#2 Defender] 1988 not considered [12/88] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#4 Defender] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#2 Defender] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#10 Defender] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 not considered [07/94] Andreas REINKE International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 9 times 1987 not assessed [East G.] 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 [07/93] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Goalkeeper] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Goalkeeper] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Goalkeeper] 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 considered_ [12/96] [Goalkeeper] 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Goalkeeper] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Goalkeeper] 1998 considered_ [12/98] [Goalkeeper] 1999 broad circle [07/99 [#7 Goalkeeper] 1999 broad circle [12/99 [#10 Goalkeeper] 2000 not considered [07/00] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Goalkeeper] 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Goalkeeper] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/04] 2004 Internat. Cl. [12/04] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 not considered 2007 not considered [07/07] Stefan REISCH International class: 3 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 2 times Stefan Reisch was a left half with excellent ball control and an inexhaustible variety of tricks in his bag. Became a starter for Nürnberg in 1959 aged 18. Known for his precise passing and long dribbling spells, Reisch soon became a fan favourite in Nürnberg. After his international debut in 1962 he remained a starter for Germany for most of the following two years. Possibly because Reisch’s love affair with the ball was something new Germany manager Helmut Schön did not like too much, his international career soon was over after Schön was appointed successor of Sepp Herberger in 1964. Reisch was an individualist who often had quarrels with his managers, most notably with Max Merkel in 1967. 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 considered_ [1960] [Half Back] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Half Back] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#5 Half Back] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#3 Half Back] 1963 Internat. Cl. [07/63] [#4 Half Back] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#2 Half Back] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#3 Half Back] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#3 Half Back] 1965 not considered 1966 not considered 1967 not considered 1968 played abroad 1969 played abroad 1970 played abroad 1971 played abroad 1972 played abroad 1973 played abroad [07/73] Michael RENSING International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 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 considered_ [12/08] [Goalkeeper] 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 Internat. Cl. [07/11] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2011 broad circle [12/11] [#11 Goalkeeper] 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#12 Goalkeeper] 2012 not considered [12/12] 2013 not considered 2014 not considered Marco REUS World class: 2 times International class: 5 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 1 time 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 considered_ [12/09] [Offensive Lateral] 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#8 Offensive Lateral] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#5 Offensive Lateral] 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2011 Internat. Cl. [12/11] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#4 Forward] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#3 Offensive Lateral] 2013 World Class [07/13] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2014 World Class [07/14] [#3 Offensive Lateral] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#6 Offensive Lateral] Erich RETTER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 3 times A right back who along with Robert Schlienz was the greatest idol of VfB Stuttgart in the 1950s. A starter for Stuttgart for roughly 15 years, Retter impressed with his pace and his untiring and relentless approach and a strong heading ability. A defensive anchor of Stuttgart, Retter was a full back in the mould of the 2-3-5 system whose priorities were almost exclusively defensive. He was the standard right back of Germany between 1952 and 1954, never missing a game, but bad luck struck shortly before the World Cup in April 1954 when he suffered a meniscus injury in the last test game and thus missed the tournament. 1955 considered_ [12/55] [#8 Full Back] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#5 Full Back] 1956 considered_ [12/56] [Full Back] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#8 Full Back] 1957 not considered [12/57] 1958 not considered [1958] 1959 not considered 1960 not considered [1960] 1961 not considered [07/61] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Full Back] Stefan REUTER International class: 6 times Broad circle: 15 times Considered: 6 times A right full back/wing back whose great asset was his stamina and his very fast acceleration, not his footballing talent. Reuter was a very dynamic player known to cover a lot of ground when raiding the right side up and down. A very motivated player, very reliable and tactically disciplined who managed an impressive career at club level and also for Germany winning five German championships additionally to the World Cup and the European Championship. As a youth Reuter was successful at track and field who relied heavily on his athletic abilities as a football professional and who was a starter in all his teams throughout his career. 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Defensive Midfielder] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#5 Libero] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#4 Libero] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Libero] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 Internat. Cl. [07/90] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1991 Internat. Cl. [07/91] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#6 German abroad] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Libero] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#3 Wide Midfielder] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#3 Wide Midfielder] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#1 Wide Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#3 Wide Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#4 Wide Midfielder] 1997 not considered 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Lateral] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#7 Libero] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#2 Libero] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#3 Libero] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Libero] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered [07/01] 2001 considered_ [12/01] [Defensive Midfielder] 2002 not considered [07/12] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/04] Franck RIBÉRY World class: 6 times International class: 6 times Broad circle: 2 times 2007 played abroad [07/07] 2007 World Class [12/07] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2008 World Class [07/08] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2008 World Class [12/08] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2009 Internat. Cl. [07/09] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#5 Offensive Lateral] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#10 Offensive Lateral] 2011 Internat. Cl. [07/11] [#3 Offensive Lateral] 2011 Internat. Cl. [12/11] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2012 World Class [12/12] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2013 World Class [07/13] [#3 Offensive Lateral] 2013 World Class [12/13] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#5 Offensive Lateral] Karlheinz RIEDLE World class: 1 time International class: 5 time Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 6 times A forward of small height who many consider to be the best header of the ball in German football since Uwe Seeler. Blessed with extreme jumping prowess, Riedle possessed an excellent timing for his headers and his heading technique was sublime. He didn’t break through to the very top level because on the ground he was only solid, not exceptional. 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Forward] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Forward] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#3 Forward] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Forward] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#1 Forward] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#3 Forward] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#5 Forward] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#5 German abroad] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#9 German abroad] 1991 World Class [12/91] [#3 German abroad] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#3 Forward] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#10 German abroad] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#8 German abroad] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Forward] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#5 Forward] 1995 not considered 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#8 Forward] 1996 not considered 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Forward] 1997 considered_ [12/97] [Forward] 1998 not considered 1999 not considered [07/99]
Manfred RITSCHEL Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 13 times One of the first wingers that was reskilled as an attacking full back in the mid-197os. Ritschel was a very fast winger with good crosses who didn’t permute his game once withdrawn to a full back position but who could make better use of his stamina, commitment and strength in one-on-one situations as a full back. 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Outside Right] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Outside Right] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Outside Right] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Outside Right] 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Outside Right] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Outside Right] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Outside Right] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Outside Right] 1974 not considered [07/74] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#6 Full Back] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#7 Full Back] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#1 Outside Right] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Full Back] 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Full Back] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Outside Right] 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 not considered [07/82] Ruggiero RIZZITELLI International class: 1 time 1996 played abroad [07/96] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 Internat. Cl. [07/97] [#5 Forward] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 not considered [07/98] 1998 played abroad [12/98] Arjen ROBBEN World class: 6 times International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time 2009 played abroad [07/09] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#3 Offensive Lateral] 2010 World Class [07/10] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 World Class [07/11] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2011 not considered [12/11] 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2012 not considered [12/12] 2013 World Class [07/13] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2013 World Class [12/13] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2014 World Class [07/14] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2014 World Class [12/14] [#1 Offensive Lateral] Hans-Jürgen RÖBER Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 8 times A player of great stamina and dynamism who usually was playing in a central offensive midfield position, not a great playmaker but a player who always channeled the attacks of his teams, a player his teammates would always look for to pass the ball to. Röber was talented long passer with a good shot. He might not have been the most talented of players (at his position) but he made up for that with his strong personality. 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered 1973 not considered 1974 not considered 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#7 Midfielder] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#14 Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#13 Midfielder] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Midfielder] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#19 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#15 Midfielder] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#15 Midfielder] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#20 Midfielder] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 played abroad [12/81] 1982 played abroad [07/82] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Defensive Midfielder] 1984 not considered [07/84] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 not considered 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Defensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered 1990 not considered 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Defensive Midfielder] Sebastian RODE International class: 1 time Broad circle: 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] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#10 Midfielder] 2013 not considered [12/13] 2014 not considered Ricardo RODRÍGUEZ International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 1 time 2012 played abroad [07/12] 2012 not considered [12/12] 2013 considered_ [07/13] [Defensive Lateral] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#3 Defensive Lateral] 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#3 Defensive Lateral] 2014 broad circle [12/14] [#2 Defensive Lateral] Josef RÖHRIG International class: 4 times Considered: 4 times Due to the war his career as a senior footballer only started at age 25 in 1950, Röhrig was known as a very versatile player with an exceptional technique and high intelligence. Röhrig was one of the outstanding players of Köln during the 1950s, especially Hans Schäfer on the left wing benefitted enormously from Röhrig’s service. Hans Schäfer later said: “without Jupp Röhrig I would never have become the player I became.” Often compared to Fritz Walter in his style, Röhrig’s international career was somewhat lacking due to Fritz Walter reigning supremely in his position and also because he was quite injury-prone. Röhrig had made the squad for the 1954 World Cup but had to leave the team after a rupture of his Achilles tendon shortly before the start put him out for months. 1955 Internat. Cl.[12/55] [#4 Center Half] 1955 Internat. Cl. [12/55] [#4 Inside Forward] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#5 Center Half] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#4 Inside Forward] 1956 not considered [12/56] 1957 not considered [07/57] 1957 considered_ [12/57] [Inside Forward] 1958 considered_ [1958] [Half Back] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Half Back] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Inside Forward] Per RØNTVED International class: 2 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 5 times Per Røntved was a very strong libero with great technique who was an organisator from the back with great distribution and who thus became a midfielder as soon as he was in possession. 1972 played abroad [07/72] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#5 Foreign player] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Foreign Player] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Foreign Player] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Foreign Player] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Foreign Player] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#2 Foreign player] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#7 Foreign player] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#5 Foreign player] 1977 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#4 Foreign player] 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Foreign Player] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#11 Foreign player] 1979 played abroad [12/79] Helmut ROLEDER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 5 times A rather small goalkeeper too prone for injuries to really reach the top level but still managed to be Stuttgart’s no. 1 goalkeeper for eleven straight seasons and even once got capped. 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 not considered 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#9 Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Goalkeeper] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Goalkeeper] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Goalkeeper] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Goalkeeper] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Goalkeeper] 1985 not considered [12/85] 1986 not considered 1987 not considered [07/87] Simon ROLFES International class: 2 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 4 times 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered 2005 not considered [07/05] 2005 considered_ [12/05] [Defensive Midfielder] 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 2006 not considered [12/06] 2007 considered_ [07/07] [Defensive Midfielder] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2008 broad circle [07/08] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 2008 broad circle [12/08] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2009 considered_ [07/09] [Defensive Midfielder] 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#8 Defensive Midfielder] 2011 considered_ [07/11] [Defensive Midfielder] 2011 not considered [12/11] 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#11 Defensive Midfielder] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2014 not considered
Wolfgang ROLFF International class: 4 times Broad circle: 10 times Considered: 12 times A tenacious central defensive midfielder who was a very valuable but unspectacular player. Rolff impressed with his workrate and hard-running with a lot of bite and a combative mentality. But he could also exert offensive pressure and was useful in building up from a deep midfield position. 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 not considered 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Stopper] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Midfielder] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Midfielder] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Midfielder] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Defensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Defensive Midfielder] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Defensive Midfielder] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Defensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 not considered 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#2 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#8 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#2 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 considered_ [12/95] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1996 not considered [07/96] Tomáš ROSICKÝ International class: 2 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 1 time 2001 Internat. Cl. [07/01] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 2002 broad circle [07/02] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 2002 Internat. Cl. [12/02] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2003 broad circle [07/03] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 2003 considered_ [12/03] [Offensive Midfielder] 2004 not considered 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 2005 broad circle [12/05] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 2006 played abroad [12/96] Frank ROST International class: 11 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 4 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 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Goalkeeper] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2000 Internat. Cl. [07/00] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#8 Goalkeeper] 2001 Internat. Cl. [07/01] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2001 Internat. Cl. [12/01] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2002 Internat. Cl. [12/02] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2003 Internat. Cl. [07/03] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2003 Internat. Cl. [12/03] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2004 Internat. Cl. [12/04] [#1 Goalkeeper] 2005 Internat. Cl. [07/05] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2005 Internat. Cl. [12/05] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2006 Internat. Cl. [07/06] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2006 not considered [12/06] 2007 broad circle [07/07] [#9 Goalkeeper] 2007 broad circle [12/07] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2008 broad circle [07/08] [#7 Goalkeeper] 2008 considered_ [12/08] [Goalkeeper] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2009 considered_ [12/09] [Goalkeeper] 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] Franz ROTH International class: 1 time Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 10 times An underestimated player who started out as a right winger but then evolved into a cross between an offensive and defensive midfielder. Franz ‘the Bull’ Roth was an extremely physical player, a brawny type who would be seen covering a lot of ground during a game, a great fighter and tackler who would man-mark the opponent’s playmaker but who could also wreak havoc in the opposing box with his very hard right-footed shot. Unlucky for him he played during a time when the finesse technical player was en vogue while players of his type where not valued that much. On the pitch Roth was a very dynamic workaholic hungry for success. 1966 not considered [12/66] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#6 Midfielder] 1967 broad circle [12/67] [#7 Midfielder] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#7 Midfielder] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Midfielder] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Outside Right] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#6 Midfielder] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#9 Midfielder] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#6 Midfielder] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Midfielder] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#7 Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Midfielder] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#7 Midfielder] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Midfielder] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Midfielder] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Midfielder] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered [07/78] Wynton RUFER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 3 times A classic ‘Rehhagel discovery’ of a player who probably would never have found a way to play in the Bundesliga if not for Rehhagel’s good nose. Rufer had proven to be a capable goalscorer in Switzerland but expectations weren’t too high when he was signed by Werder Bremen in 1989 but he turnt out to be a very charismatic figure with good all-around abilities although not absolute top level in any of them. In sum however his abilities made him an exceptional player who became a goalgetter for Werder Bremen just like he had been for Zürich and Aarau in Switzerland. He made up for a certain lack of technique and pace with his hard-working ways and diligence. 1989 played abroad [07/89] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#1 Forward] 1990 not considered [07/90] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#4 Forward] 1991 not considered 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Forward] 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Forward] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Forward] 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered [07/97] Carl-Heinz RÜHL Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 14 times Carl-Heinz Rühl was a combative left-footed outside right with a hard shot who was rated among the most goal-hungry wingers during his time. An intelligent and dynamic player who also was often seen performing defensive duties if need be. 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#2 Outside Right] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#3 Outside Right] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#5 Outside Right] 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] [Outside Right] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Outside Right] 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 not considered [07/65] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Outside Right] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Outside Right] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Outside Right] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Outside Right] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Outside Right] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Outside Right] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Outside Right] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Outside Right] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Midfielder] 1970 not considered [07/70] Karl-Heinz RUMMENIGGE World class: 8 times International class: 13 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 1 time During his peak he was definitely one of the best footballers in the world but what he lacked to become a member of the exclusive pantheon of all-time great football legends was a really big impressive tournament performance rounded off by a trophy. Rummenigge started his professional career as an 18 year old in 1974 when Bayern signed him as prospect for the right wing. A very fast technical player, 'Kalle' Rummenigge struggled a little bit during his first season (as the whole team was struggling) but it was soon obvious that he was a very big talent with lots of promise. At least since 1976 Rummenigge had become a sure starter for Bayern and soon became a very important provider of Gerd Müller. Because of Rummenigge’s drive and zeal his manager Dettmar Cramer soon gave him licence to act on both sides of the flanks. When Gerd Müller left the club for America in 1979 Rummenigge himself became a very successful marksman, as he possessed everything a goalgetter needed to have plus he had Paul Breitner as his partner, himself a player of World Class. Rummenigge was ideally suited to the 4-4-2 system which had supplanted the 4-3-3 in the late-1970s. In Dieter Hoeness there was now a target man whose main task was to lay the ball off for Rummenigge while Rummenigge himself had total licence to do whatever he wanted on the pitch, freed from any defensive responsibilities. Breitner and Rummenigge soon developed a perfect, blind understanding with Breitner in the role of the provider and Rummenigge the clinical, yet artful finisher. His great technical skillset and supreme close control allowed Rummenigge to process any service in a spectacular yet efficient mode. Be it volleying, picking the ball up in tight space and lifting it over his opponents, dribbling past a number of defenders coming from the wings or the midfield, heading, with bycicle kicks, diving headers, hard-hit shots … you name it. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge probably was the most complete striker that ever played in the Bundesliga. There was no position on the pitch from where he could not somehow have scored a goal or could have created something dangerous. 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Outside Right] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#5 Outside Left] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#1 Outside Right] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#2 Outside Left] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#3 Outside Right] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#2 Outside Left] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#3 Outside Right] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#1 Outside Left] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#5 Midfielder] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#1 Outside Left] 1978 Internat. Cl. [12/78] [#1 Midfielder] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#2 Outside Right] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#2 Outside Left] 1979 World Class [12/79] [#1 Central Forward] 1980 World Class [07/80] [#1 Central Forward] 1980 World Class [12/80] [#1 Central Forward] 1981 World Class [07/81] [#1 Central Forward] 1981 Internat. Cl. [07/81] [#1 Outside Right] 1981 World Class [12/81] [#1 Central Forward] 1981 World Class [12/81] [#1 Outside Right] 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#2 Outside Right] 1982 World Class [12/82] [#1 Central Forward] 1982 World Class [12/82] [#1 Winger] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#2 Central Forward] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#1 Winger] 1983 Internat. Cl. [12/83] [#2 Central Forward] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#2 Central Forward] 1984 played abroad [12/84] 1985 played abroad 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#4 Forward] 1986 played abroad [12/86] 1987 played abroad 1988 played abroad 1989 played abroad [07/89] Michael RUMMENIGGE International class: 3 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 10 times The younger brother of Karl-Heinz was a tad smaller than his brother but resembled his style a lot. They looked almost like twins, Michael had a similar way of moving but a different physique and he did not have the ambition of his older brother. In older terms Michael Rummenigge could be described as a classic inside forward, an offensively-minded player who felt well at creating instead of finishing. His great strength was dribbling at high speed from midfield close or straight into the box. During his ten years in the Bundesliga Rummenigge did not reach an outstanding level but was often rated among the top players. That he was compared to his big brother did no favors to him but he was a self-confident type anyway thus he could deal with that pretty well. 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered 1983 not considered [07/83] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Central Forward] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Winger] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#9 Forward] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Offensive Midfielder] 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Offensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered 1990 Internat. Cl. [07/90] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 not considered [07/95] Bernd RUPP Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 12 times A fantastic outside left with very good dribbling skills at high pace who always looked for a straight way to the goal. Not known as a provider, Rupp was a goalgetter in his own right who was also often used as a center forward. Rupp’s main asset was his incredible acceleration. A player of relatively small height, he looked like a typical winger. For a serious international career the competition in his position was too strong, players like Erwin Kremers, Lothar Emmerich, Bernd Hölzenbein, Sigfried Held or his teammate Jupp Heynckes all stood in his way at different times in his career. Rupp still rates as one of the best goalscorers among wingers, having scored 119 Bundesliga goals in 274 games between 1965 and 1974. 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Center Forward] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#5 Center Forward] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Center Forward] 1966 broad circle [07/66] [#3 Outside Left] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#2 Outside Left] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#2 Outside Left] 1967 not considered [12/67] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#3 Outside Left] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Outside Left] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Outside Left] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Outside Right] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#4 Outside Right] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Outside Right] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Central Forward] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Outside Right] 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#5 Central Forward] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Outside Right] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Central Forward] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Central Forward] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Central Forward] Rolf-Dieter RÜSSMANN International class: 4 times Broad circle: 14 times Considered: 5 times A hard as iron, physically imposing ‘classic’ stopper, a hard-tackling center half with exceptional aerial prowess. During his 16 seasons in the Bundesliga, Rolf Rüssmann proved to be an incredibly consistent and solid player who was always a starter. The one blight in his career was his involvement in the 1971 Bundesliga scandal for which he was banned from the national team until 1977 (like his Schalke teammates Klaus Fichtel and Klaus Fischer) and suspended from playing in Germany from March 1973 to February 1974 (followed by two month-long suspensions in February and December 1976). When he was finally available for the national team in 1977, he had lost some of his pace already (and he wasn’t the fastest player to begin with anyway), which in the long run limited his international activities to only 20 caps. 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 not considered [07/70] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#7 Central Defender] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#4 Stopper] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#5 Stopper] 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#2 Stopper] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#2 Stopper] 1973 not considered [07/73] 1973 played abroad [12/73] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#6 Stopper] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#2 Stopper] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Stopper] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#1 Stopper] 1977 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#1 Stopper] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#1 Stopper] 1978 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#1 Stopper] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#6 Stopper] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#6 Stopper] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#6 Stopper] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#7 Stopper] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Stopper] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#5 Stopper] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#2 Stopper] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Stopper] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Libero] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Stopper] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#3 Stopper]
Jürgen RYNIO Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 17 times Jürgen Rynio was not a specifically tall goalkeeper but knew how to save in a spectacular way with his quick reflexes on the goalline. A tad unlucky in having been relegated as the goalkeeper of five different teams, he always quickly found a new club playing in top flight and thus was a constant presence in the Bundesliga during his career. 1966 not considered [12/66] 1967 not considered [07/67] 1967 broad circle [12/67] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Goalkeeper] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Goalkeeper] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered 1973 not considered 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Goalkeeper] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Goalkeeper] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Goalkeeper] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Goalkeeper] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Goalkeeper] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Goalkeeper] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Goalkeeper] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Goalkeeper] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Goalkeeper] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Goalkeeper] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Goalkeeper] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Goalkeeper] 1983 not considered 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Goalkeeper] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered 1986 not considered [07/86] Willy SAGNOL International class: 3 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 3 times 2000 played abroad [07/00] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Lateral] 2001 not considered [07/01] [Lateral] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#4 Defensive Lateral] 2002 considered_ [07/02] [Defensive Lateral] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#5 Defensive Lateral] 2003 Internat. Cl. [07/03] [#1 Defensive Lateral] 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 not considered 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#2 Defensive Lateral] 2005 Internat. Cl. [12/05] [#1 Defensive Lateral] 2006 Internat. Cl. [07/06] [#2 Defensive Lateral] 2006 considered_ [12/06] [Defensive Lateral] 2007 not considered 2008 not considered 2009 not considered [07/09] Nuri ŞAHIN International class: 3 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 3 times 2005 considered_ [12/05] [Offensive Midfielder] 2006 not considered 2007 not considered [07/07] 2007 played abroad [12/07] 2008 played abroad [07/08] 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 considered_ [07/09] [Offensive Midfielder] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#8 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2011 Internat. Cl. [07/11] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2011 played abroad [12/11] 2012 played abroad 2013 not considered [07/13] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 2014 considered_ [07/14] [Defensive Midfielder] 2014 not considered [12/14] Hasan SALIHAMIDŽIĆ International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 4 times 1995 not considered [12/95] 1996 considered_ [07/96] [Forward] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 considered_ [12/97] [Offensive Midfielder] 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Offensive Midfielder] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered 2000 Internat. Cl. [07/00] [#2 Lateral] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#2 Lateral] 2001 not considered [07/01] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#3 Offensive Lateral] 2002 not considered [07/02] 2002 considered_ [12/02] [Offensive Lateral] 2003 not considered 2004 not considered 2005 not considered 2006 not considered 2007 not considered [07/07] 2007 played abroad [12/07] 2008 played abroad 2009 played abroad 2010 played abroad 2011 played abroad [07/11] 2011 not considered [12/11] 2012 not considered [07/12] Sidney SAM International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#10 Offensive Lateral] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#5 Offensive Lateral] 2014 not considered Matthias SAMMER World class: 4 times International class: 4 times Broad circle: 5 times The last great German libero during a time when this position was already by and large out of fashion. He started his career as a right winger aged 17 in 1984 playing for Dynamo Dresden in East Germany. Originally a slim, pale red-head, Sammer soon drew the attention of West German club managers. In the summer of 1990 after the collapse of the GDR Sammer signed a contract with Bundesliga team VfB Stuttgart. Meanwhile he had evolved into a central defensive midfielder with an offensive mind-set. In 1993 he started to act as a libero playing for Borussia Dortmund. There, he was usually operating in front of his two markers and thus could be described as a very deep sitting defensive midfielder. In the grand scheme of things, Matthias Sammer was probably the only ‘real’ successor of Franz Beckenbauer, but he came a bit late. Germany had been looking for a player like him ever since Beckenbauer left the country in 1977. It took 16 years to find a roughly comparable player but by that time, due to tactical evolution, the position was in the final stage of being dissolved. Sammer was one of the most strong-willed players ever to play for Germany, an incredibly dominant character, who immediately switched to offensive actions as soon as he was in possession, either with his passing skills (long and short) or by rushing forward himself, giving in to his instincts as a former winger. He was often seen covering 30, 40 meters in a few seconds, causing panic in his opponents. With his very good shooting technique he was often able to finish such a move himself with a goal. Matthias Sammer was the heart and soul of the Borussia Dortmund team that won two back-to-back German championships and the Champions League in 1997 which was the greatest trophy haul in the history of that club. He was also highly instrumental playing for Germany from 1994 to 1996 when he replaced the ageing Lothar Matthäus in the ‘libero’ position, topping it off by winning 1996 European Championship and the ‘Golden Ball’ as the best player in Europe 1996. He had to retire aged 30 in 1998 due to a long-going severe knee injury. 1986 not assessed [East G.] 1987 not assessed [East G.] 1988 not assessed [East G.] 1989 not assessed [East G.] 1990 not assessed East G,] [07/90] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1991 Internat. Cl. [07/91] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#9 German abroad] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#2 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#3 Libero] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#2 Libero] 1994 World Class [12/94] [#1 Libero] 1995 World Class [07/95] [#1 Libero] 1995 World Class [12/95] [#1 Libero] 1996 World Class [07/96] [#1 Libero] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 broad circle [07/97] [#6 Libero] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 not considered [07/98] Ebbe SAND International class: 3 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 1 time 1999 played abroad [07/99] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#7 Forward] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#14 Forward] 2000 Internat. Cl. [12/00] [#1 Forward] 2001 Internat. Cl. [07/01] [#3 Forward] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#12 Forward] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#6 Forward] 2002 considered_ [12/02][Forward] 2003 not considered 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#10 Forward] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#13 Forward] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#11 Forward] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 not considered [07/06] Roland SANDBERG International class: 5 times Broad circle: 1 time A left winger who was a lethal finisher, Sandberg was an incredibly important player for Kaiserslautern in the mid-1970s. Technically not that impressive, the Swede was a very fast player, especially in the first few meters his acceleration was rocket-like but his main characteristic was his great stamina, diligence and commitment. 1973 played abroad [07/73] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#5 Foreign player] 1974 Internat. Cl. [07/74] [#1 Foreign player] 1974 Internat. Cl. [12/74] [#1 Foreign player] 1975 Internat. Cl. [07/75] [#1 Foreign player] 1975 Internat. Cl. [12/75] [#4 Foreign player] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#5 Foreign player] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered [07/77] Boubacar SANOGO International class: 1 time 2005 played abroad [07/05] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 not considered 2007 not considered [07/07] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#3 Forward] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 played abroad [12/09] 2010 not considered 2011 not considered 2012 played abroad [07/12] 2012 not considered [12/12] 2013 not considered 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 played abroad [12/14] Günter SAWITZKI International class: 7 times Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 4 times Before he became a goalkeeper, Günter Sawitzki tried his luck as a half back. But by 1954 he had become one of the Oberliga’s most well-known keepers who tried to avoid stunts, preferring to go on about his job in a calm and sober fashion. For many years Sawitzki was among Germany’s best goalkeepers but he never managed the breakthrough to become Germany’s no. 1 keeper, as Fritz Herkenrath and later Hans Tilkowski and Wolfgang Fahrian were rated higher than him by Sepp Herberger. Sawitzki didn’t take his fate too hard, jokingly calling himself “the international record holder for bench time”. He didn’t know how the bench felt on club level though, as he was Stuttgart’s undisputed no. 1 goalkeeper for eleven seasons until his retirement in 1968. In 1970 he was reactivated because of an injury crisis among Stuttgart’s goalkeepers. 1955 broad circle [12/55] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1956 not considered [12/56] 1957 Internat. Cl. [07/57] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1957 Internat. Cl. [07/57] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1959 Internat. Cl. [12/59] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1964 broad circle [07/64] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1965 not considered [07/65] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Goalkeeper] 1966 broad circle [07/66] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Goalkeeper] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Goalkeeper] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Goalkeeper] 1968 not considered [07/68] 1968 retired [12/68] 1969 retired 1970 retired [07/70] 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 not considered [07/71]
Günther SCHÄFER Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 7 times A VfB Stuttgart right back of relatively small height, predominantly defensive with great consistency between 1982 and 1994 whose main task was always man-marking. Günther Schäfer’s role on the pitch was nominally that of a right back but he often was playing as the right-sided man marker in Stuttgart’s 3-5-2 system. Wirily by nature, he had good pace and when he moved forward he could bend crosses quite well. Uncompromising in his marking, Günther Schäfer was always overshadowed by his teammates Karlheinz Förster and Guido Buchwald. 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Full Back] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Full Back] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#5 Full Back] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#6 Full Back] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Full Back] 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defensive Midfielder] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Defender] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#5 Defender] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#4 Defender] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#7 Defender] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#9 Defender] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#11 Defensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered 1990 not considered 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#4 Marker] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#5 Marker] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Marker] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Marker] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 not considered [07/98] Hans SCHÄFER International class: 8 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 3 times Although Schäfer spent the first half of his career as an outside left, he was by no means a ‘classic’ left winger who would be seen dribbling and crossing all of the time. While he could do that fairly good, his style was more that of a committed, very dynamic, physically strong winger who often would drift infield instead of crossing near the touchline. Due to his never tiring ways, the robust yet charismatic Schäfer was the centerpiece of Köln from the early-1950s until his retirement in 1965 aged 37. Schäfer and Jupp Röhrig formed a tandem with the creative playmaker type Röhrig as the provider an Schäfer as the finisher. By the late-1950s Hans Schäfer had moved from the wing to the inside left position himself, a move which he also repeated when playing for Germany. Schäfer was very strong in one-on-one situations which he showed in the 1954 World Cup final against Hungary when he took the ball off Josef Bozsik and subsequently crossed the ball to Helmut Rahn who scored the 3-2. Horst Eckel, his teammate in the national team, said of Schäfer: “playing against Hans was like a punishment, he never gave up on a ball, was always totally committed and always at the center of things.” In 1957 Schäfer became captain of the German national team, succeeding Fritz Walter. By the early-1960s, with Jupp Röhrig retired, Schäfer had become the playmaker of Köln yet he didn’t manage to become the conductor of the national team in the same way. His last World Cup tournament in 1962 must be considered a disappointment. But he came back in force the next year when he was voted ‘German Footballer of the year’ at the age of 35. Throughout his career, Hans Schäfer was a very dangerous marksman and the top goalgetter in the history of Oberliga West. 1955 Internat. Cl. [12/55] [#1 Outside Left] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#1 Outside Left] 1956 broad circle [12/56] [#2 Outside Left] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#2 Outside Left] 1957 Internat. Cl. [12/57] [#4 Inside Forward] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#1 Outside Left] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#4 Inside Forward] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#2 Outside Left] 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#9 Inside Forward] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#4 Inside Forward] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#4 Inside Forward] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Inside Forward] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Inside Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Inside Forward] 1963 Internat. Cl. [07/63] [#3 Inside Forward] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#3 Inside Forward] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#5 Inside Forward] 1964 Internat. Cl. [12/64] [#4 Inside Forward] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#12 Inside Forward] Winfried SCHÄFER Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 15 times A technically skilled central midfielder who was sometimes compared to Günter Netzer during the 1970s. Schäfer was one of the last playmaker types that specialized in spraying long passes from deep. A charismatic player, Winfried Schäfer was always a dominant figure in the teams he played for. 1968 not considered [12/68] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Midfielder] 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 not considered 1971 not considered [07/71] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Midfielder] 1974 not considered [07/74] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#4 Midfielder] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Midfielder] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Midfielder] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#14 Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#16 Midfielder] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Midfielder] 1978 not considered 1979 not considered 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Midfielder] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Midfielder] 1982 not considered 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Defensive Midfielder] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Defensive Midfielder] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered [07/85] Lothar SCHÄMER Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 4 times A forceful left winger with a very hard shot, Lothar Schämer was one of Eintracht Frankfurt’s most dangerous goalscorers during the early-1960s who in later years was reskilled as a left back and also occasionally played in defensive midfield. 1960 not considered [12/60] 1961 not considered [07/61] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Outside Left] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Outside Left] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Outside Left] 1963 not considered [12/63] 1964 not considered 1965 not considered 1966 not considered [07/66] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Full Back] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#5 Full Back] 1967 broad circle [12/67] [#5 Full Back] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#6 Full Back] 1968 not considered [12/68] 1969 not considered 1970 not considered 1971 not considered 1972 not considered 1973 not considered [12/73] Michael SCHJØNBERG International class: 2 times Considered: 2 times Basically a very solid, hard-woking defensive midfielder with great stamina, who reached his peak playing as a man marker for Rehhagel’s Kaiserslautern in the late-1990s. Headers were a specialty of the tall Dane, notable is the fact that Schjønberg was the first non-goalkeeper ever to save a penalty in the Bundesliga after both goalies got injured. Soon after that he had to retire due to a knee injury. 1990 played abroad [07/90] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 played abroad [12/94] 1995 played abroad 1996 played abroad [07/96] 1996 considered_ [12/96] [Marker] 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 Internat. Cl. [12/97] [#2 Marker] 1998 Internat. Cl. [07/98] [#3 Marker] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Defender] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered 2001 not considered [07/01] Robert SCHLIENZ International class: 1 time Considered: 4 times Robert Schlienz, who lost one arm in a car accident in 1948, started out playing as center forward in the mid-1940s and was renowned as a very skilled forward and for his goalscoring instinct. He played the majority of his career for VfB Stuttgart. After he had to pause for a while after his accident, Schlienz was determined to continue his career as a footballer, and he succeeded in doing so by withdrawing from center forward to right half and eventually center half. In his new roles he continued to put emphasis on the offensive and soon became one of the best in these positions. Now a creator, Schlienz impressed with his commitment, energy and fighting spirit. Coupled with his technical skills, he was regarded as one of the best footballers in Germany during most of the 1950s. When VfB Stuttgart met Real Madrid in a friendly in the mid-1950s, Alfredo di Stéfano said about Schlienz: “the best player on the pitch was the one-armed man. What I saw of him I did not think could be possible until now.” Strangely, Sepp Herberger did not want to rely on Schlienz’s service for the national team, as he thought that the opponents would be (unfairly) inhibited playing against a ‘disabled’ man. Schlienz is still regarded by many as the greatest Stuttgart player ever. 1955 considered_ [12/55] [#7 Center Half] 1955 considered_ [12/55] [#10 Half Back] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#3 Center Half] 1956 considered_ [12/56] [Center Half] 1957 not considered 1958 considered_ [1958] [Half Back] 1959 not considered [07/59] Johann SCHMIDRADNER Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 3 times Considered a talent as stopper already at an early age, Hans Schmidradner played an important role for Kickers Offenbach during their best years in the early- to mid-1970s and also was a vital player for Austria in those years. He was often used as a full back as well. 1971 played abroad [07/71] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Foreign Player] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Foreign Player] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#5 Foreign player] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#3 Foreign player] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#4 Foreign player] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#4 Foreign player] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#6 Foreign player] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Foreign Player] 1977 played abroad [12/77] Alfred SCHMIDT International class: 12 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 3 times Alfred ‘Aki’ Schmidt was a multi-faceted midfielder who performed exceptionally well either as inside right or as right half. His strengths were to be found in the offensive though, this is the role he is mostly remembered for and also the his main task when playing for Germany. Known as an industrious all-rounder, Schmidt was a technically sound player whose goalscoring was a bit lacking. Schmidt was rated among Germany’s best midfielders during his best years between 1957 and 1964 and was ever-present in the national team during these years. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 not considered [07/56] 1956 broad circle [12/56] [#6 Inside Forward] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#5 Inside Forward] 1957 Internat. Cl. [12/57] [#2 Inside Forward] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#2 Half Back] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#2 Inside Forward] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#2 Half Back] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#2 Inside Forward] 1959 Internat. Cl. [12/59] [#3 Half Back] 1959 Internat. Cl. [12/59] [#2 Inside Forward] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#6 Half Back] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#6 Inside Forward] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Inside Forward] 1961 not considered [12/61] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Inside Forward] 1963 Internat. Cl. [07/63] [#4 Inside Forward] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#4 Half Back] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#4 Inside Forward] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#6 Inside Forward] 1964 Internat. Cl. [12/64] [#5 Inside Forward] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#8 Inside Forward] 1965 not considered [12/65] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Midfielder] 1966 not considered [12/66] 1967 not considered [07/67] Karl SCHMIDT International class: 3 times Broad circle: 4 times ’Karlchen’ Schmidt impressed mostly with his pace, jumping power and solid ball control. The full back was known to be an excellent header of the ball, an expert for diving headers. Schmidt was intended to be a squad member for the 1958 World Cup but he cancelled his participation because he was too occupied with his law and sports studies. After his football career Schmidt became head of the sports section in the interior ministry of Rhineland-Palatinate. 1955 Internat. Cl. [12/55] [#2 Full Back] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#4 Full Back] 1956 broad circle [07/56] [#6 Half Back] 1956 Internat. Cl. [12/56] [#4 Full Back] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#2 Full Back] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#5 Full Back] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#6 Full 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] Bernd SCHNEIDER International class: 3 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 5 times 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 considered_ [12/96] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 not considered 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Offensive Midfielder] 1998 considered_ [12/98] [Offensive Midfielder] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Offensive Midfielder] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#5 Lateral] 2000 not considered 2001 not considered [07/01] 2001 Internat. Cl. [12/01] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2003 not considered 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#3 Offensive Lateral] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#5 Defensive Lateral] 2005 considered_ [12/05] [Offensive Midfielder] 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 2006 broad circle [12/06] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered [07/09]
Karl-Heinz SCHNELLINGER World class: 8 times International class: 3 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 1 time The tall Schnellinger became one of the best German defenders renowned for his physical presence, pace and winning mentality, he impressed already at an early age, playing his first World Cup aged 19 in 1958. When he signed for Köln in 1959 coming from Düren 99, he was often playing as a half back but soon settled as a left back. In this position, he reached the absolute top level in international football the following years, impressing with his good overview, positioning, pace and aerial ability. Equipped with a very good touch, Schnellinger was adept at build up with his good passing skills but also an uncompromising tackler who was hard to beat in one-on-one situations. A hard-boiled nature, Schnellinger was hard to ruffle and with his stoic calmness he was very influential on his teammates. By 1960, Schnellinger was rated as Germany’s no. 1 full back and after his impressive display at the 1962 World Cup, where he easily was Germany’s best-performing player, he was also considered one of the best full backs worldwide. Soon after the ’62 World Cup, Schnellinger left Germany to play in Italy and he is now mostly associated with being the defensive pillar of the star-studded AC Milan side of the 1960s and early-1970s. In his first four years at Milan, Schnellinger was playing as a full back but by 1969 he was predominantly deployed as a defensive sweeper and formed a fine central defensive partnership with stopper Roberto Rosato. Schnellinger was intended to act as a left back for Germany in the 1970 World Cup but after standard sweeper Willi Schulz picked up an injury in the first game against Morocco, Schnellinger adopted the sweeper role and became one of the best sweepers of that tournament. 1956 not considered [12/56] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#6 Full Back] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#9 Center Half] 1957 considered_ [12/57] [Full Back] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#3 Full Back] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#3 Full Back] 1959 Internat. Cl. [12/59] [#3 Full Back] 1960 World Class [1960] [#1 Full Back] 1961 World Class [07/61] [#1 Full Back] 1961 World Class [12/61] [#1 Full Back] 1961 Internat. Cl. [12/61] [#1 Half Back] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 World Class [12/62] [#1 Full Back] 1963 World Class [07/63] [#1 Full Back] 1963 played abroad [12/63] 1964 played abroad 1965 played abroad 1966 World Class [07/66] [#1 Full Back] 1966 played abroad [12/66] 1967 played abroad 1968 played abroad 1969 played abroad 1970 World Class [07/70] [#2 Central Defender] 1970 World Class [12/70] [#2 Central Defender] 1971 played abroad 1972 played abroad 1973 played abroad 1974 played abroad [07/74] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered [07/75] Horst SCHNOOR International class: 1 time Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 15 times Horst Schnoor joined Hamburg at the age of 18 in 1952 and became a starter in goal already in his first season at the club. He remained Hamburg’s undisputed no. 1 goakeeper for the next 15 seasons. A quick-responding goalkeeper who was very brave in one-on-one situations, Schnoor was unlucky that he had an off-day in his first ever representative game for Germany, when he lost 0-8 to Yugoslavia in a 1955 B-team game. Because of this he was unfairly stigmatized when goalkeepers were assessed to play for the national team and thus never featured in a senior game for Germany. He had to retire in 1967 after achilles tendon rupture. 1955 considered_ [12/55] [#10 Goalkeeper] 1956 considered_ [07/56] [#14 Goalkeeper] 1956 considered_ [12/56] [Goalkeeper] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1958 considered_ [1958] [Goalkeeper] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Goalkeeper] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Goalkeeper] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Goalkeeper] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Goalkeeper] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Goalkeeper] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Goalkeeper] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#9 Goalkeeper] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Goalkeeper] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Goalkeeper] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Goalkeeper] 1967 not considered 1968 not considered 1969 not considered 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Goalkeeper] 1971 not considered [07/71] Mehmet SCHOLL International class: 6 times Broad circle: 11 times Considered: 4 times Mehmet Scholl, a classical ‘unfinished’ talent was one of the most promising players of the 1990s who couldn’t live up to that promise. Son of a Turk and a German woman, he was a remarkably good, lightfooted technical player of great intelligence who was a bit afflicted by his versatility. His de facto position was often not really obvious, during his time in Karslruhe he was often seen playing on both wings or coming from a deeper midfield position where he started his solo runs and he was also a capable offensive midfielder operating directly behind two forwards but was also dangerous as a striker. Possibly he would have been most suited to play in a modern 4-2-3-1 system in a similar role as Mesut özil or even Thomas Müller. Scholl was blessed with high mobility and an expert at sidestepping, had a good shooting technique and was a very good freekick taker. Nevertheless one would have expected him to score a few more goals during the second, more mature half of his career when he dropped his joker mentality and became a more reputable player. During the later years of his career, Scholl was afflicted by many injuries. He had the abilities to reach the absolute top level during his time but it wasn’t to be. 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 not considered 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#15 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Forward] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#13 Forward] 1994 broad circle [07/94] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#4 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#5 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 Internat. Cl. [07/96] [#1 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#7 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 Internat. Cl. [07/98] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 Internat. Cl. [07/99] [#6 Forward] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#5 Forward] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#6 Forward] 2000 Internat. Cl. [12/00] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2001 Internat. Cl. [07/01] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 broad circle [07/02] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2002 not considered [12/02] 2003 not considered 2004 not considered 2005 considered_ [07/05] [Offensive Midfielder] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 not considered 2007 not considered [07/07] Christian SCHREIER Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 10 times Originally a striker, he evolved into an offensive midfielder as he lacked the necessary perseverance for a striker role. As his career progressed, Schreier became a more and more defensively-minded player and eventually ended up as a sweeper at the end of his career. A fine technical player, he had good pace and control and liked to advance towards the penalty box coming from a deep position via dribbling or sneaking into the box like Manfred Burgsmüller where he would often strike like lightning out of nowhere. 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Outside Right] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Outside Left] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Winger] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#3 Winger] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#2 Winger] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Offensive Midfielder] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Offensive Midfielder] 1988 not considered 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Defensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Defensive Midfielder] 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered [07/96]
Willi SCHRÖDER International class: 4 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 3 times Nicknamed ‘crumbs’ because of his delicate figure, Willi Schröder was a native of Berlin who spent the majority of his career playing for ATSV Bremen and then Werder Bremen. Known for his brilliant ball control, the two-footed Schröder was either deployed as a center forward or as an inside forward, becoming an outstanding offensive force with his hard shooting. A playmaker and goalgetter in one, his team was also known just as “the Schröder XI”. For Germany he was participating in the 1952 Olympics where he was voted best “inside forward” of the tournament ahead of Ferenc Puskas. For a while, Schröder was Germany’s most sought-after footballer who had many offerings from big clubs among them Italian clubs, but Schröder opted to play for Werder Bremen, where he became the decisive player in the following nine seasons. 1955 broad circle [12/55] [#5 Inside Forward] 1955 broad circle [12/55] [#3 Center Forward] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#3 Inside Forward] 1956 Internat. Cl. [12/56] [#2 Inside Forward] 1957 Internat. Cl. [07/57] [#1 Inside Forward] 1957 Internat. Cl. [12/57] [#3 Inside Forward] 1958 not considered 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#7 Inside Forward] 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 considered_ [1960] [Inside Forward] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Inside Forward] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Inside Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 not considered [12/62] 1963 not considered 1964 not considered 1965 not considered [07/65] André SCHÜRRLE International class: 2 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 3 times 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Offensive Lateral] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#8 Forward] 2011 Internat. Cl. [07/11] [#5 Forward] 2011 considered_ [12/11] [Offensive Lateral] 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#8 Offensive Lateral] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#8 Offensive Lateral] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#4 German abroad] 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#2 German abroad] 2014 considered_ [12/14] [Offensive Lateral] Michael SCHULZ International class: 2 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 6 times An exceptionally tall left back and later man-marker who impressed with his aerial ability and his dynamism and who could also be deployed as a defensive midfielder. A defensively-minded full back who wouldn’t advance close to the touchline when going forward but was content with crossing and distributing the ball from an inside position. His career peak came as a man-marker in the early-1990s playing for Borussia Dortmund. 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 not considered 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Defender] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#3 Defender] 1989 not considered 1990 not considered [07/90] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Marker] 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#8 Marker] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#1 Marker] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Marker] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#1 Marker] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Marker] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Marker] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Marker] 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered[07/97] Willibald SCHULZ World class: 6 times International class: 11 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 3 times Willi Schulz was a hard as iron right half and later sweeper who was known as the ‘the master of the sliding tackle’. He captained the national team 20 times and was arguably the most important defensive player during the second half of the 1960s. His international breakthrough was the 1966 World Cup after which he was considered as one of the very best central defenders in Europe. During the next four years, Schulz remained the undisputed standard sweeper of Germany. In November 1968, he was part of the FIFA XI that faced Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Schulz would have been the standard sweeper of Germany during the 1970 World Cup, but an injury of the meniscus as well as a calf bruise meant that he only started in two of the six World Cup games in Mexico. In his place, Karl-Heinz Schnellingerplayed as sweeper. After the 1970 World Cup, Schulz retired from international activities. He continued to play for Hamburger SV until 1973. Being a conservative sweeper with no urge to join the attack of his teams, Schulz focused on marshalling his defense. He was noted for his calmness even under pressure, his positional play, his strength at man-to-man duels, his solid passing game, aerial ability and a special expertise at sliding tackling. For these traits as well as his consistency at the top level, Schulz was revered by German national team coach Helmut Schön, who preferred Schulz at the sweeper position to the younger and more adventurous Franz Beckenbauer, who had to play in midfield instead and only inherited the libero role for good after Schulz had retired from international duties in 1970. 1957 not considered[12/57] 1958 not considered 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#7 Half Back] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#4 Half Back] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#4 Half Back] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#3 Half Back] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#2 Half Back] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 Internat. Cl. [12/62] [#1 Half Back] 1963 Internat. Cl. [07/63] [#1 Half Back] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#1 Half Back] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#1 Half Back] 1964 Internat. Cl. [12/64] [#1 Half Back] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#4 Center Half] 1965 Internat. Cl. [07/65] [#2 Half Back] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#3 Center Half] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#4 Half Back] 1966 World Class [07/66] [#1 Central Defender] 1966 World Class [12/66] [#1 Central Defender] 1967 World Class [07/67] [#2 Central Defender] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#1 Central Defender] 1968 Internat. Cl. [07/68] [#3 Central Defender] 1968 World Class [12/68] [#2 Central Defender] 1969 World Class [07/69] [#2 Central Defender] 1969 World Class [12/69] [#2 Central Defender] 1970 Internat. Cl. [07/70] [#3 Central Defender] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#4 Central Defender] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#5 Libero] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Libero] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Libero] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Libero] Harald SCHUMACHER World class: 9 times International class: 6 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 5 times Harald ‘Toni’ Schumacher was one of the all-time best German goalkeepers but also the most controversial one. Schumacher was the blueprint of a kind of goalkeeper that would dominate the German goals during the 1980s and 1990s, a physically powerful athlete (due to bodybuilding) with an aggressive mind-set who was set out to intimidate his opponents, much like Oliver Kahn roughly 15 years later. Driven by an eerie ambition, Schumacher managed to sustain a very high performance level for roughly ten years and literally never had a notable drop in form during these years. Infamous for his malicious deliberate collision with French full back Patrick Battiston in the 1982 World Cup semi final, Schumacher since then is labeled as one of the most disliked ‘bad guys’ in the annals of football and to this day this deed overshadows his great capability as one of the all-time greatest German goalkeepers who was exceptionally strong on the line but also very assured in controlling the box. A very outspoken and quite extrovert personality, Schumacher said after his retirement: “I often deliberaltey collided with a wall. Sometimes I broke down the wall, sometimes the wall broke me down.” 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered 1974 not considered [07/74] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Goalkeeper] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Goalkeeper] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Goalkeeper] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Goalkeeper] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1980 Internat. Cl. [07/80] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1980 World Class [12/80] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1981 World Class [07/81] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1981 World Class [12/81] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1982 World Class [12/82] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1983 World Class [07/83] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1983 World Class [12/83] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1984 World Class [07/84] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1984 World Class [12/84] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1985 Internat. Cl. [07/85] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1985 Internat. Cl. [12/85] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1986 World Class [07/86] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1987 not considered [07/87] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1988 played abroad [12/88] 1989 played abroad 1990 played abroad [07/90] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Goalkeeper] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered [07/92] Bernd SCHUSTER International class: 7 times Broad circle: 5 times Bernd Schuster was a highly-gifted playmaker who joined Köln 1978 at the age of 18 looking like a long-term replacement of Wolfgang Overath who had retired the previous year. During his debut season, Schuster however had to be content with being deployed in defensive roles, even that of a stopper during the second half of the 1978-79 season. Already as a young professional, Schuster possessed exceptional skills: an immense feeling for well-weighted long passes, wonderful diagonal passes spanning 40 meters, an excellent shot, great direct freekicks but most of all a compelling dominance on the pitch. Schuster always exuded great drawing power, teammates were looking to pass the ball to him and he was always positioned so that he could receive the ball at all times, and when in possession, he would cross the pitch covering a lot of ground. After joining Barcelona in 1980, he was afflicted by a vicious foul of Andoni Goikoetxea in 1982 and never fully recovered afterwards. He was not able to reach the absolute same class of early years after that incident. A difficult character, Schuster was never known to hesitate when a confrontation was looming and he would never back down. Often he had fallen out with his managers which once even led to him not playing a single game during whole season (1986-87). Due to his argumentative nature, his international career for Germany was also cut short, but this time it was Schuster himself who decided not to play for Germany for good in 1984, shortly before the European Championships. Franz Beckenbauer tried to persuade Schuster to return in 1985, but Beckenbauer was appalled when Schuster demanded a payment of 1 million marks for his services. 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#5 Stopper] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#9 Midfielder] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#4 Midfielder] 1980 Internat. Cl. [07/80] [#2 Midfielder] 1980 played abroad [12/80] 1981 played abroad 1982 played abroad 1983 played abroad 1984 played abroad 1985 played abroad 1986 played abroad 1987 played abroad 1988 played abroad 1989 played abroad 1990 played abroad [07/90] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#5 German abroad] 1991 Internat. Cl. [07/91] [#5 German abroad] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#7 German abroad] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#1 German abroad] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#10 German abroad] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#7 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#5 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#2 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered [07/97]
Jürgen SCHÜTZ International class: 1 time Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 2 times Jürgen ‘Charly’ Schütz was discovered by Max Merkel in 1959, aged 20, who signed him for Borussia Dortmund coming from Urania Lütgendortmund. Predominantly a center forward, Schütz immediately impressed as a goalgetter of extra class, as he topped the Oberliga West’s top scorers list already in his debut season. At Dortmund, Schütz formed a formidable duo with inside left Friedhelm ‘Timo’ Konietzka, who were soon dubbed “Max and Moritz” by the press due to their coolness and unpredictability on the pitch. 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#4 Center Forward] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#2 Center Forward] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#3 Center Forward] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Center Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#1 Inside Forward] 1963 Internat. Cl. [07/63] [#1 Inside Forward] 1963 played abroad [12/63] 1964 played abroad 1965 played abroad 1966 played abroad 1967 played abroad 1968 played abroad [07/68] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Midfielder] 1969 not considered 1970 not considered 1971 not considered 1972 not considered[07/72] Manfred SCHWABL Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 6 times A late-blooming diminutive playmaker type with excellent technical skills, fast as quicksilver with very good passing skills, determined in tight spaces. When playing for Bayern München Schwabl never managed to be more than a tag-along who even was deployed as an industrious right back for a while. He had his best years playing for TSV 1860 München during the mid-1990s. 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered 1986 not considered [07/86] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Offensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Offensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered 1990 not considered 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Defensive Midfielder] 1992 not considered 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 not considered 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#7 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 considered_ [12/95] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1996 not considered 1997 not considered [07/97] Hans-Georg SCHWARZENBECK International class: 7 times Broad circle: 11 times Considered: 6 times A ‘classic’ stopper type who acted as de facto sweeper for Bayern München whenever Franz Beckenbauer was surging ahead. Georg ‘Katsche’ Schwarzenbeck, who was once described by a Dutch commentator as ‘half man, half bull’ was an important player in the all-conquering Bayern München side of the 1970s and also for Germany. His footballing skills were generally underestimated due to his physical appearance as a tough-tackling, intimidating looking man-marker, but actually he possessed a good touch and was good in distributing the ball from the back. It is often said that he only played regularly in the national team because Beckenbauer wanted it, but that assumption again means to undersell him as a footballer. He was by no means a pure destroyer, but an accomplished ball winner who intended to tackle only as a last resort. After Franz Beckenbauer had left Bayern in 1977 it was Schwarzenbeck who was picked to replace ‘the Kaiser’ (albeit only after the originally intended replacement, Wolfgang Rausch, did not convince in that role). Schwarzenbeck’s most famous moment was his last-minute equalizer in the 1974 European Cup final against Atletico Madrid. 1973-74 was arguably his peak season, scoring seven goals in the league, a very good number for a defensive stopper like him. Most of his goals came from long distance shots, just like the one vs. Atletico. In hindsight it is often said that it was a totally unlikely occasion when of all players it was Schwarzenbeck who scored that highly crucial equalizer, but in fact it was a common scenario in quite a few Bundesliga games that season. That same season Schwarzenbeck was crowned World Champion, but in the final he had to perform an unlikely task in that he was not deployed as the marker of the nominal Dutch center forward Johan Cruijff but instead had to play as a right back against Rob Rensenbrink. He did just as well in that role, neutralizing the highly dangerous Dutch outside left. Schwarzenbeck actually had spent his first two seasons at Bayern (1966 to 1968) as a full back (albeit on the left side) and thus he was familiar playing as a lateral defender instead of a central defender. 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Full Back] 1967 not considered 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Full Back] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Midfielder] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#8 Central Defender] 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Central Defender] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Central Defender] 1971 Internat. Cl. [07/71] [#2 Stopper] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#2 Full Back] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#2 Stopper] 1972 Internat. Cl. [07/72] [#1 Stopper] 1972 Internat. Cl. [12/72] [#1 Stopper] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#2 Stopper] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#2 Stopper] 1974 Internat. Cl. [07/74] [#1 Stopper] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#4 Stopper] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#3 Stopper] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#1 Stopper] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#1 Stopper] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#2 Stopper] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#4 Stopper] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Stopper] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#4 Libero] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#5 Libero] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#8 Libero] 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 not considered [07/80] Pirmin SCHWEGLER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 1 time 2006 played abroad [07/06] 2006 not considered [12/06] 2007 not considered 2008 not considered 2009 not considered 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#10 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2013 considered_ [07/13] [Defensive Midfielder] 2013 not considered [12/13] 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 broad circle [12/14] [#9 Defensive Midfielder] Bastian SCHWEINSTEIGER World class: 4 times International class: 3 times Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 2 times 2002 not considered [12/02] 2003 not considered 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#10 Offensive Midfielder] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2005 broad circle [12/05] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2006 considered_ [12/06] [Offensive Lateral] 2007 not considered 2008 broad circle [07/08] [#3 Offensive Lateral] 2008 considered_ [12/08] [Offensive Lateral] 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#6 Offensive Lateral] 2010 World Class [07/10] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 2011 World Class [12/11] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2013 World Class [07/13] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 2014 World Class [07/14] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2014 not considered [12/14] Wolfgang SEEL Broad circle: 12 times Considered: 12 times A very quick winger on both sides who would score a decent amount of goals over the course of his career. He formed a great pair of wingers together with Rainer Geye at Fortuna Düsseldorf during the 1970s. By the late 1970s Seel had evolved into a midfield player. In both roles, Wolfgang Seel was continuously rated among the very best players of the Bundesliga during the time he was playing. His greatest game arguably was the 1979 Cup Winners Cup final when he scored two goals in Düsseldorf’s unlucky 3-4 loss to Barcelona. 1966 not considered [12/66] 1967 not considered 1968 not considered 1969 not considered 1970 not considered 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Central Forward] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Midfielder] 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#5 Outside Right] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#2 Outside Right] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Midfielder] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Midfielder] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#3 Midfielder] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#2 Central Forward] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Central Forward] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#4 Outside Left] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#13 Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#4 Outside Left] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#4 Outside Left] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#3 Outside Left] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#2 Outside Left] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#4 Outside Left] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Outside Left] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#2 Outside Left] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Outside Left] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Midfielder] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Winger] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Winger] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Winger] 1985 not considered [12/85] 1986 not considered [07/86] Dieter SEELER Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 4 times The older brother of Uwe started out as a robust and unadorned all-round forward with strengths in combative actions, less in technical flair. Dieter Seeler at first struggled to gain a place in the first team of HSV and thus was sold to Altona 93 in 1952 where he made a name as a footballer. After three years playing for Altona, Dieter Seeler returned as an established player to Hamburg where joined his younger brother Uwe who meanwhile had become a celebrated goalgetter in his own right. In the following years, Dieter Seeler was reskilled as a left half and because of his uncompromising and hard way of playing, he soon got nicknamed “iron foot”. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 not considered 1957 not considered 1958 considered_ [1958] [Half Back] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Half Back] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#5 Half Back] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#5 Half Back] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#7 Half Back] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Half Back] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Half Back] 1963 not considered 1964 not considered 1965 not considered [07/65] Uwe SEELER World class: 14 times International class: 13 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 1 time Honorary captain of the German national team and the first footballer ever to be decorated with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germay, to this day Uwe Seeler occupies one of the most important places in the annals of German football. His rise to become arguably the most popular footballer ever in Germany began in 1953, when he impressed onlookers in the FIFA youth tournament at the age of 16. Already at this age he possessed the characteristic that would set him apart from all other players: his immense explosiveness, be it with very hard off-hand shots from all possible angles, spectacular diving headers or amazing bicycle kicks – Uwe knew how to wow the crowds. A reckless, compact center forward of small, stocky stature with the absolute will to score, always looking for the direct way to the goal, a clinical finisher who would score amazingly artistic goals but also was known as a real poacher. In early 1954 Seeler already made the headlines by scoring 12 goals in six games at the next installment of the FIFA youth tournament, which was held before the World Cup in Switzerland and according to legend, Sepp Herberger seriously contemplated taking young Uwe to Switzerland. In the end, Herberger probably considered Seeler too young and unproven at that level. But in Hamburg, there was no doubt that young Uwe was considered a really great promising talent and thus he made his first team debut in August 1954 in Oberliga North. At the end of his first season in topflight, he had scored 28 goals in 26 games. During his first nine seasons, he became top scorer of Oberliga North seven times, only in 1958 and 1963 was he beaten by another striker. Seeler soon rose to being one of the greatest stars on the pitches of Germany and managed to be a hugely popular player in all of Germany and in all stadiums that he played, hence his nickname ‘Our Uwe’. Seeler never dwelt long on the ball, he was not someone to caress the ball or who was able to dribble his way around several players. In fact, he considered it unsportsmanlike when a gifted player was bent on humiliating a less talented player and thus Uwe often was seen cautioning his outside left Gert Dörfel when he overdid his dribbling or when he saw Dörfel nutmegging his opponent. In Hamburg, Seeler became an absolute club legend by leading the club to nine successive championships in Oberliga North and one German championship in 1960. Two of his greatest games for Hamburg were the 1960 German championship final against Köln, where he scored two goals in a 3-2 win and the 1963 German Cup final, when he scored all three goals in a 3-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. Although Uwe already debuted in the German national team in October 1954 (aged 17), he initially found it hard to repeat his club success on the international level. His breakthrough was the 1958 World Cup in Sweden where Seeler scored his first goal in his fifth international game in the match against Argentina. From that point Seeler was the undisputed no. 1 forward in the German national team until his first resignation from international duties in spring 1968. Like no other player of his time, Seeler embodied virtues like diligence, a down-to-earth attitude, discipline and sincerity. 1955 Internat. Cl. [12/55] [#2 Center Forward] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#3 Center Forward] 1956 broad circle [12/56] [#5 Center Forward] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#3 Center Forward] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#3 Center Forward] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#1 Center Forward] 1959 World Class [07/59] [#1 Center Forward] 1959 World Class [12/59] [#1 Center Forward] 1960 World Class [1960] [#1 Center Forward] 1961 World Class [07/61] [#1 Center Forward] 1961 World Class [12/61] [#1 Center Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 World Class [12/62] [#1 Center Forward] 1963 Internat. Cl. [07/63] [#1 Center Forward] 1963 World Class [12/63] [#1 Center Forward] 1964 World Class [07/64] [#1 Center Forward] 1964 World Class [12/64] [#1 Center Forward] 1965 World Class [07/65] [#1 Center Forward] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#1 Center Forward] 1966 World Class [07/66] [#1 Central Forward] 1966 World Class [12/66] [#1 Central Forward] 1967 Internat. Cl. [07/67] [#2 Central Forward] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#1 Central Forward] 1968 Internat. Cl. [07/68] [#3 Central Forward] 1968 Internat. Cl. [12/68] [#1 Central Forward] 1969 Internat. Cl. [07/69] [#2 Central Forward] 1969 Internat. Cl. [12/69] [#2 Central Forward] 1970 World Class [07/70] [#3 Midfielder] 1970 Internat. Cl. [07/70] [#2 Central Forward] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#2 Central Forward] 1970 World Class [12/70] [#4 Midfielder] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Central Forward] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#10 Midfielder] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#5 Central Forward] 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#7 Central Forward] Günter SEIBOLD Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 4 time Seibold was a very reliable left back who is mostly remembered for the eleven seasons he spent in Stuttgart between 1958 and 1969. 1958 considered_ [1958] [Full Back] 1959 not considered [07/59] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#9 Full Back] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#8 Full Back] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#6 Full Back] 1961 not considered [12/61] 1962 not considered 1963 not considered [07/63] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Full Back] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Full Back] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Full Back] 1965 not considered 1966 not considered 1967 not considered 1968 not considered 1969 not considered 1970 not considered [07/70] Rudolf SELIGER Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 6 time Probably one of the last few ‘classic’ outside rights, fast, tricky, a dangerous finisher but definitely more a provider than a goalscorer. Rudi Seliger was a similar player to Düsseldorf’s Wolfgang Seel who was technically more sound while Seliger was the more dynamic player who had a real punch. 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Outside Right] 1973 not considered 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Outside Right] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#2 Outside Right] 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Outside Right] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Outside Right] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#5 Outside Right] 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#4 Outside Right] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#2 Outside Right] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 not considered 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Outside Right] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Outside Right] 1982 not considered 1983 not considered [07/83]
Paulo SÉRGIO Silvestre do Nascimento International class: 3 times Broad circle: 4 times A technically skilled, very flexible forward and midfielder, by nature a support striker not a finisher. Two-footed, the Brazilian was known for his great reach of action. Constantly moving and changing position, he occupied all offensive positions and thus was hard to pin down by the opponent. With his great technique, stamina, pace and agility as well as his straightforward way of dribbling, Paulo Sergio could hold his own on the pitch, but his erratic nature meant that he could lose his form for weeks. 1993 played abroad [07/93] 1993 Internat. Cl. [12/93] [#1 Wide Midfielder] 1994 broad circle [07/94] [#10 Forward] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#4 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 broad circle [07/97] [#8 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 played abroad [12/97] 1998 played abroad 1999 played abroad [07/99] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#13 Forward] 2000 Internat. Cl. [07/00] [#2 Forward] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered [07/01] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2002 not considered [07/02] 2002 played abroad [12/02] Stanislav ŠESTAK International class: 1 time Considered: 1 time 2007 played abroad [07/07] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2008 considered_ [07/08] [Forward] 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 not considered 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 played abroad [12/10] 2011 played abroad 2012 played abroad 2013 played abroad 2014 played abroad [07/14] 2014 not considered [12/14] Ciriaco SFORZA International class: 7 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 2 times 1993 played abroad [07/93] 1993 Internat. Cl. [12/93] [#3 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#4 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#8 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#2 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 played abroad [12/96] 1997 played abroad [07/97] 1997 Internat. Cl. [12/97] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 Internat. Cl. [07/98] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 Internat. Cl. [12/98] [#1 Libero] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#7 Libero] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#10 Defensive Midfielder] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#3 Libero] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Libero] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 broad circle [07/03] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 not considered 2005 considered_ [07/05] [Defensive Midfielder] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 not considered [07/96] Wolfgang SIDKA Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 8 times An excellent midfielder who debuted in the Bundesliga at the age of 18 in 1972. A tall, technically sound central midfielder, good at heading and distributing the ball with mainly defensive duties. 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered 1973 not considered 1974 not considered [07/74] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#13 Midfielder] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#9 Midfielder] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#9 Midfielder] 1976 not considered 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#15 Midfielder] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Midfielder] 1978 not considered [12/78] 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] [Midfielder] 1982 not considered [07/82] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Offensive Midfielder] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#10 Offensive Midfielder] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Offensive Midfielder] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Offensive Midfielder] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#5 Midfielder] 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] Gerhard SIEDL International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 4 times A technically brilliant expert freekick taker who was known as an all-round forward who could be used in every offensive position and also as a defensive midfielder. One of the best German forwards of the 1950s, Siedl was attested by various of his managers that he was sluggish in training and lacked seriousness. He debuted in Bayern München’s first team at the age of 15 in in 1944 but had to leave the club in 1948 because of a ‘violation of the club rules’. He briefly played in France and for Borussia Neunkirchen and then returned to Bayern in 1949 for two years. During the 1950s he played for a variety of clubs in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands. Due to his unruly nature and constant changing of clubs he never really settled in the national team. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 broad circle [07/56] [#5 Outside Right] 1956 considered_ [12/56] [Half Back] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#4 Outside Right] 1957 considered_ [12/57] [Inside Forward] 1958 considered_ [1958] [Half Back] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Half Back] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#6 Half Back] 1959 Internat. Cl. [12/59] [#3 Inside Forward] 1960 played abroad [1960] 1961 played abroad 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 played abroad [12/62] 1963 played abroad [07/63] Klaus-Dieter SIELOFF International class: 10 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 5 times A classic offensive libero, one of the strongest of the 1960s and early-1970s, a defensive anchor with a very strong personality and charisma who helped turn the young, naïve Mönchengladbach side of the 1960s into a serious international contender when he joined them in 1969. An excellent technical player with good positioning and reading of the game, Sieloff’s distribution from the back played a vital part in his rise to stardom as did his surging ahead in a forceful, less elegant way than Beckenbauer, but with similar panache. Obviously Sieloff never had a real chance at a breakthrough in the national team, as even Beckenbauer himself did not get to play in his preferred position in the national team since Helmut Schön for a long time preferred a strictly defensive sweeper (Willi Schulz). 1960 not considered [1960] 1961 not considered 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 not considered [12/62] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Center Half] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#5 Center Half] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#2 Center Half] 1964 Internat. Cl. [12/64] [#2 Center Half] 1965 Internat. Cl. [07/65] [#1 Center Half] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#2 Center Half] 1966 Internat. Cl. [07/66] [#4 Central Defender] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Central Defender] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Central Defender] 1967 not considered [12/67] 1968 not considered 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Central Defender] 1969 Internat. Cl. [12/69] [#5 Central Defender] 1970 Internat. Cl. [07/70] [#6 Central Defender] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#5 Central Defender] 1971 Internat. Cl. [07/71] [#2 Libero] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#2 Libero] 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#3 Libero] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered [07/73] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Libero] 1974 not considered [07/74] Hans SIEMENSMEYER International class: 2 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 13 times A ball winner and a playmaker in one, Hans Siemensmeyer was an adventurous and industrious midfielder with a solid touch who started his career as an inside right in the late 1950s playing for RW Oberhausen in the first half of his career and for Hannover 96 in the second. During his time in Hannover he evolved into a really fine playmaker and became a symbolic figure for that club. 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 not considered [1960] 1961 not considered 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 not considered [12/62] 1963 not considered 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Inside Forward] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Inside Forward] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#19 Inside Forward] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Inside Forward] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Central Forward] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Midfielder] 1967 Internat. Cl. [07/67] [#5 Midfielder] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#4 Midfielder] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#6 Midfielder] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Outside Left] 1969 considered_ [07/69] [Outside Left] 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 not considered 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Midfielder] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Midfielder] 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] Asgeir SIGURVINSSON World class: 1 time International class: 4 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 1 time Certainly the finest footballer to come out of Iceland, together with Eyjolfur Sverrisson and Eidur Gudjohnsen. A central offensive midfielder who joined Bayern in 1981 but rarely played as he couldn’t get past Paul Breitner, Sigurvinsson hit the big time playing for VfB Stuttgart between 1982 and 1990. A superb technical player who played very good diagonal passes and who would score himself oftentimes, but not a playmaker who would dictate the rhythm of a game. Before he came to play in Germany, Sigurvinsson had spent eight successful seasons in Belgium playing for Standard Liège. 1981 played abroad [07/81] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#3 Foreign player] 1983 Internat. Cl. [12/83] [# 2Foreign player] 1984 World Class [07/84] [#1 Foreign player] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#6 Foreign player] 1986 Internat. Cl. [07/86] [#4 Foreign player] 1986 not assessed [12/86] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Foreign Player] 1987 Internat. Cl. [12/87] [#2 Foreign player] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#5 Foreign player] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#12 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#10 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered [07/90] Allan SIMONSEN World class: 3 times International class: 3 times Broad circle: 4 times A very diminutive winger predominantly playing on the right wing but who loved to wander around the pitch looking to score goals himself as well as providing for others. A smart, nimble dribbler with great footballing instincts who initially struggled to find a place in the first team but soon became one of the best forwards in the history of the Bundesliga. Together with his countryman Henning Jensen and Jupp Heynckes, Mönchengladbach possessed one of the most goal hungry forward lines ever seen in German football. He joined Barcelona in 1979 where scored 31 goals in three seasons (in 98 games) but left the club in 1982 after the signing of Diego Maradona and Bernd Schuster. 1972 played abroad [07/72] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered 1974 not considered [07/74] 1974 Internat. Cl. [12/74] [#2 Foreign player] 1975 Internat. Cl. [07/75] [#2 Foreign player] 1975 World Class [12/75] [#2 Foreign player] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#8 Foreign player] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#5 Foreign player] 1977 World Class [07/77] [#1 Foreign player] 1977 World Class [12/77] [#1 Foreign player] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#3 Foreign player] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#4 Foreign player] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#8 Foreign player] 1979 played abroad [12/79] Josip ŠIMUNIĆ International class: 2 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 3 times 1998 not considered [07/98] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered 2000 not considered 2001 not considered 2002 broad circle [07/02] [#8 Central Defender] 2002 not considered [12/02] 2003 not considered 2004 considered_ [07/04] [Central Defender] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#5 Central Defender] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#6 Central Defender] 2005 considered_ [12/05] [Central Defender] 2006 not considered 2007 not considered [07/07] 2007 considered_ [12/07] [Central Defender] 2008 not considered [07/08] 2008 Internat. Cl. [12/08] [#1 Central Defender] 2009 Internat. Cl. [07/09] [#1 Central Defender] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#5 Central Defender] 2010 not considered 2011 played abroad [12/11]
Didier SIX International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times A classic outside left but not a pure winger at that and also not a disguised goal hungry center forward, but a kind of hybrid. A fast dribbler with a nose for the right moment to get into the box, where he would try to finish the move after sidestepping his opponents, shooting with his left foot. Didier Six was a very technically sound player of international class who did not appreciate rough treatment by his opponents. To reach a World Class level Six would have needed to be more robust, physically and mentally. 1981 played abroad [07/81] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#5 Foreign player] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#1 Foreign player] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#4 Foreign player] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#6 Foreign player] 1983 played abroad [12/83] Włodzimierz SMOLAREK International class: 1 time Considered: 1 time A very fast left winger who wasn’t glued to the byline but who would cut inside at the earliest possible moment looking to finish his move with a goal. On the one side Smolarek was firmly looking for a finish, on the other side he was good in combination play and particularly one-twos. A gifted passer who liked to spent time on the ball dropping back to midfield. Not much of a header, his strength was on the ground with the ball at his feet. 1986 played abroad [07/86] 1986 not assessed [12/86] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Foreign Player] 1987 Internat. Cl. [12/87] [#10 Foreign player] 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 played abroad [12/88] Zvonimir SOLDO International class: 9 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 4 times 1996 played abroad [07/96] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#2 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1997 Internat. Cl. [07/97] [#1 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1997 Internat. Cl. [12/97] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1998 Internat. Cl. [07/98] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#10 Defensive Midfielder] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Defensive Midfielder] 1999 Internat. Cl. [12/99] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#8 Defensive Midfielder] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#4 Libero] 2001 broad circle [07/01] [#4 Libero] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 2002 considered_ [07/02][Defensive Midfielder] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 2003 Internat. Cl. [07/03] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2003 Internat. Cl. [12/03] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2004 Internat. Cl. [07/04] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2004 Internat. Cl. [12/04] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#8 Defensive Midfielder] 2005 considered_ [12/05] [Defensive Midfielder] 2006 considered_ [07/06] [Defensive Midfielder] SOKRATIS Papastathopoulos International class: 3 times Broad circle: 2 times 2011 played abroad [07/11] 2011 not considered [12/11] 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#3 Central Defender] 2012 not considered [12/12] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#7 Central Defender] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#3 Central Defender] 2014 broad circle [07/14] [#4 Central Defender] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#4 Central Defender] Yann SOMMER International class: 1 time 2014 played abroad [07/14] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#3 Goalkeeper] Paulo SOUSA International class: 1 time 1996 played abroad [07/96] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 Internat. Cl. [12/97] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] Martin SPANRING International class: 1 time Broad circle: 4 times Trained as a midfield player, Martin Spanring almost exclusively played as a man-marker during his professional career. Because of his skills as a midfielder, Spanring was one of the technically better man-markers of his generation, an elegant defender who won many balls thanks to his good positioning and he was also a talented passer. Regarded as a big talent in his youth, he never managed to reach the highest level. 1988 not considered [12/88] 1989 not considered 1990 not considered 1991 not considered 1992 not considered 1993 not considered 1994 broad circle [07/94] [#10 Marker] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#3 Marker] 1995 broad circle [07/95] [#5 Marker] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#9 Marker] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#9 Marker] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 not considered 1998 not considered 1999 not considered 2000 not considered 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered [07/03] Gintaras STAUČÉ International class: 1 time 1997 played abroad [07/97] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 not considered 1999 Internat. Cl. [07/99] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered 2001 not considered [07/01] 2001 played abroad [12/01] Arno STEFFENHAGEN Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 2 times Steffenhagen was a very quick left winger who could also be used on the right side. In his position, Steffenhagen was one of the better players in the Bundesliga who was quite a promise when he started his professional career in 1968 playing for Hertha BSC. His career stalled due to his involvement in the Bundesliga scandal in 1971 when was suspended from playing in Germany and thus emigrated first to South Africa and then to the Netherlands where he spent three years playing for FC Ajax Amsterdam (58 games, 19 goals) between 1973 and 1976. A valuable winger who later returned to play in Germany, this time for Hamburg where he won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1977. In his two years in Hamburg, Steffenhagen was deployed on the right wing as Georg Volkert was preferred on the left wing. At the end of his career he spent six seasons in the NASL (60 goals in 119 games) before retiring in 1984. 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Outside Left] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#4 Outside Left] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#5 Outside Right] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#5 Outside Right] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#4 Outside Right] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#6 Outside Left] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#4 Outside Left] 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 considered_ [12/76] [Outside Right] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#4 Outside Right] 1977 not considered [12/77] 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 [07/83] Erwin STEIN Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 4 times A center forward mostly remembered for his time spent with Eintracht Frankfurt, he was rated as one of the top marksmen in Germany at his peak. Stein scored two goals in the mythical 1960 European Cup final which Eintracht lost by 3 goals to 7 against Real Madrid in Glasgow. His peak came in the following season when he topped the goalscorers table of Oberliga South in 1961. Afterwards Stein’s goal ratio slowly began to decrease and by the start of the Bundesliga in 1963 he was afflicted by long-lasting goal droughts. He retired in 1966 after he started only one game in the first team in season 1965-66. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 not considered 1957 not considered 1958 not considered 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#2 Center Forward] 1959 considered_ [12/59] [Center Forward] 1960 considered_ [1960] [Center Forward] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Center Forward] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#4 Center Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#4 Center Forward] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#4 Center Forward] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Center Forward] 1964 not considered 1965 not considered 1966 not considered 1967 not considered 1968 not considered 1969 not considered 1970 not considered [07/70]
Ulrich STEIN World class: 1 time International class: 20 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 8 times One of Germany’s all-time greatest goalkeepers who enjoyed an outstanding career in the Bundesliga despite inciting several scandals. Uli Stein must be rated as a truly complete goalkeeper, very strong in all aspects of goalkeeping, terrific on the line and at leaving his goal, in one-on-one situations, a very charismatic figure, a dominant person with an aggressive mentality. As a goalkeeper Stein was highly respected because he sustained a very high level over the course of two decades. An important personality in the teams he played for (Bielefeld, Hamburg, Frankfurt) but unfortunately also a loose cannon. Stein was extremely ambitious and without any humour, could not stand to lose and often had meltdowns on the pitch (knocking out players with a punch of his fist and even knocking down ball-boys as the most notable episodes; he also once refused to get back between the goalposts after conceding a controversial goal, the referee sent Stein off as he continued to refuse moving back to his goal despite the referee summoning him to do so). His international career ended in 1986 when he was kicked out of the national team during the 1986 World Cup for disrespectful behaviour towards Franz Beckenbauer. For Stein this probably was some sort of salvation as it must have been unbearable for him being only second keeper behind the equally ambitious and headstrong Harald Schumacher. Despite these scandals, Stein was still playing topflight football at the age of 42 when he finally retired in 1997. 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Goalkeeper] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Goalkeeper] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Goalkeeper] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Goalkeeper] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Goalkeeper] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 Internat. Cl. [12/81] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1983 Internat. Cl. [12/83] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1984 Internat. Cl. [12/84] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1985 Internat. Cl. [07/85] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1985 Internat. Cl. [12/85] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1986 Internat. Cl. [07/86] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1986 Internat. Cl. [12/86] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1987 Internat. Cl. [07/87] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#10 Goalkeeper] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1990 Internat. Cl. [07/90] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1990 Internat. Cl. [12/90] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1992 World Class [12/92] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1993 Internat. Cl. [12/93] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1994 Internat. Cl. [12/94] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 considered_ [12/95] [Goalkeeper] 1996 considered_ [07/96] [Goalkeeper] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1997 not considered [07/97] Paul STEINER International class: 2 times Broad circle: 13 times Considered: 10 times Paul Steiner was an unyielding man-marker, pretty tall and extremely good at heading, very robust, a ruthless tackler and always glued to his man. It was Paul Steiner who (in 1980) fouled the former Köln international Heinz Flohe so brutally, that Flohe’s leg was literally cut in two halves (fibula and shinbone broken). Flohe’s career was over. Of all clubs, Steiner joined Köln just a year later. A mean, vicious player, who was ‘promoted’ to sweeper at the end of his career. 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Libero] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Stopper] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Stopper] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Stopper] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Stopper] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Stopper] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Stopper] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#4 Stopper] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#4 Stopper] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#4 Stopper] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#3 Stopper] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#4 Stopper] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#3 Stopper] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#3 Stopper] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#4 Stopper] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#6 Libero] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defender] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Defender] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Libero] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#7 Libero] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#8 Libero] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#4 Libero] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#4 Libero] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#6 Libero] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#2 Libero] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered [07/91] Rudolf STEINER Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 3 times A left back who was part of the successful 1960s TSV 1860 München side who had started out as an outside left. Despite that origin, he was soon known as a hard and pitiless defender. 1960 not considered [12/60] 1961 not considered 1962 not considered 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#7 Full Back] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#7 Full Back] 1964 broad circle [07/64] [#3 Full Back] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#4 Full Back] 1965 not considered 1966 not considered [07/66] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Full Back] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Full Back] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Full Back] 1968 not considered 1969 not considered [07/69] Heinz STEINMANN Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 12 times In the first half of his career Heinz Steinmann was predominantly deployed as a right half before he settled as a stopper in the second half. He made the 40-man roster for the 1962 World Cup but was not part of the final squad that travelled to Chile. Steinmann became one of the most solid and respected stoppers in the Bundesliga after he had joined Werder Bremen in 1964. 1956 not considered [12/56] 1957 not considered 1958 not considered 1959 not considered 1960 not considered 1961 not considered [07/61] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#4 Center Half] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#4 Center Half] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Center Half] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Half Back] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Half Back] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Half Back] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#5 Half Back] 1965 broad circle [12/65] [#5 Center Half] 1965 broad circle [12/65] [#6 Half Back] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Central Defender] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Central Defender] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Central Defender] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Central Defender] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Central Defender] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Central Defender] 1969 not considered 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Central Defender] 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 not considered [07/71] Ulrich STIELIKE International class: 6 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 1 time One of Germany’s most successful exports during the 1970s and 1980s. Stielike was basically a defensive midfielder who would have loved to play libero for his clubs but only got the chance to play that position in the national team. With Borussia Mönchengladbach and then Real Madrid Stielike won six successive domestic league championships between 1974-75 and 1979-80 which is the record for a German player. Uli Stielike was voted ‘best foreign player’ in Spain in four successive years (1978 to 1982). Stielike was one of the fiercest players around during his time, very ambitious and systematic in his approach to the game. With Stielike you always knew that he would give his absolute best in every game. In his early days as a professional, many thought Stielike would one day become a classic playmaker, but that estimation proved to be unrealistic. Instead, he established himself as a highly-talented, hard-running and hard-working defensive midfielder with a penchant for adamant tackling. As a midfielder, Stielike was a destroyer and a creator at the same time, with an emphasis on destroying. Stielike was known for his very hard and precise shot, especially in Spain he scored plenty of goals that way (41 goals in 215 games for Real Madrid). One of the reasons why Stielike was so revered in Spain was because he was so consistent. It looked almost like Stielike could not play badly at all. 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Midfielder] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#9 Midfielder] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#8 Midfielder] 1975 Internat. Cl. [12/75] [#5 Midfielder] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#6 Midfielder] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#4 Midfielder] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#5 Midfielder] 1977 played abroad [12/77] 1978 played abroad 1979 played abroad 1980 played abroad 1981 played abroad 1982 Internat. Cl. [07/82] [#1 Libero] 1982 played abroad [12/82] 1983 played abroad 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#1 Libero] 1984 played abroad [12/84] 1985 played abroad 1986 played abroad 1987 played abroad 1988 played abroad [07/88] Georg STOLLENWERK International class: 5 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 1 times Georg Stollenwerk was a very talented all-around utility player in the first few years of his career until he settled at the right back position where he truly found his best role and became one of the best in Germany during his active years. For Germany, Stollenwerk played as right half, inside right, center forward, inside left and of course as right back. In his clubs (first Düren, then Köln), he even was deployed as a goalkeeper if need be. Stollenwerk was a fast player with powerful heading. In 1953, Sepp Herberger wanted the promising player to join Kaiserslautern but Stollenwerk signed for Köln instead, which apparently aggrieved Herberger a little bit. In Köln, Stollenwerk continued to impress with his versality until he finally settled as a right back by 1956. Herberger stopped ignoring Stollenwerk in 1955 and thus his international career picked up pace again. His peak as a footballer was taking part in the 1958 World Cup where he played as Germany’s right back in all six games and was rated as one of Germany’s best-performing defenders. 1955 Internat. Cl. [12/55] [#4 Inside Forward] 1956 broad circle [07/56] [#5 Center Forward] 1956 not considered [12/56] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#10 Full Back] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#6 Center Half] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#3 Full Back] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#2 Full Back] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#2 Full Back] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Center Forward] 1959 Internat. Cl. [12/59] [#3 Full Back] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#3 Full Back] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#7 Full Back] 1961 not considered [12/61] 1962 not considered 1963 not considered [07/63] Gerhard STRACK International class: 3 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 6 times A huge defender who started as a stopper for Köln and later was ‘promoted’ to the libero position. In both roles he did fairly well and for a short time was Germany’s standard libero (1982-1983). Gerd Strack was a very capable header of the ball and there was never a corner or freekick where he did not advance to the opposing penalty box. His technique was pretty solid for his type of player but in the end not quite good enough for a lasting international career. 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#5 Stopper] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#6 Stopper] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Stopper] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Stopper] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Stopper] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Stopper] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#8 Stopper] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#5 Stopper] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#3 Libero] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#4 Libero] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#1 Libero] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#1 Libero] 1983 Internat. Cl. [12/83] [#3 Libero] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Libero] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 played abroad [12/85] 1986 played abroad 1987 played abroad [07/87] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Libero] 1988 not considered [07/88] Martin STRANZL International class: 1 time Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 2 times 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#13 Defensive Midfielder] 2000 not considered 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered [07/04] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#8 Central Defender] 2005 considered_ [07/05] [Defensive Lateral] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 not considered [07/06] 2006 played abroad [12/06] 2007 played abroad 2008 played abroad 2009 played abroad 2010 played abroad 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#6 Central Defender] 2011 broad circle [12/11] [#5 Central Defender] 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#10 Central Defender] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#8 Central Defender] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#9 Central Defender] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#5 Central Defender] 2014 considered_ [07/14] [Central Defender] 2014 Internat. Cl. [12/14] [#3 Central Defender] Heinz STREHL International class: 2 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 5 times An iconic player for Nürnberg, Heinz Strehl started out as a really goal hungry center forward but later in his career he became a sort of withdrawn no. 9 who was more renowned for his creativity than his goalscoring. During his early years Strehl was regarded as one of the most technically capable center forwards in Germany and soon he made use of his remarkable ball control and passing skills in a more and more withdrawn offensive midfield position. Nominally, Strehl was regarded as one of the two inside forward (central forwards) in the 4-2-4 tactic but de facto he was an offensive midfielder feeding the wingers and the central striker. Strehl was a fairly tall player who scored many goals in the early days with his heading his physical assertiveness. In fact physically Strehl resembled a classic ‘tank’ center forward. His international career started brightly in 1962 and 1963 but in the long run, there was no way Strehl could have ousted Uwe Seeler and as an offensive midfielder there were other players around (most notably Wolfgang Overath) who were regarded as better fits in that position. Thus Strehl stopped at only four caps (managing four goals) for Germany. 1958 not considered [12/58] 1959 not considered [07/59] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#3 Center Forward] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#4 Center Forward] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#2 Center Forward] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#2 Center Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 Internat. Cl. [12/62] [#2 Center Forward] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#3 Center Forward] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Center Forward] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Center Forward] 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#4 Center Forward] 1965 broad circle [12/65] [#4 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 Midfielder] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#7 Central Forward] 1968 not considered [12/68] 1969 not considered 1970 not considered [07/70] Thomas STRUNZ International class: 1 time Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 4 times Thomas Strunz was a technically very sound central midfielder with good offensive skills but predominantly a defensive player who in the mid-1990s also did quite well playing libero for Bayern München when Matthäus was injured. A cross between a ball winner and a buildup player who was very assured on the ball and a good passer. Not exactly a sprinter though. Strunz probably could have made more out of his career based on his capalities. 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered 1988 not considered 1989 not considered 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Defensive Midfielder] 1991 not considered 1992 not considered 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Wide Midfielder] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#3 Wide Midfielder] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#5 Wide Midfielder] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#2 Libero] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#6 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1997 not considered 1998 not considered [07/98] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#5 Lateral] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Lateral] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered 2001 not considered [07/01]
Klaus STÜRMER Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 3 times An elegant, technically versed inside right who spent the first half of his career playing for Hamburg and the rest in Switzerland. Klaus Stürmer was an important player in the rise of Uwe Seeler. When Stürmer died in 1971 of cancer, ‘kicker’ wrote: “Klaus Stürmer was the thinker – Uwe the executor. What Stürmer plotted, Uwe put into action. Seeler anticipated Stürmer’s ideas. A harmonious duo in total unison. Rarely did two players complement each other like Klaus and Uwe.” 1955 considered_ [12/55] [#10 Inside Forward] 1956 broad circle [07/56] [#7 Inside Forward] 1956 broad circle [12/56] [#7 Inside Forward] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#6 Inside Forward] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#9 Inside Forward] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#11 Inside Forward] 1958 considered_ [1958] [Outside Left] 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#12 Inside Forward] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Outside Left] 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#8 Inside Forward] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#5 Inside Forward] 1961 not considered [12/61] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 played abroad [12/62] 1963 played abroad 1964 played abroad 1965 played abroad 1966 played abroad 1967 played abroad 1968 played abroad 1969 played abroad 1970 played abroad [07/70] Hans STURM International class: 2 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 10 times Hans Sturm’s favourite position on the pitch was that of left half, but he could also play convincingly as center half or inside left. A technically sound midfielder with good short passing ability who was very valuable for Köln as a very hard-running and enduring ball carrier known for his long-range shooting. Bizarrely, Sturm managed to play in two World Cups (1958 and 1962) despite only playing in three international games altogether. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 not considered 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#6 Half Back] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#10 Center Half] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#7 Half Back] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#7 Inside Forward] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Half Back] 1959 considered_ [12/59] [Half Back] 1960 considered_ [1960] [Half Back] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Half Back] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#4 Half Back] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Half Back] 1963 Internat. Cl. [07/63] [#3 Half Back] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#3 Half Back] 1964 broad circle [07/64] [#6 Half Back] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#5 Half Back] 1965 not considered 1966 not considered [07/66] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Midfielder] 1967 not considered [07/67] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Midfielder] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Midfielder] 1968 not considered [12/68] 1969 not considered 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Midfielder] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Midfielder] 1971 not considered [07/71] Wilhelm STURM Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 1 time A valuable teamplayer who spent most of his career as a solid defensive midfielder for Borussia Dortmund. 1961 not considered [12/61] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#4 Half Back] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#5 Half Back] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#6 Half Back] 1964 broad circle [07/64] [#5 Half Back] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#4 Half Back] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#6 Half Back] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Half Back] 1966 not considered 1967 not considered 1968 not considered 1969 not considered 1970 not considered 1971 not considered [07/71] Neven SUBOTIĆ International class: 1 time Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 1 time 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered [07/08] 2008 broad circle [12/08] [#5 Central Defender] 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 considered_ [12/09] [Central Defender] 2010 not considered [07/10] 2010 broad circle [12/10] [#2 Central Defender] 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#3 Central Defender] 2011 not considered [12/11] 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#5 Central Defender] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#4 Central Defender] 2013 Internat. Cl. [07/13] [#3 Central Defender] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#7 Central Defender] 2014 not considered Alain SUTTER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 1 time 1993 played abroad [07/93] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#6 Forward] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 considered_ [12/95] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#11 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 not considered [07/97] 1997 played abroad [12/97] Ádám SZALAI International class: 1 time 2010 played abroad [07/10] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#12 Forward] 2013 not considered 2014 not considered Horst SZYMANIAK World class: 7 times International class: 2 times Broad circle: 1 time Horst Szymaniak was a technically outstanding left half who was very good at precise long passes but at the same time was a specialist tackler (his tackling was known as ‘Schimmi tackle’), impressing with his stamina and commitment. At a time when most players were either offensive or defensive specialists, Szymaniak was considered a complete midfielder because he was a specialist for both offense and defense. Ever since his debut for Germany in November 1956 aged 22, Szymaniak was a starter for the national team. Astonishingly, when Szymaniak left Germany in 1961 to play in Italy, Sepp Herberger didn’t drop him from the national team but continued to call him up, such was Herberger's esteem of Szymaniak. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 broad circle [07/56] [#8 Half Back] 1956 Internat. Cl. [12/56] [#1 Half Back] 1957 World Class [07/57] [#1 Half Back] 1957 World Class [12/57] [#1 Half Back] 1958 World Class [1958] [#1 Half Back] 1959 World Class [07/59] [#1 Half Back] 1959 World Class [12/57] [#1 Half Back] 1960 World Class [1960] [#1 Half Back] 1961 World Class [07/61] [#1 Half Back] 1961 played abroad [12/61] 1962 played abroad 1963 played abroad 1964 played abroad 1965 played abroad [07/65] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#1 Half Back] 1966 not considered [07/66] 1966 played abroad [12/66] 1967 played abroad [07/67] Franz-Josef TENHAGEN Broad circle: 10 times Considered: 9 times Throughout his professional career, Jupp Tenhagen switched between midfield, stopper and libero. Nicknamed ‘the soul of VfL Bochum’, he was briefly among the candidates to replace Franz Beckenbauer in 1977-78 as libero for Germany. But in the long run, it was unlikely for a player so associated with an always struggling ‘grey mouse’ club like Bochum to enjoy a respectable international career. A very valuable player in all positions he was used in, technically gifted, aplomb and charismatic, Tenhagen was part of the Bundesliga’s inventory for 15 straight seasons. In 1981 Tenhagen was sold to Borussia Dortmund for 1 million marks, which saved Bochum from enforced relegation due to severe financial problems. 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Midfielder] 1974 not considered [07/74] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Midfielder] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#6 Stopper] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#2 Stopper] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#9 Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#15 Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#12 Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#2 Libero] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#5 Libero] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Libero] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Midfielder] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#5 Libero] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#12 Midfielder] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#13 Midfielder] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered [07/82] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Defensive Midfielder] 1983 not considered 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Libero] 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered 1987 not considered 1988 not considered [07/88] Marc-André TER STEGEN International class: 4 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 1 time 2009 played abroad [12/09] 2010 not considered 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 Internat. Cl. [12/11] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2012 considered_ [12/12] [Goalkeeper] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#12 Goalkeeper] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2014 not considered [12/14] THIAGO Alcántara do Nascimento International class: 1 time 2013 played abroad [07/13] 2013 not considered [12/13] 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 2014 not considered [12/14]
Karl-Heinz THIELEN Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 6 times A dynamic and very fast outside right with a very hard shot, Thielen spent the second half of his career as an attacking right back, always playing for Köln. A very intelligent player, his 24 goals scored in Oberliga West 1961-62 played a big part in Köln winning the 1962 championship. In December 1963, Thielen became the first player ever to score five goals in one single Bundesliga game (against Kaiserslautern, 5-1 to Köln). 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 not considered 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Outside Right] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#3 Outside Right] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#2 Outside Right] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#1 Outside Right] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#3 Outside Right] 1964 broad circle [07/64] [#2 Outside Right] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#4 Outside Right] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#4 Outside Right] 1965 broad circle [12/65] [#6 Outside Right] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Outside Right] 1966 not considered [12/66] 1967 not considered 1968 not considered [07/68] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Full Back] 1969 not considered 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Full Back] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Full Back] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Full Back] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered 1973 not considered 1974 not considered [07/74] Andreas THOM International class: 2 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 5 times A small, nimble, tricky dribbler with sound technique and a pull towards the goal, Andreas Thom was a cross between a support striker and an offensive midfielder. One of the very first stars of East Germany to move to West Germany in 1989-90, Thom was arguably the biggest name of all East German players in the late-80s and was thus expected to have quite an impact in the West, both for club but also for the unified German national team but he could not fulfill these great expectations. 1985 not considered [East G.] 1986 not considered [East G.] 1987 not considered [East G.] 1988 not considered [East G.] 1989 not considered [East G.] [12/89] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#10 Forward] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#11 Forward] 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Forward] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#10 Forward] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#3 Forward] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#3 Forward] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Forward] 1994 not considered 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#6 German abroad] 1996 considered_ [07/96] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#6 German abroad] 1997 considered_ [07/97] [Wide Midfielder] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 not considered [07/98] 1998 considered_ [12/98] [Lateral] 1999 not considered 2000 not considered 2001 not considered [07/01] Olaf THON World class: 2 times International class: 8 times Broad circle: 12 times Considered: 4 times A fairly small, technically brilliant dribbler with an eye for the goal, very adept at quick little turns in tight spaces, which made him very dangerous around the box and although he was quite small, he was pretty good at heading. A gifted offensive midfielder who wrongfully was seen by many as a playmaker, which he wasn’t. It is generally hard to classify Thon’s position during his early years: Not a real center forward but also not a real midfielder, more a cross between both types. He suffered a little from the outstanding start of his professional career in 1983-84 aged 17 playing for FC Schalke 04 in the second Division. He was an outright starter in his first season scoring 14 goals and was the main protagonist in the greatest ever German Cup game, the legendary 6-6 of FC Schalke 04 vs. Bayern München in the 1983-84 Cup semi final, where he scored three of Schalke’s six goals, most importantly the 6-6 equalizer in the very last minute of extra-time. The fans and the media expected the greatest things of this 17 year old prodigy, which certainly was a big burden for the youngster. In the end, Thon managed a high-class professional career which lasted 19 years, but he would not be able to repeat the buzz he created at the age of 17. He did not become a global superstar as many had expected and after a few years was considered by many to be an unfinished talent. Thon joined Bayern München in 1988 and was reskilled as a creative, offensive Libero in late-1992. He did quite well in that unexpected role due to his splendid positioning, his skills at distributing and his solid heading ability. 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Central Forward] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Central Forward] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#5 Central Forward] 1985 broad circle [12/85] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1987 Internat. Cl. [07/87] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1987 Internat. Cl. [12/87] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1988 Internat. Cl. [12/88] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#2 Libero] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#3 Libero] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#5 Libero] 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Libero] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#6 Libero] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#3 Libero] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#3 Libero] 1997 World Class [07/97] [#1 Libero] 1997 World Class [12/97] [#1 Libero] 1998 Internat. Cl. [07/98] [#1 Libero] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 Internat. Cl. [12/99] [#2 Libero] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Libero] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered [07/02] Hans TILKOWSKI World class: 6 times International class: 11 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 2 times Hans Tilkowski is regarded by many to be the greatest German goalkeeper in the years between Heiner Stuhlfauth (around 1930) and Sepp Maier (around 1970). Nicknamed ‘black Hans’ because of his black outfit, he was renowned for his excellent positioning, lightning fast reflexes and good technical skills with his feet as well as his calming presence. He joined Westfalia Herne in 1955 aged 20 and immediately became their standard goalkeeper. 18 months later he played his first international game for Germany and after the 1958 World Cup, Tilkowski became the number one goalkeeper under Sepp Herberger. His international breakthrough season was 1958-59 due to his impressive record keeping the goal of Herne, when he only conceded 23 goals in 30 games, which was unheard of in those days. It came as a total shock to Tilkowski and anybody else when Sepp Herberger decided to make the young, unproven Wolfgang Fahrian the no. 1 goalkeeper of Germany for the 1962 W0rld Cup in Chile. According to legend, the otherwise so prudent Tilkowski smashed the interior of his hotel chamber in a rage of anger. Apparently Sepp Herberger did not approve of that and for the next two years, Tilkowski and the German national team were strangers. In 1964, shortly before Herberger retired, the two made up again and Tilkowski returned to play in the German goal. During these years, Tilkowski was considered to be a goalkeeper sans-pareil in Germany. He was duly voted “German Footballer of the Year” in 1965, the first time this honour was bestowed upon a goalkeeper. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 not considered [07/56] 1956 broad circle [12/56] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1957 Internat. Cl. [07/57] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1957 Internat. Cl. [12/57] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1959 World Class [12/59] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1960 World Class [1960] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1961 Internat. Cl. [12/61] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 Internat. Cl. [12/62] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1963 Internat. Cl. [07/63] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1964 World Class [12/64] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1965 World Class [07/65] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1965 World Class [12/65] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1966 World Class [07/66] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1966 not considered [12/66] 1967 Internat. Cl. [07/67] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1967 not considered [12/67] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Goalkeeper] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Goalkeeper] 1969 not considered [07/69] TITA Milton Queiroz da Paixã0 International class: 1 time 1987 played abroad [07/87] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 Internat. Cl. [07/88] [#4 Foreign player] 1988 played abroad [12/88] Stig TØFTING International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 3 times 1993 played abroad [07/93] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 not considered 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 played abroad [12/95] 1996 played abroad 1996 played abroad [07/97] 1997 not considered [12/97] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 Internat. Cl. [07/99] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Offensive Midfielder] 2000 not considered [07/00] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Defensive Midfielder] 2001 not considered [07/01] 2001 considered_ [12/01] [Defensive Midfielder] 2002 not considered [07/02] 2002 played abroad [12/02] Luca TONI International class: 3 times Broad circle: 1 time 2007 played abroad [07/07] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#1 Forward] 2008 Internat. Cl. [07/08] [#1 Forward] 2008 Internat. Cl. [12/08] [#7 Forward] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#9 Forward] 2009 played abroad [12/09] Klaus TOPPMÖLLER Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 3 times A player with two frequent roles in his club Kaiserslautern: that of a classic ‘tank’-like center forward who scored many goals with his head, and that of a central defensive midfielder. Toppmöller’s skill on the ground was useful but overall pedestrian, in midfield he functioned predominantly as an industrious ball winner and buffer due to his physique, with less duties in buildup. What is remarkable about Toppmöller is that he managed to keep his goalscoring record intact even over the long spells when he was playing as a defensive midfielder. 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 not considered 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Central Forward] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered [07/73] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Midfielder] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#8 Midfielder] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#4 Central Forward] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#4 Central Forward] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Central Forward] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#12 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#15 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#4 Central Forward] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#2 Central Forward] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#4 Central Forward] 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 not considered [07/80] 1980 played abroad [12/80] 1981 played abroad [07/81] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 not considered 1985 not considered 1986 not considered 1987 not considered [07/87] Ömer TOPRAK International class: 1 time Broad circle: 4 times 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#7 Central Defender] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#8 Central Defender] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#4 Central Defender] 2014 broad circle [07/14] [#3 Central Defender] 2014 broad circle [12/14] [#6 Central Defender] Kevin TRAPP International class: 2 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 1 time 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2011 considered_ [12/11] [Goalkeeper] 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2013 Internat. Cl. [07/13] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#7 Goalkeeper] 2014 broad circle [07/14] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2014 not considered [12/14]
Bernhard TRAUTMANN International class: 1 time 1955 played abroad [12/55] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1956 played abroad [12/56] 1957 played abroad 1958 played abroad 1959 played abroad 1960 played abroad 1961 played abroad 1962 played abroad 1963 played abroad 1964 played abroad [07/64] Horst TRIMHOLD Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 9 times Horst Trimhold began his career aged 18 in 1959 playing for SW Essen in the outside right position, in later years he moved to the inside right position. Playing for Frankfurt most of the 1960s, Trimhold’s talent as an offensive midfielder unfolded under the tutelage of manager Elek Schwartz. The last six years of his professional career he spent playing for Borussia Dortmund. Trimhold was known for his thriftiness, hence his nickname ‘the Scot’. 1959 considered_ [12/59] [Outside Right] 1960 considered_ [1960] [Outside Right] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Outside Right] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#4 Inside Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#3 Inside Forward] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Inside Forward] 1963 considered_ [12/63] [Inside Forward] 1964 broad circle [07/64] [#8 Inside Forward] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#8 Inside Forward] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#18 Inside Forward] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Half Back] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Midfielder] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Midfielder] 1967 not considered 1968 not considered 1969 not considered 1970 not considered 1971 not considered 1972 not considered 1973 not considered 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 not considered 1977 not considered 1978 not considered [07/78] Sven ULREICH International class: 1 time Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 1 time 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 considered_ [07/11] [Goalkeeper] 2011 Internat. Cl. [12/11] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#8 Goalkeeper] 2012 broad circle [12/12] [#9 Goalkeeper] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#11 Goalkeeper] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#9 Goalkeeper] 2014 broad circle [07/14] [#8 Goalkeeper] 2014 not considered [12/14] Lothar ULSASS International class: 5 times Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 7 times Lothar Ulsass is an iconic player for Eintracht Braunschweig, the player most associated with their shocking 1967 German championship. An outstanding footballer who most liked to play as a withdrawn center forward so that he could make use of his playmaker qualities but still was close enough to the box to score himself. Ulsass was unlucky that players like Günter Netzer and Wolfgang Overath stood in his way of more international recognition thus he ended up with only ten international games in which he scored eight goals. His career in Germany ended abruptly in 1971 due to his involvement in the Bundesliga scandal. He left Germany to play in Austria for the remainder of his career. 1960 not considered 1961 not considered [07/61] 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 considered_ [12/63] [Inside Forward] 1964 considered_ [07/64] [Half Back] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Inside Forward] 1965 broad circle [07/65] [#11 Inside Forward] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#2 Inside Forward] 1966 broad circle [07/66] [#5 Central Forward] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#4 Central Forward] 1967 Internat. Cl. [07/67] [#3 Central Forward] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#4 Central Forward] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#8 Central Forward] 1968 Internat. Cl. [12/68] [#4 Central Forward] 1968 Internat. Cl. [12/68] [#5 Midfielder] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#10 Midfielder] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#4 Central Forward] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Central Forward] 1970 not considered [07/70] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#10 Midfielder] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#7 Midfielder] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 played abroad [12/72] 1973 played abroad 1974 played abroad [07/74] Mark VAN BOMMEL International class: 2 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 3 times 2006 played abroad [07/06] 2006 broad circle [12/06] [#8 Defensive Midfielder] 2007 broad circle [07/07] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 2007 considered_ [12/07] [Defensive Midfielder] 2008 Internat. Cl. [07/08] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2008 considered_ [12/08] [Defensive Midfielder] 2009 considered_ [07/09] [Defensive Midfielder] 2009 broad circle [12/09] [#9 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 Internat. Cl. [07/10] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 played abroad [12/11] Daniel VAN BUYTEN International class: 4 times Broad circle: 4 times 2004 played abroad [07/04] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#7 Central Defender] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#7 Central Defender] 2005 Internat. Cl. [12/05] [#2 Central Defender] 2006 not considered [07/06] 2006 broad circle [12/06] [#5 Central Defender] 2007 not considered 2008 broad circle [07/08] [#5 Central Defender] 2008 not considered [12/08] 2009 not considered [07/09] 2009 Internat. Cl. [12/09] [#2 Central Defender] 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#7 Central Defender] 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 Internat. Cl. [12/11] [#3 Central Defender] 2012 not considered 2013 Internat. Cl. [07/13] [#4 Central Defender] 2013 not considered [12/13] 2014 not considered [07/14] Rafael VAN DER VAART International class: 3 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 2 times 2005 played abroad [07/05] 2005 Internat. Cl. [12/05] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2006 not considered 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2008 broad circle [07/08] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 2008 played abroad [12/08] 2009 played abroad 2010 played abroad 2011 played abroad 2012 played abroad [07/12] 2012 considered_ [12/12] [Offensive Midfielder] 2013 considered_ [07/13] [Offensive Midfielder] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 2014 not considered Rein VAN DUIJNHOVEN International class: 2 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 1 time 1999 played abroad [07/99] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered [07/00] 2000 broad circle [12/00] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Goalkeeper] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 not considered [07/02] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2003 Internat. Cl. [07/03] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2003 broad circle [12/03] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2004 Internat. Cl. [07/04] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#9 Goalkeeper] 2005 not considered 2006 not considered [07/06] Zoltan VARGA International class: 2 times Considered: 4 times The Hungarian was a very gifted midfielder with qualities as a playmaker. What seriously hampered his career was a three-year suspension after fleeing Hungary in 1968, in the beginning of that suspension he was even forbidden to train like a professional to keep fit. When he finally got back on the pitch (playing for Hertha BSC in 1970), he got himself involved in the 1971 Bundesliga scandal. 1969 played abroad [07/69] 1969 not assessed [12/69] 1970 not assessed [07/70] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#2 Foreign player] 1971 Internat. Cl. [07/71] [#1 Foreign player] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Foreign Player] 1972 not considered [07/72] 1972 played abroad [12/72] 1973 played abroad 1974 played abroad [07/74] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Foreign Player] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Foreign Player] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Foreign Player] 1976 not considered 1977 not considered [07/77] Frank VERLAAT International class: 4 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 1 time 1995 played abroad [07/95] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#4 Libero] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#1 Libero] 1997 Internat. Cl. [07/97] [#2 Libero] 1997 Internat. Cl. [12/97] [#2 Libero] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#8 Libero] 1998 Internat. Cl. [12/98] [#3 Libero] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#5 Libero] 1999 played abroad [12/99] 2000 played abroad [07/00] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Libero] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#9 Central Defender] 2002 not considered [07/02] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#2 Central Defender] 2003 not considered [07/03] 2003 played abroad [12/03]
Arturo VIDAL International class: 2 times Broad circle: 2 times 2007 played abroad [07/07] 2007 broad circle [12/07] [#9 Defensive Midfielder] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2011 Internat. Cl. [07/11] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2011 played abroad [12/11] Robert VITTEK International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time 2003 played abroad [07/03] 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 not considered [07/04] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#16 Forward] 2005 not considered 2006 Internat. Cl. [07/06] [#2 Forward] 2006 not considered [12/06] 2007 not considered 2008 not considered [07/08] 2008 played abroad [12/08] Hans-Hubert VOGTS World class: 11 times International class: 12 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 2 times Berti Vogts is remembered as a legendary right back who remained one of the best players in that position for roughly ten years despite his basic football equipment having been comparably limited. Vogts, who had lost both parents at the age of 12, found a father figure in Mönchengladbach’s manager Hennes Weisweiler. He is mostly known for having been a relentless, uncompromising marker who got his teeth into his opponent hence his nickname ‘Terrier’. Because of this outstanding quality as a marker, Vogts was often withdrawn from the right back position and deployed as a man-marker who would follow his opponent regardless of the zone. At the same time, Berti Vogts was a passionate instigator of his team’s offensive endeavours, very strong-willed and very unlikely ever to give up on his cause. When his team was in possession, Vogts was known to join the offense with a vengeance. In his first five Bundesliga seasons, Berti Vogts was one of the more dangerous full backs when going forward, scoring 21 goals in 170 Bundesliga games. 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Full Back] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Full Back] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#4 Full Back] 1967 Internat. Cl. [07/67] [#3 Full Back] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#3 Full Back] 1968 Internat. Cl. [07/68] [#2 Full Back] 1968 World Class [12/68] [#1 Full Back] 1969 World Class [07/69] [#1 Full Back] 1969 Internat. Cl. [07/69] [#3 Central Defender] 1969 World Class [12/69] [#1 Full Back] 1970 World Class [07/70] [#1 Full Back] 1970 World Class [12/70] [#1 Full Back] 1971 World Class [07/71] [#1 Full Back] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#1 Full Back] 1972 Internat. Cl. [07/72] [#2 Full Back] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 Internat. Cl. [07/73] [#2 Full Back] 1973 Internat. Cl. [12/73] [#3 Full Back] 1974 World Class [07/74] [#2 Full Back] 1974 World Class [12/74] [#1 Full Back] 1975 World Class [07/75] [#1 Full Back] 1975 World Class [12/75] [#1 Full Back] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#1 Full Back] 1976 World Class [12/76] [#1 Full Back] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#2 Full Back] 1977 Internat. Cl. [12/77] [#2 Full Back] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#3 Full Back] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#2 Libero] Georg VOLKERT International class: 5 times Broad circle: 14 times Considered: 7 times Georg ‘Schorsch’ Volkert was a first-rate outside left who wasn’t a wizard of dribble, but a straightforward sprinter who would swing in his precise crosses with aplomb and who was known as a capable goal scorer himself especially during the last five seasons of his career, which spanned 16 years in topflight (including two years in Switzerland). Capped 12 times (2 goals) between 1968 and 1977, Volkert was for many years hotly tipped as the ‘great new hope’ for the left wing position in the national team, but eventually it did not pan out that way. 1965 not considered [12/65] 1966 not considered [07/66] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Outside Left] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Outside Left] 1967 broad circle [12/67] [#3 Outside Left] 1968 Internat. Cl. [07/68] [#1 Outside Left] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#3 Outside Left] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#5 Outside Left] 1969 played abroad [12/69] 1970 played abroad 1971 played abroad [07/71] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#3 Outside Left] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Outside Left] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#3 Outside Left] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Outside Left] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Outside Left] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#5 Outside Left] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#2 Outside Left] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#2 Outside Left] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#4 Outside Left] 1976 broad circle [07/76] [#4 Outside Left] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Outside Left] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#1 Outside Left] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#2 Outside Left] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#4 Outside Left] 1978 Internat. Cl. [12/78] [#1 Outside Left] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#1 Outside Left] 1979 Internat. Cl. [12/79] [#1 Outside Left] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#4 Outside Left] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#5 Outside Left] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Outside Left] Werner VOLLACK Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 15 times Playing for Bayer 05 Uerdingen during their most successful years (1980s), Werner Vollack was an agile goalkeeper, not very tall, whose strengths were on the goalline. 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Goalkeeper] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Goalkeeper] 1979 not considered 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Goalkeeper] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Goalkeeper] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Goalkeeper] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Goalkeeper] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Goalkeeper] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Goalkeeper] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Goalkeeper] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Goalkeeper] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Goalkeeper] 1985 not considered [12/85] 1986 Internat. Cl. [07/86] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#11 Goalkeeper] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Goalkeeper] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Goalkeeper] 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Goalkeeper] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Goalkeeper] 1989 not considered 1990 not considered [07/90] Kevin VOLLAND International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 2 times 2010 not considered [12/10] 2011 not considered 2012 not considered [07/12] 2012 considered_ [12/12] [Offensive Midfielder] 2013 considered_ [07/13] [Forward] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#6 Offensive Lateral] 2014 broad circle [07/14] [#8 Offensive Lateral] 2014 broad circle [12/14] [#8 Offensive Lateral] Rüdiger VOLLBORN International class: 1 time Broad circle: 11 times Considered: 11 times The long-running goalkeeper of Bayer 04 Leverkusen was of rather small stature for his position which he compensated for with his extraordinary jumping power. 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered 1983 considered_ [07/83] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Goalkeeper] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Goalkeeper] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Goalkeeper] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Goalkeeper] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Goalkeeper] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#12 Goalkeeper] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Goalkeeper] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Goalkeeper] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#10 Goalkeeper] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Goalkeeper] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Goalkeeper] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Goalkeeper] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered [07/98] Rudolf VÖLLER World class: 4 times International class: 16 times Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 5 times A streetwise forward who was tipped by many already in his youngest days to become an international player one day. Contrary to most talents who were predicted to become great stars, Rudi Völler during his peak years actually was rated as one of the world’s best forwards. Völler began as a fast right-footed left winger for Offenbach whose aim already in those days was getting inside the box, by the early-1980s he had evolved into a technically very sound and extremely dangerous second forward in a 3-5-2 system. Very good ball control and an unerring instinct for scoring goals, Völler was a quick thinker with very short reaction time and was a clinical finisher inside the box. His breakthrough season was 1981-82 when he scored 37 goals for TSV 1860 München in 37 games in the second Division and already in the following season, now playing for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, he became top scorer and ‘German Footballer of the Year’, a meteoric rise. Völler left Bremen in 1987 to play for AS Roma where he struggled immensely in his first year, only scoring three times in 21 games. But in the following years he overcame these difficulties and became one of Roma’s most celebrated players. 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 not considered 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Outside Left] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Outside Left] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Outside Left] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#2 Outside Left] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Outside Left] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Outside Left] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#2 Central Forward] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#1 Central Forward] 1983 Internat. Cl. [12/83] [#1 Central Forward] 1984 Internat. Cl. [07/84] [#1 Central Forward] 1984 Internat. Cl. [12/84] [#2 Central Forward] 1985 World Class [07/85] [#1 Central Forward] 1985 Internat. Cl. [12/85] [#1 Central Forward] 1986 Internat. Cl. [07/86] [#2 Forward] 1986 Internat. Cl. [12/86] [#3 Forward] 1987 Internat. Cl. [07/87] [#2 Forward] 1987 played abroad [12/87] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#4 Forward] 1988 played abroad [12/88] 1989 played abroad 1990 World Class [07/90] [#1 Forward] 1990 World Class [12/90] [#3 German abroad] 1991 World Class [07/91] [#2 German abroad] 1991 Internat. Cl. [12/91] [#8 German abroad] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#5 Forward] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#8 German abroad] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#7 German abroad] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#8 German abroad] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#8 Forward] 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#1 Forward] 1995 Internat. Cl. [12/95] [#4 Forward] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#11 Forward] Heinz VOLLMAR International class: 1 time Broad circle: 11 times Considered: 5 times An outside left with many tricks who also was known as a regular goalscorer. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#1 Outside Left] 1956 broad circle [12/56] [#1 Outside Left] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#1 Outside Left] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#1 Outside Left] 1958 not considered [1958] 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#4 Outside Right] 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#3 Outside Left] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#4 Outside Left] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#1 Outside Right] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#2 Outside Left] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#4 Outside Right] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#3 Outside Left] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Center Forward] 1961 broad circle [12/61] [#3 Outside Left] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Center Forward] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Outside Right] 1963 considered_ [07/63] [Outside Right] 1963 not considered [12/63] 1964 not considered [07/64] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Outside Left] 1965 not considered [07/65] Thomas VON HEESEN International class: 4 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 10 times A lightfooted, technically very good midfielder who became Felix Magath’s successor as playmaker for Hamburg. With his good footwork he was able to free himself in tight situations, was a neat passer and freekick taker and a passable scorer of goals. Interestingly he was never once capped by Germany, probably because he lacked the absolute will and rigor to be an all-dominating boss in midfield. 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#12 Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Offensive Midfielder] 1983 not considered 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 broad circle [12/84] [#5 Central Forward] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Offensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [07/86] 1986 Internat. Cl. [12/86] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Offensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [07/88] [Offensive Midfielder] 1988 Internat. Cl. [12/88] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 Internat. Cl. [07/89] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 Internat. Cl. [12/89] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Offensive Midfielder] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Offensive Midfielder] 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Offensive Midfielder] 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#6 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#12 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#4 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 considered_ [12/95] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 considered_ [07/96] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 not considered [07/97]
Miroslav VOTAVA International class: 1 time Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 17 times One of the longest-serving professionals with 20 consecutive seasons in topflight (17 in the Bundesliga, three in Spain’s Primera Division). His great consistency as a professional is documented by the fact that he played at least 30 games in 18 of these 20 seasons (only in his first 1976-77 and his last 1995-96 did he play less than 30 games). He started out as a central offensive midfielder but not in the mould of a playmaker but like an offensive ball winner, very straightforward in his actions and someone who covered a lot of ground with his stamina. The longer his career lasted, the more defensive he became in his approach. Not a hugely creative player more someone who was important for the structure of his team’s actions. 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Midfielder] 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Midfielder] 1976 not considered 1977 not considered 1978 not considered [07/78] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Midfielder] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#6 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#9 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#5 Midfielder] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Midfielder] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#20 Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] 1982 played abroad [12/82] 1983 played abroad 1984 played abroad 1985 played abroad [07/85] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#8 Defensive Midfielder] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#3 Defensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Defensive Midfielder] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 1988 Internat. Cl. [08/88] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Defensive Midfielder] 1989 not considered 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Defensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Defensive Midfielder] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Marker] 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#9 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 considered_ [12/95] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1996 considered_ [07/96] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 not considered [07/97] Herbert WAAS International class: 1 time Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 9 times A very gifted forward who initially was positioned on the wing but soon became a second forward in the 3-5-2 system which ruled the 1980s Bundesliga. He started out very brightly as a young professional playing for TSV 1860 München (second Division) before joining Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 1982 for whom he became a very regular goalscorer over the next five seasons. A groin injury in 1987 threw him off the track, though. He would never again reach the same level from before that injury. Herbert Waas was a fast and agile, technically very sound goalgetter who was compare to Rudi Völler during his early days. 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Central Forward] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Winger] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#3 Winger] 1983 broad circle [12/83] [#3 Winger] 1984 not considered [07/84] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Central Forward] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Central Forward] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Forward] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#13 Forward] 1986 Internat. Cl. [12/86] [#1 Forward] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Forward] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 not considered 1989 not considered [07/89] 1989 played abroad [12/89] 1990 played abroad 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Forward] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Forward] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Forward] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered [07/95] Erwin WALDNER Broad circle: 8 times Erwin Waldner was a technically sound center forward in the early 1950s who found his best role as an outside right by the mid-1950s. He was also often seen playing in the role of an inside right. He was counted among the closer circle of the national team for several years without managing a break through. 1955 broad circle [1955] [#3 Outside Right] 1955 broad circle [1955] [#4 Outside Left] 1956 broad circle [07/56] [#3 Outside Right] 1956 broad circle [12/56] [#1 Outside Right] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#2 Outside Right] 1957 broad circle [12/57] [#3 Outside Right] 1958 broad circle [1958] [#2 Outside Right] 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#2 Outside Right] 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 played abroad 1961 played abroad 1962 played abroad 1963 played abroad [07/63] 1963 not considered [12/63] 1964 not considered 1965 not considered 1966 not considered 1967 not considered [07/67] Fritz WALTER World class: 1 time International class: 6 times An elegant virtuoso on the ball, the humble and almost shy Fritz Walter occupies one of the most important places in the history of German football. Walter became a starter in Kaiserslautern’s first team in 1938-39 and already in that first season he scored an incredible 81 goals in all competitions for his club. He debuted for Germany in May 1940 and scored three goals in a 9-3 victory over Romania. With such a bright start to his career, no wonder that he soon would be regarded among the greatest legends of the game in Germany. Capped 24 times by November 1942, his career would stall for the next four years due to World War II and his time as a Soviet prisoner of war. As soon as he was back in Kaiserslautern he was back on the pitch. His preferred position was that of an inside left, where he was known as the conductor of his team but also as one of its most clinical finishers. Jupp Posipal of Hamburg once said about Walter: “He wasn’t playing for the gallery, he brought his perfect ball control into service for the team, never showboating. When he used a trick then only because it was the best option to solve a situation, never art for art’s sake. His passes put disarray into the opponent and opened gaps for his teammates. We orientated ourselves towards him, our team’s performances defended on his performance, in good and bad. Our efforts weren’t always going well with Fritz at the helm, but without him, they almost never went well.” The sensational victory against Hungary in the 1954 World Cup final made Fritz Walter a legend for good, in the immediate years prior to that, he (and Sepp Herberger) had to face much criticism by the media who were arguing that Fritz Walter was way too old already (he was 33 in 1954) to built a team around him. Fritz Walter was always someone who questioned himself a lot thus he took this banging of the drum against him by the media to the heart. Even after this greatest possible triumph, Fritz Walter remained an active player for both Germany and his club for the next 4-5 years until he retired aged 38 in 1959. Sepp Herberger actually tried to re-activate Walter’s career right before the 1962 World Cup, such was his trust in Walter’s abilities as a footballer. In Sepp Herberger’s vision of the ‘ideal team’, Fritz Walter always was the closest that came to the ‘ideal player’ which Herberger had in mind. Herberger always looked for players that were technically perfect but at the same time hard-working team players. Herberger always had to nurse Walter’s oversensitive mentality. For example, when Germany played its first international game after World War II in 1950, Herberger had selected Fritz Walter among the players. Like often in the following years, there were voices raised that criticized Walter’s selection by stating that he was too old, too slow and to injury prone. Walter heard these voices and immediately retreated to his snail’s shell by declaring that he was injured and couldn’t play anyway (he wasn’t injured at all). Often in the following years Fritz Walter would talk to Sepp Herberger in a most earnest voice declaring ‘chief, I will resign from the national team tomorrow’ to which Herberger replied ‘don’t talk bollocks, the team needs you for many more years!’ Herberger soon instructed Walter’s Italian wife Italia to make sure that her husband does not read any newspapers after a game he played in to cushion his low self-esteem. During the 1954 World Cup, Fritz Walter’s best motivation was a letter by his wife where she wrote: ‘Darling, show the whole world that you are not an old man and that you can kick a ball.’ After his retirement, Fritz Walter was cluttered with accolades, becoming the first ever ‘honorary captain of the German national team’ among other awards. 1955 World Class [12/55] [#1 Inside Forward] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#1 Inside Forward] 1956 Internat. Cl. [12/56] [#1 Inside Forward] 1957 Internat. Cl. [07/57] [#2 Inside Forward] 1957 Internat. Cl. [12/57] [#1 Inside Forward] 1958 Internat. Cl. [1958] [#1 Inside Forward] 1959 Internat. Cl. [07/59] [#1 Inside Forward]
Fritz WALTER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 12 times Inherently a winger coming from the left side, the little, stocky Fritz Walter evolved into a second forward in the 3-5-2 system known for his poacher’s instinct. Despite his small stature he was excellent at heading and generally very shrewd in the box. 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 not considered 1980 not considered 1981 not considered 1982 not considered [07/82] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Central Forward] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Winger] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Winger] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Central Forward] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 not considered 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Forward] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#6 Forward] 1987 broad circle [12/87] [#4 Forward] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#7 Forward] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Forward] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Forward] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#6 Forward] 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Forward] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#8 Forward] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#2 Forward] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#2 Forward] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#10 Forward] 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Forward] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Forward] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 considered_ [12/95] [Forward] 1996 considered_ [07/96] [Forward] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 not considered 1998 not considered 1999 not considered [07/99] Ottmar WALTER International class: 2 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 4 times Fritz Walter’s younger brother, a very different type of player and character, robust and hard-boiled, he was hard to upset and had a daredevil attitude on the pitch. An excellent header of the ball with a hard shot, Ottmar Walter resembled the typical ‘tank’ center forward of the time and was a very prolific goalgetter for Kaiserslautern and Germany. Technically versed, Ottmar Walter was assertive and clinical in the box, a constant source of unrest. 1955 Internat. Cl. [12/55] [#1 Center Forward] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#2 Center Forward] 1956 broad circle [12/56] [#2 Center Forward] 1957 considered_ [07/57] [Center Forward] 1957 considered_ [12/57] [Center Forward] 1958 considered_ [1958] [Center Forward] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Center Forward] Wolfgang WEBER World class: 4 times International class: 12 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 3 times A physically strong stopper nicknamed ‘bull’ who was extremely good at headers, had excellent positioning and anticipation, not a brute but a relatively skilled defender, albeit one of the harder ones around. One of the most legendary episodes was him continuing to play with a broken calfbone (which he was unaware of) in the 1964-65 European Cup quarterfinal of Köln vs. Liverpool. He broke his leg in a collision with Gordon Milne in the 30 th minute, was treated behind the byline for the rest of the first half. During half-time, the team doctor made him jump from a table to see if the leg would break, it didn’t, so it was decided that Weber would continue playing (on the left wing) as substitutions were not allowed at the time. Weber felt a strong pain but soldiered on even during extra-time and almost scored a goal in the process. Weber began as a right half in 1963 but soon was withdrawn to central defense where he replaced long-time center half Leo Wilden in 1965 and immediately was regarded as the strongest player in that position in Germany. In the 1970s he suffered several injuries and illnesses (cardiac irregularity) which set back his national and international career. 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#5 Half Back] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#2 Half Back] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Center Half] 1964 broad circle [12/64] [#2 Half Back] 1965 Internat. Cl. [07/65] [#1 Half Back] 1965 World Class [12/65] [#1 Center Half] 1965 Internat. Cl. [12/65] [#3 Half Back] 1966 World Class [07/66] [#2 Central Defender] 1966 World Class [12/66] [#2 Central Defender] 1967 Internat. Cl. [07/67] [#3 Central Defender] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#2 Central Defender] 1968 World Class [07/68] [#2 Central Defender] 1968 Internat. Cl. [12/68] [#3 Central Defender] 1969 Internat. Cl. [07/69] [#4 Central Defender] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#6 Central Defender] 1970 Internat. Cl. [07/70] [#5 Central Defender] 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 Internat. Cl. [07/71] [#1 Stopper] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#1 Stopper] 1972 not considered 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#3 Stopper] 1973 Internat. Cl. [12/73] [#1 Stopper] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#3 Stopper] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Stopper] 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [Stopper] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Libero] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#1 Stopper] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered [07/78] Bernd WEHMEYER International class: 2 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 10 times Bernd Wehmeyer spent most of his professional career on the right wing, however today he is mostly remembered for being the left-sided full back of the successful Hamburg side of the early-1980s. Wehmeyer was a good crosser of the ball but not tricky enough for a really good winger hence he was withdrawn to a more defensive role either as a wide midfielder or later as a full back. In these new roles, Wehmeyer impressed as a hard runner and worker who almost made it into the national team in 1982-83 as left back. A technically good player, Wehmeyer was an offensive and defensively quality full back during his peak. 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Outside Right] 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 not considered [07/74] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Outside Right] 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Outside Right] 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Outside Right] 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Outside Right] 1978 not considered 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Outside Left] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Outside Left] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Outside Right] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#9 Full Back] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#7 Full Back] 1982 Internat. Cl. [12/82] [#2 Full Back] 1983 Internat. Cl. [07/83] [#3 Full Back] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Full Back] 1984 not considered 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Full Back] Roman WEIDENFELLER World class: 1 time International class: 9 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 3 times 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 broad circle [07/03] [#11 Goalkeeper] 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 not considered [07/04] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#7 Goalkeeper] 2005 Internat. Cl. [07/05] [#1 Goalkeeper] 2005 broad circle [12/05] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2006 not considered [07/06] 2006 Internat. Cl. [12/06] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2007 considered_ [07/07] [Goalkeeper] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered [07/08] 2008 considered_ [12/08] [Goalkeeper] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 broad circle [07/10] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2011 Internat. Cl. [07/11] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2011 Internat. Cl. [12/11] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2012 Internat. Cl. [12/12] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2013 World Class [07/13] [#1 Goalkeeper] 2013 Internat. Cl. [12/13] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2014 considered_ [12/14] [Goalkeeper] Hans WEINER Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 10 times A defensive utility player who switched between central defense and full back, mostly remembered for his time as libero and right back for Bayern München in the early-1980s. Weiner established himself as a young player for Hertha BSC coming from Tennis Borussia Berlin after many of Hertha’s star players were suspended following the 1971 Bundesliga scandal. Predominantly a defensive ball winner in those years but equipped with a solid touch. Bought by Bayern in 1979, Weiner spent his first season there as the successor to the injured Georg Schwarzenbeck as sweeper but lost this position to Kurt Niedermayer the following season, when Weiner was deployed as right back (instead of Wolfgang Dremmler, who had moved to midfield). In 1981 and 1982 he would continue to switch between these two roles until he left to play in the NASL in 1982. 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Full Back] 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Full Back] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Stopper] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Stopper] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered 1974 not considered 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Full Back] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 not considered 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Full Back] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#6 Full Back] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#7 Full Back] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Full Back] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Stopper] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Libero] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#2 Libero] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#7 Full Back] 1981 broad circle [07/81] [#2 Libero] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Libero] 1982 not considered [07/82] 1982 played abroad [12/82] 1983 played abroad 1984 played abroad [07/84] 1984 not considered {12/84] 1985 not considered 1986 not considered [07/86]
Gerhard WELZ International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 12 times Gerhard Welz was a tall and solid goalkeeper known for his time in Köln, by 1973 Welz was rated as a potential successor to Sepp Maier but a head injury interrupted his rise and during the time he was out, his young deputy Harald Schumacher took the chance and remained in Köln’s goal even after Welz was fit again. 1965 not considered [12/65] 1966 not considered 1967 not considered 1968 not considered [07/68] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Goalkeeper] 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Goalkeeper] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Goalkeeper] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Goalkeeper] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Goalkeeper] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Goalkeeper] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1973 Internat. Cl. [07/73] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#8 Goalkeeper] 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Goalkeeper] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Goalkeeper] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Goalkeeper] 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 not considered 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Goalkeeper] 1982 not considered 1983 not considered [07/83] Ferdinand WENAUER International class: 1 time Broad circle: 9 times Considered: 12 times Of tall stature, Ferdinand Wenauer was an athletic center half and later sweeper who played 14 seasons in the first team of Nürnberg and is one of the players associated with their successful side during the 1960s. Very good at positioning and one-on-one situations, Wenauer was an almost purely defensive player, regarded as one of the best in Germany during the early-1960s. Together with Ludwig Müller, Wenauer formed one of the strongest central defensive partnerships in German football during the 1960s. 1958 considered_ [1958] [Center Half] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Center Half] 1959 broad circle [12/59] [#3 Center Half] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#6 Center Half] 1961 broad circle [07/61] [#3 Center Half] 1961 Internat. Cl. [12/61] [#3 Center Half] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 broad circle [12/62] [#5 Center Half] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#4 Center Half] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#3 Center Half] 1964 not considered [07/64] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Center Half] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#8 Center Half] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Center Half] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Central Defender] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Central Defender] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Central Defender] 1967 broad circle [12/67] [#6 Central Defender] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#8 Central Defender] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#7 Central Defender] 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Central Defender] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Central Defender] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Central Defender] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Libero] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered [07/72] Benny WENDT International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 5 times The Swede Benny Wendt was a tall, physical left winger then eventually a central forward and quite a goalscoring threat. Not a hugely technically skilled player, Wendt was a hard-working runner and fighter with a good left-footed shot, a ghost in the penalty box. Wendt’s second season as a professional in Germany was to be his absolute peak when he scored 20 goals for lowly Tennis Borussia Berlin in 1976-77. He then joined Kaiserslautern where he did well but would not reach the same numbers like he did for Berlin. 1975 played abroad [07/75] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#4 Foreign player] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#6 Foreign player] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Foreign Player] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Foreign Player] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Foreign Player] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Foreign Player] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#10 Foreign player] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Foreign Player] 1981 played abroad [12/81] Jürgen WERNER International class: 3 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 2 times Jürgen Werner was an intelligent and elegant half back for Hamburg who was a controller with intriguing self-assuredness and a good distributor of the ball. A very tall player, Werner was known as a specialist freekick taker and was a member of Germany’s 1962 World Cup squad, but did not play in the starting team. Werner was known to be an ethic and intellectual authority for his teammates and one of the most intelligent and educated players ever to play for Germany. In 1963, the year when professional football was introduced in Germany with the implementation of the Bundesliga, Jürgen Werner had become one of Germany’s best half backs, but he decided to retire in the summer of that year at the age of 28 because he was not willing to be associated with football professionalism as he had strong objections against that. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 considered_ [07/56] [#13 Half Back] 1956 not considered [12/56] 1957 not considered 1958 broad circle [1958] [#10 Half Back] 1959 broad circle [07/59] [#6 Half Back] 1959 considered_ [12/59] [Half Back] 1960 broad circle [1960] [#9 Half Back] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#2 Half Back] 1961 not considered [12/61] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 Internat. Cl. [12/62] [#2 Half Back] 1963 Internat. Cl. [07/63] [#2 Half Back] Heinz WEWERS International class: 3 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 6 times Nicknamed ‘long tall Heinz’, Wewers was a defensive center half with excellent aerial presence and superb in man-to-man duels. A determined defensive enforcer who for many years was a massive physical presence in the successful team of RW Essen during the 1950s. 1955 considered_ [12/55] [#6 Center Half] 1956 Internat. Cl. [07/56] [#4 Center Half] 1956 Internat. Cl. [12/56] [#1 Center Half] 1957 broad circle [07/57] [#3 Center Half] 1957 Internat. Cl. [12/57] [#1 Center Half] 1958 considered_ [1958] [Center Half] 1959 considered_ [07/59] [Center Half] 1959 not considered [12/59] 1960 considered_ [1960] [Center Half] 1961 considered_ [07/61] [Center Half] 1961 considered_ [12/61] [Center Half] 1962 not considered [07/62] Tim WIESE International class: 5 times Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 5 times 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 not considered 2001 not considered 2002 not considered 2003 Internat. Cl. [07/03] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2003 not considered [12/03] 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2004 broad circle [12/04] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2005 not considered 2006 considered_ [07/06] [Goalkeeper] 2006 broad circle [12/06] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2007 broad circle [07/07] [#7 Goalkeeper] 2007 considered_ [12/07] [Goalkeeper] 2008 considered_ [07/08] [Goalkeeper] 2008 considered_ [12/08] [Goalkeeper] 2009 Internat. Cl. [07/09] [#1 Goalkeeper] 2009 Internat. Cl. [12/09] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2010 Internat. Cl. [07/10] [#2 Goalkeeper] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#7 Goalkeeper] 2011 considered_ [12/11] [Goalkeeper] 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#9 Goalkeeper] 2012 not considered [12/12] 2013 not considered 2014 not considered Leo WILDEN International class: 7 times Considered: 8 times Leo Wilden became a regular starter in Köln’s first team during his second season there (1959-60), playing as center half. As a defensive center half, he was primarily occupied with marking the center forward, doing well with his excellent positioning and uncompromising marking who was also useful in buildup. Soon, Leo Wilden was regarded as one of the best – if not the best – center halves in German football. After Herbert Erhardt had retired from international duties in 1962, Wilden’s time as the no. 1 central defender had come. One of Wilden’s best performances was neutralizing Nürnberg’s center forward Heinz Strehl in the 1962 German championship final, which Köln won 4-0. In 1965 Wilden lost his starting place in Köln’s first team as the young talent Wolfgang Weber was drawn back into central defense. Wilden moved to Leverkusen in 1966 where he successfully resumed his stopper role. 1955 not considered [12/55] 1956 not considered 1957 not considered 1958 not considered 1959 not considered [07/59] 1959 considered_ [12/59] [Center Half] 1960 Internat. Cl. [1960] [#2 Center Half] 1961 Internat. Cl. [07/61] [#2 Center Half] 1961 Internat. Cl. [12/61] [#1 Center Half] 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 Internat. Cl. [12/62] [#1 Center Half] 1963 Internat. Cl. [07/63] [#1 Center Half] 1963 Internat. Cl. [12/63] [#1 Center Half] 1964 Internat. Cl. [07/64] [#3 Center Half] 1964 considered_ [12/64] [Center Half] 1965 considered_ [07/65] [#9 Center Half] 1965 not considered [12/65] 1966 not considered [07/66] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Central Defender] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Central Defender] 1967 considered_ [12/67] [Central Defender] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Central Defender] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Central Defender] 1969 not considered [07/69] Holger WILLMER Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 1 time A left winger who was successfully reskilled as an offensive left back. A tall and sturdy player with a good left foot who was close to the top level but eventually didn’t crack the highest level. 1977 not considered [12/77] 1978 not considered 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Outside Left] 1980 not considered 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#5 Full Back] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#5 Full Back] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered 1984 not considered 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#4 Full Back] 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 1993 not considered 1994 not considered 1995 not considered 1996 not considered [07/96] Marc WILMOTS International class: 2 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 2 times 1996 played abroad [07/96] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#10 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 broad circle [07/97] [#10 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 Internat. Cl. [12/97] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 broad circle [07/98] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 considered_ [12/99] [Offensive Midfielder] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Offensive Midfielder] 2000 played abroad [12/00] 2001 played abroad [07/01] 2001 not considered [12/01] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#4 Offensive Midfielder] 2002 not considered [12/02] 2003 not considered [07/03] Herbert WIMMER International class: 7 times Broad circle: 17 times Considered: 2 times The hardest-running Bundesliga player of the 1970s with the greatest stamina and energy reserves, Herbert ‘Hacki’ Wimmer began his career in Mönchengladbach in 1966 at the age of 21 as an outside right, but by 1969, Wimmer had evolved into either a holding midfielder or a wide midfielder, mostly on the right side. One of the most important players of the great Borussia Mönchengladbach side of the 1970s, his biggest moment for Germany came in the 1972 European championship when he scored a goal in the final at Brussels vs. the Soviet Union. A never-tiring presence in his club for 12 successive seasons, Wimmer was a skilled player with good passing and distribution, when in defense his good positioning allowed him not having to tackle too often and in offense, he was a lightfooted runner who would act as a capable crosser. A player wonderfully suited to quick counter-attacking football. 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 not considered 1966 not considered [07/66] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Outside Right] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#4 Outside Right] 1967 broad circle [12/67] [#2 Outside Right] 1968 broad circle [07/68] [#5 Outside Right] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#7 Midfielder] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#3 Outside Right] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#5 Midfielder] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#3 Outside Right] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#4 Outside Right] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#3 Outside Right] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Outside Right] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#5 Midfielder] 1971 Internat. Cl. [12/71] [#3 Midfielder] 1972 Internat. Cl. [07/72] [#2 Midfielder] 1972 Internat. Cl. [12/72] [#2 Midfielder] 1973 Internat. Cl. [07/73] [#2 Midfielder] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#7 Midfielder] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#5 Midfielder] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#12 Midfielder] 1975 Internat. Cl. [07/75] [#1 Midfielder] 1975 Internat. Cl. [12/75] [#1 Midfielder] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#5 Midfielder] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#8 Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#8 Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#6 Midfielder] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#17 Midfielder]
Rudolf WIMMER Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 28 times A spectacular ‘flier’ with excellent reflexes but of below average height and thus never considered for the absolute top level during his time. Rudi Wimmer spent his professional career in Offenbach and Karlsruhe, two clubs that only occasionally played in the first division, he could have had a career of bigger impact had he not declined so many offers from bigger clubs during the 1970s. 1963 not considered [12/63] 1964 not considered 1965 not considered 1966 not considered [07/66] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Goalkeeper] 1967 considered_ [07/67] [Goalkeeper] 1967 broad circle [12/67] [#6 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 not considered [07/72] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Goalkeeper] 1973 not considered [07/73] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Goalkeeper] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Goalkeeper] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Goalkeeper] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Goalkeeper] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Goalkeeper] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Goalkeeper] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Goalkeeper] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Goalkeeper] 1979 considered_ [07/79] [Goalkeeper] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Goalkeeper] 1980 considered_ [07/80] [Goalkeeper] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Goalkeeper] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Goalkeeper] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Goalkeeper] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1982 broad circle [12/82] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Goalkeeper] Jürgen WITTKAMP International class: 3 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 7 times A ‘classic’ defensive libero for most of his career, Jürgen Wittkamp began as a central forward in the mid-1960s but soon was retrained as a libero around 1970. Despite his beginnings as a forward, as libero Wittkamp was not known to foray much into the opposing half as he liked to confine himself (or was told so by his manager) to defensive tasks. In his role as a defensively-minded libero, Wittkamp impressed with his good control and his good eye. He was very strong in the air and a focal point of the Borussia Mönchengladbach team of the 1970s. 1965 not considered [12/65] 1966 not considered 1967 not considered 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Central Forward] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Central Forward] 1969 not considered [07/69] 1969 considered_ [12/69] [Central Defender] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#8 Central Defender] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Central Defender] 1971 not considered 1972 not considered 1973 not considered 1974 not considered 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#4 Libero] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#3 Libero] 1976 Internat. Cl. [07/76] [#2 Libero] 1976 Internat. Cl. [12/76] [#2 Libero] 1977 Internat. Cl. [07/77] [#2 Libero] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Libero] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Libero] 1978 not considered [12/78] 1979 not considered 1980 not considered [07/80] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Libero] 1981 not considered [07/81] Roland WOHLFARTH Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 10 times Roland Wohlfarth started out as a very promising talent, a fast, beefy left winger who evolved into a second forward in the 3-5-2 system of the 1980s. Due to his poacher’s instinct, he was renown as a player who felt most at home in the penalty box. Not an outstanding footballer and only average in the air, Wohlfarth unfortunately often was lethargic for long spells and thus never a candidate for the highest level of his profession. He was twice top scorer of the Bundesliga and could be labelled Bayern’s ‘forgotten’ goalgetter of the 1980s. 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Central Forward] 1983 considered_ [12/83] [Central Forward] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Central Forward] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Central Forward] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Central Forward] 1985 not considered [12/85] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#6 Forward] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#7 Forward] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Forward] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Forward] 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#5 Forward] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Forward] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Forward] 1990 not considered [07/90] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#3 Forward] 1991 broad circle [07/91] [#4 Forward] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#11 Forward] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 broad circle [07/94] [#3 German abroad] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#6 German abroad] 1995 not considered 1996 not considered 1997 not considered 1998 not considered 1999 not considered 2000 not considered [07/00] Horst WOLTER International class: 7 times Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 4 times A goalkeeper of below average height, Horst Wolter was still regarded as one of the best of his profession in the late-1960s and for a short time seriously rivalled Sepp Maier as Germany’s no. 1 goalkeeper. Horst Wolter set the record for fewest goals conceded with 27 (four of them conceded by his reserve keeper) in Braunschweig’s 1966-67 championship-winning season. A record which stood for 21 years until it was broken by Werder Bremen’s Oliver Reck in 1987-88. In 1971 Wolter was ousted from the Braunschweig goal by young talent Bernd Franke. Wolter returned to his native Berlin joining Hertha BSC. 1961 not considered [12/61] 1962 not considered 1963 not considered 1964 not considered 1965 not considered [07/65] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Goalkeeper] 1966 considered_ [07/66] [Goalkeeper] 1966 broad circle [12/66] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1967 Internat. Cl. [12/67] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1968 Internat. Cl. [07/68] [#1 Goalkeeper] 1968 Internat. Cl. [12/68] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1969 Internat. Cl. [07/69] [#2 Goalkeeper] 1969 Internat. Cl. [12/69] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1970 Internat. Cl. [07/70] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1970 Internat. Cl. [12/70] [#3 Goalkeeper] 1971 not considered [07/71] 1971 considered_ [12/71] [Goalkeeper] 1972 not considered 1973 not considered 1974 not considered 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 considered_ [12/75] [Goalkeeper] 1976 not considered 1977 not considered [07/77] Anthony WOODCOCK International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times Considered: 3 times Tony Woodcock joined Köln in 1979 following Kevin Keegan as the second high-priority import from England. A fast and dynamic two-footed forward who had a certain presence inside the box, but felt more at home in an inside forward position, drifting around the box and good at breaking out on the wings. Most of Woodcock’s actions he initiated coming from a midfield position, where he liked to start his runs towards the box with the ball close at his feet. For that type of player, he scored a good number of goals for Nottingham, Köln and Arsenal. 1979 played abroad [07/79] 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 Internat. Cl. [07/80] [#3 Foreign player] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Foreign Player] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 broad circle [12/81] [#6 Foreign player] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#3 Foreign player] 1982 played abroad [12/82] 1983 played abroad 1984 played abroad 1985 played abroad 1986 played abroad [07/86] 1986 not assessed [12/86] 1987 considered_ [07/87] [Foreign Player] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 not considered [07/88] 1988 considered_ [12/88] [Forward] 1989 not considered 1990 not considered [07/90] Ronald WORM Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 11 times In his early days as a youth, Ronald Worm was a goalkeeper but as time progressed his talent proved to be better suited to an outfield player and Worm made his name initially as an outside left for MSV Duisburg in the early-1970s after having been used as a center forward in his days as a junior player. By some the young Ronnie Worm was predicted to become a ‘second Uwe Seeler’ as he resembled Seeler’s explosiveness and gung-ho mentality. During his days as a left winger, Worm was not a typical dribbler but someone who always looked for the shortest way to the goal. Known for his good left foot and aerial expertise and a goalgetter’s instinct, by the mid-1970s Worm was back playing central forward for Duisburg and in this role he managed to be capped for Germany as well. For a real international breakthrough Worm lacked the necessary technique, but as a club goalgetter he continued to be among the Bundesliga’s best marksman right into the early-1980s (altogether scoring 119 goals in 380 Bundesliga games for Duisburg and Braunschweig). 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Outside Left] 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#4 Outside Left] 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Outside Left] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#8 Central Forward] 1975 not considered [07/75] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [#3 Central Forward] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Central Forward] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Central Forward] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Central Forward] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Central Forward] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#2 Outside Left] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Central Forward] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#7 Central Forward] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Outside Left] 1980 not considered [07/80] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Outside Left] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Outside Left] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 broad circle [07/82] [#5 Central Forward] 1982 not considered [12/82] 1983 not considered 1984 not considered 1985 not considered [07/85] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Defender] 1986 not considered 1987 not considered [07/87] Reinhold WOSAB Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 6 times Reinhold Wosab played for Borussia Dortmund from 1962 to 1971, where he began as an industrious, constantly moving outside right with great stamina who ended up as a right back by the end of the decade. In the 1960s, Wosab was one of Dortmund’s most dangerous goalscorers right behind Lothar Emmerich and Friedhelm Konietzka. 1958 not considered 1959 not considered 1960 not considered 1961 not considered 1962 no ranking iss. [07/62] 1962 considered_ [12/62] [Outside Right] 1963 broad circle [07/63] [#3 Outside Right] 1963 broad circle [12/63] [#5 Outside Right] 1964 broad circle [07/64] [#5 Outside Right] 1964 not considered [12/64] 1965 not considered [07/65] 1965 considered_ [12/65] [Full Back] 1966 not considered 1967 not considered 1968 not considered [07/68] 1968 considered_ [12/68] [Full Back] 1969 not considered 1970 not considered 1971 not considered 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Full Back] 1973 not considered [07/73] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Full Back] 1974 not considered 1975 not considered [07/75] Dariusz WOSZ World class: 1 time International class: 1 time Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 11 times 1986 not considered [East G.] 1987 not considered [East G.] 1988 not considered [East G.] 1989 not considered [East G.] 1990 not considered [East G.] [07/90] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Offensive Midfielder] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Offensive Midfielder] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Offensive Midfielder] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#12 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 considered_ [12/95] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 considered_ [07/96] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1996 Internat. Cl. [12/96] [#3 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 World Class [07/97] [#1 Central Offensive Midfielder] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#12 Offensive Midfielder] 1998 considered_ [07/98] [Offensive Midfielder] 1998 considered_ [12/98] [Offensive Midfielder] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#7 Offensive Midfielder] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#5 Offensive Midfielder] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Offensive Midfielder] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered [07/02] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 2003 not considered 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 2004 not considered [12/04] 2005 not considered 2006 not considered 2007 not considered [07/07] Christian WÖRNS International class: 3 times Broad circle: 17 times Considered: 9 times Christian Wörns was a rather atypical man-marker for his time in that he would not go rigorously into a one-on-one situation, no bone-breaker, but a technically pretty good defender who liked to play clean without much tackling. Tidy at buildup, Wörn’s drawback were weaknesses in positioning, which were exposed especially at the highest international level. Despite his 66 international games for Germany between 1992 and 2006, Wörns was never fully established in the national team. Known as a humble, intelligent player, he was not someone the general football public got easily used to, preferring rougher players like Jürgen Kohler in defense instead. 1989 not considered [12/89] 1990 not considered [07/90] 1990 considered_ [12/90] [Marker] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Marker] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#5 Marker] 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#4 Marker] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#4 Marker] 1993 considered_ [07/93] [Marker] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#3 Marker] 1994 considered_ [07/94] [Marker] 1994 not considered [12/94] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#4 Marker] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 broad circle [12/96] [#5 Marker] 1997 Internat. Cl. [07/97] [#3 Marker] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#4 Marker] 1998 Internat. Cl. [07/98] [#1 Marker] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#5 German abroad] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#5 German abroad] 1999 not considered [12/99] 2000 considered_ [07/00] [Defender] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Defender] 2001 broad circle [07/01] [#11 Defender] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#6 Central Defender] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#3 Central Defender] 2002 broad circle [12/02] [#6 Central Defender] 2003 broad circle [07/03] [#12 Central Defender] 2003 broad circle [12/03] [#5 Central Defender] 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#6 Central Defender] 2004 considered_ [12/04] [Central Defender] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#8 Central Defender] 2005 not considered [12/05] 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#4 Central Defender] 2006 not considered [12/06] 2007 considered_ [07/07] [Central Defender] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 considered_ [07/08] [Central Defender] Jan WOUTERS International class: 2 times Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 1 time A no-nonsense holding midfielder, very industrious and committed, the Dutchman Jan Wouters was a classic teamplayer without claims for leadership. Not a very technical player or accomplished passer, Wouters was mostly valuable because of his never tiring commitment. 1992 considered_ [07/92] [Defensive Midfielder] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#1 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#1 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#11 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 played abroad [12/94]
Klaus WUNDER Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 6 times A technically sound forward who could be used in the center forward position or as an offensive midfielder with a nose for the goal. Klaus Wunder was a good finisher with his fine left foot but was more valuable as a combination player around the box or coming from a wide position. His best years were playing for MSV Duisburg between 1971 and 1974, a time in which he became an international for Germany. Bayern München bought him in 1974 but there he was used as a left winger since Gerd Müller was occupying the center forward position, a position that wasn’t ideal for him. He left Bayern the following season and enjoyed good success with Werder Bremen in the late-1970s but was not an option for the national team anymore. 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 not considered [07/70] 1970 considered_ [12/70] [Midfielder] 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Midfielder] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#7 Central Forward] 1972 broad circle [07/72] [#6 Central Forward] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#3 Central Forward] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#2 Central Forward] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Central Forward] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#5 Central Forward] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Outside Left] 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Midfielder] 1977 not considered 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Outside Left] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Central Forward] 1979 not considered 1980 not considered 1981 not considered 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 not considered 1985 not considered [07/85] Wolfram WUTTKE International class: 3 times Broad circle: 3 times Considered: 10 times One of the most talented but also most complicated players of his time. Gifted with extraordinary talent, Wolfram Wuttke was an extremely technical player, an inspired dribbler very good at picking up the ball in tight space and getting out of trouble with his fluent and wicked footwork. Starting out as a left winger, Wuttke found his ideal role as a central offensive midfielder where he became pretty close to a classic midfield conductor due to his intelligent play, good short passing skills and lightfootedness. When Wuttke was on the ball he looked good. What he lacked though was a professional attitude, the ability to integrate himself into the fabric of the team and the patience to sustain his very high level for a long period. Wuttke always wanted to be at the center of attention, too much of an individualist and almost at every club he played he was quarreling with his managers. Due to all this, he simply lacked the consistency for a great professional career. 1979 not considered [12/79] 1980 not considered [07/80] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Outside Right] 1981 not considered 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Outside Left] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Winger] 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#6 Winger] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Winger] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Winger] 1985 not considered 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1986 Internat. Cl. [12/86] [#2 Offensive Midfielder] 1987 Internat. Cl. [07/87] [#1 Offensive Midfielder] 1987 considered_ [12/87] [Offensive Midfielder] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#9 Offensive Midfielder] 1988 Internat. Cl. [12/88] [#3 Offensive Midfielder] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Offensive Midfielder] 1989 played abroad [12/89] 1990 played abroad [07/90] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#11 German abroad] 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Offensive Midfielder] 1991 not considered [12/91] 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 considered_ [12/92] [Central Offensive Midfielder] 1993 not considered [07/93] Didier YA KONAN International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time Considered: 3 times 2009 played abroad [07/09] 2009 considered_ [12/09] [Forward] 2010 considered_ [07/10] [Forward] 2010 Internat. Cl. [12/10] [#5 Forward] 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#11 Forward] 2011 not considered [12/11] 2012 considered_ [07/12] [Forward] 2012 not considered [12/12] 2013 not considered 2014 not considered [07/14] 2014 played abroad [12/14] Anthony YEBOAH World class: 1 time International class: 4 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 3 times One of the most phenomenal strikers of the Bundesliga. A center forward type, the Ghanaian Yeboah was very beefy and physical, technically supreme with a lethal instinct in front of the goal who could hit balls really hard but also with a lot of feeling. Due to his physicality, Anthony Yeboah was a very forceful player in and around the box who was incredibly hard to contain and due to his technical skills he could also drop back into midfield if need be. While playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in the early-1990s, Yeboah blended in very well with Uwe Bein who would assist many of Yeboah’s goals with his deadly short through balls. And then there were also Antoine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and Andreas Möller, all of them hugely talented offensive players which made that Eintracht side one of the most joyful and hard to contain attractions ever in Bundesliga history. In Frankfurt, Yeboah had his own fan club called ‘Yeboah’s witnesses’. 1988 played abroad [07/88] 1988 not considered [12/88] 1989 considered_ [07/89] [Forward] 1989 considered_ [12/89] [Forward] 1990 considered_ [07/90] [Forward] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered [07/91] 1991 broad circle [12/91] [#3 Forward] 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#5 Forward] 1992 Internat. Cl. [12/92] [#2 Forward] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#2 Forward] 1993 World Class [12/93] [#1 [Forward] 1994 Internat. Cl. [07/94] [#3 Forward] 1994 broad circle [12/94] [#10 Forward] 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 played abroad [12/95] 1996 played abroad 1997 played abroad [07/07] 1997 not considered [12/07] 1998 not considered [07/98] 1998 broad circle [12/98] [#7 Forward] 1999 broad circle [07/99] [#7 Forward] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#9 Forward] 2000 not considered 2001 not considered [07/01] 2001 played abroad [12/01] Klaus ZACZYK Broad circle: 8 times Considered: 13 times For roughly a decade Klaus Zaczyk was a household name among Bundesliga midfielders, technically very good, lightfooted and intelligent with an eye for the goal. His specialty were his calmly played short passes by which he gave structure to his team’s efforts. He tended to play wide more than centrally. Because of the great competition in midfield during his time, he was capped only once, since he lacked the genius of Overath or Netzer. Zaczyk preferred to operate in the background as link between defense and offense, avoiding the gestures of the great conductors. But in that role, the national team preferred more hard working, intensely running players like Herbert Wimmer or Uli Hoeness, not a ball distributor like Zaczyk, preferred were players that would surge forward with the ball instead of passing it. Klaus Zaczyk himself was not a flashy player, but on a national level one of the most valuable midfielders year after year who mantained a very high level with high consistency. 1963 not considered [12/632] 1964 not considered 1965 not considered 1966 not considered [07/66] 1966 considered_ [12/66] [Midfielder] 1967 broad circle [07/67] [#7 Midfielder] 1967 not considered [12/67] 1968 considered_ [07/68] [Central Forward] 1968 broad circle [12/68] [#9 Midfielder] 1969 broad circle [07/69] [#7 Midfielder] 1969 broad circle [12/69] [#4 Midfielder] 1970 broad circle [07/70] [#10 Midfielder] 1970 broad circle [12/70] [#14 Midfielder] 1971 broad circle [07/71] [#9 Midfielder] 1971 broad circle [12/71] [#9 Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Midfielder] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Midfielder] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Midfielder] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Midfielder] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Midfielder] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Midfielder] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Midfielder] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Midfielder] 1977 not considered 1978 not considered 1979 not considered 1980 not considered 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Midfielder] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Midfielder] Thomas ZANDER Broad circle: 4 times Considered: 9 times 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 not considered 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Goalkeeper] 1973 considered_ [12/73] [Goalkeeper] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Goalkeeper] 1974 broad circle [12/74] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 not considered 1977 not considered [07/77] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [07/78] [Goalkeeper] 1978 considered_ [12/78] [Goalkeeper] 1979 not considered [07/79] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Goalkeeper] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1980 broad circle [12/80] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Goalkeeper] 1982 considered_ [07/82] [Goalkeeper] Sergio ZARATE International class: 1 time Considered: 1 times 1990 played abroad [07/90] 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered 1992 Internat. Cl. [07/92] [#6 Forward] 1992 played abroad [12/92] 1993 not considered [07/93] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Forward] 1994 not considered Nedijeljko ZELIC International class: 1 time Broad circle: 1 time 1992 played abroad [07/92] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#2 Libero] 1993 not considered [12/93] 1994 not considered 1995 not considered [07/95] 1995 played abroad [12/95] 1996 not considered [07/96] 1996 played abroad [12/96] 1997 played abroad 1998 played abroad [07/98] 1998 not considered [12/98] 1999 not considered 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#2 Libero] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered 2002 not considered [07/02] 2002 played abroad [12/02] ZÉ ROBERTO José Roberto da Silva Júnior International class: 8 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 4 times 1998 played abroad [07/98] 1998 Internat. Cl. [12/98] [#2 Lateral] 1999 considered_ [07/99] [Forward] 1999 broad circle [12/99] [#2 Lateral] 2000 Internat. Cl. [07/00] [#1 Forward] 2000 not considered [12/00] 2001 not considered [07/01] 2001 Internat. Cl. [12/01] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2002 Internat. Cl. [07/02] [#2 Offensive Lateral] 2002 considered_ [12/02] [Offensive Lateral] 2003 broad circle [07/03] [#3 Offensive Lateral] 2003 considered_ [12/03] [Offensive Lateral] 2004 broad circle [07/04] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2004 considered_ [12/04] [Offensive Lateral] 2005 broad circle [07/05] [#4 Offensive Lateral] 2005 broad circle [12/05] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#1 Offensive Lateral] 2006 played abroad [12/06] 2007 played abroad [07/07] 2007 Internat. Cl. [12/07] [#2 Defensive Midfielder] 2008 Internat. Cl. [07/08] [#4 Defensive Midfielder] 2008 Internat. Cl. [12/08] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2009 broad circle [07/09] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 2009 Internat. Cl. [12/09] [#1 Defensive Midfielder] 2010 not considered 2011 not considered [07/11] 2011 played abroad [12/11] Gerhard ZEWE International class: 3 times Broad circle: 7 times Considered: 12 times Gerd Zewe was a defensive midfielder with great ball control, overview and playmaker qualities. He gradually evolved into Fortuna Düsseldorf’s libero by the mid-1970s who would switch to attack as soon as he was in possession. In Düsseldorf , Zewe for many years was one of the most important players and the brain of the team. In the late-1970s Zewe was among the handful of players who were fancied as successors of Franz Beckenbauer in the national team. 1969 not considered [12/69] 1970 considered_ [07/70] [Midfielder] 1970 not considered [12/70] 1971 not considered 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Midfielder] 1972 broad circle [12/72] [#10 Midfielder] 1973 broad circle [07/73] [#9 Midfielder] 1973 not considered [12/73] 1974 considered_ [07/74] [Stopper] 1974 considered_ [12/74] [Midfielder] 1975 considered_ [07/75] [Midfielder] 1975 not considered [12/75] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Libero] 1976 not considered [12/76] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Midfielder] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#4 Libero] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#1 Libero] 1978 Internat. Cl. [12/78] [#1 Libero] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#3 Libero] 1979 considered_ [12/79] [Libero] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#5 Libero] 1980 considered_ [12/80] [Libero] 1981 not considered [07/81] 1981 considered_ [12/81] [Midfielder] 1982 not considered 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#3 Libero] 1983 Internat. Cl. [12/83] [#2 Libero] 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Libero] 1984 not considered [12/84] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Libero] 1985 not considered [12/85] 1986 broad circle [07/86] [#8 Offensive Midfielder] 1986 not considered [12/86] 1987 not considered [07/87]
Mohamed ZIDAN International class: 1 time Broad circle: 2 times 2005 not considered 2006 broad circle [07/06] [#7 Forward] 2006 not considered [12/06] 2007 Internat. Cl. [07/07] [#2 Forward] 2007 not considered [12/07] 2008 not considered 2009 not considered 2010 not considered 2011 not considered 2012 broad circle [07/12] [#10 Forward] 2012 not considered [12/12] Christian ZIEGE International class: 5 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 4 times Born and raised directly next to the Berlin Wall, Christian Ziege was a technically skilled left wing back with great offensive potential. He was a firm crosser of the ball but was also a goal threat himself with his headers and his hard left-footed shot. Troubled by injuries for long spells, Ziege lacked the absolute self-assuredness to achieve more than he did, despite his 72 international games he didn’t really manage to break through to the highest level. He came closest in 1996 when he played a good role in the German team that won the European Championship. His preferred position was left of center in midfield. 1990 not considered [12/90] 1991 not considered 1992 not considered [07/92] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#2 Wide Midfielder] 1993 Internat. Cl. [07/93] [#1 Wide Midfielder] 1993 considered_ [12/93] [Wide Midfielder] 1994 not considered 1995 Internat. Cl. [07/95] [#2 Wide Midfielder] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#4 Wide Midfielder] 1996 Internat. Cl. [07/96] [#1 Wide Midfielder] 1996 considered_ [12/96] [Wide Midfielder] 1997 Internat. Cl. [07/97] [#2 Wide Midfielder] 1997 broad circle [12/97] [#5 German abroad] 1998 not considered 1999 not considered [07/99] 1999 Internat. Cl. [12/99] [#1 German abroad] 2000 broad circle [07/00] [#4 Lateral] 2000 considered_ [12/00] [Lateral] 2001 considered_ [07/01] [Lateral] 2001 broad circle [12/01] [#6 German abroad] 2002 not considered 2003 not considered 2004 not considered 2005 not considered [07/05] Ron-Robert ZIELER International class: 2 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 1 time 2009 not considered [12/09] 2010 not considered 2011 broad circle [07/11] [#4 Goalkeeper] 2011 broad circle [12/11] [#6 Goalkeeper] 2012 Internat. Cl. [07/12] [#3 Goalkeeper] 2012 considered_ [12/12] [Goalkeeper] 2013 broad circle [07/13] [#9 Goalkeeper] 2013 broad circle [12/13] [#5 Goalkeeper] 2014 broad circle [07/14] [#7 Goalkeeper] 2014 Internat. Cl. [07/14] [#4 Goalkeeper] Gerhard ZIMMERMANN International class: 2 times Broad circle: 5 times Considered: 8 times Remembered today mostly because he was the only player who could rival Rainer Bonhof in shooting the ball very hard, Gerd Zimmermann of Düsseldorf was a towering central defender with a very firm header. Zimmermann struck fear into his opponents when he advanced into midfield getting in a position to unleash one of his super hard shots. Defensively, Zimmermann was a tough tackling marker but not a pure destroyer. 1968 not considered [12/68] 1969 not considered 1970 not considered 1971 considered_ [07/71] [Stopper] 1971 not considered [12/71] 1972 considered_ [07/72] [Stopper] 1972 considered_ [12/72] [Stopper] 1973 considered_ [07/73] [Stopper] 1973 broad circle [12/73] [#3 Stopper] 1974 broad circle [07/74] [#4 Stopper] 1974 not considered [12/74] 1975 broad circle [07/75] [#4 Stopper] 1975 broad circle [12/75] [Stopper] 1976 considered_ [07/76] [Stopper] 1976 considered_ [12/76] [Stopper] 1977 considered_ [07/77] [Stopper] 1977 considered_ [12/77] [Stopper] 1978 broad circle [07/78] [#5 Stopper] 1978 Internat. Cl. [12/78] [#3 Stopper] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#2 Stopper] 1980 not considered [12/79] 1980 not considered [07/80] Herbert ZIMMERMANN International class: 2 times Broad circle: 9 times A technically strong offensive left back who was known for his very well swung crosses and who was a valuable buildup player in midfield. Herbert Zimmermann was troubled by his spinal disc throughout his career and by the early-1980s he was sidelined more often than that he was playing and had to retire in 1984 aged 29. 1972 not considered [12/72] 1973 not considered 1974 not considered 1975 not considered 1976 not considered [07/76] 1976 broad circle [12/76] [#3 Stopper] 1977 broad circle [07/77] [#4 Full Back] 1977 broad circle [12/77] [#3 Full Back] 1978 Internat. Cl. [07/78] [#4 Full Back] 1978 broad circle [12/78] [#4 Full Back] 1979 broad circle [07/79] [#4 Full Back] 1979 Internat. Cl. [07/79] [#1 Midfielder] 1979 broad circle [12/79] [#12 Midfielder] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#4 Full Back] 1980 broad circle [07/80] [#18 Midfielder] 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 not considered 1982 not considered 1983 broad circle [07/83] [#12 Full Back] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 not considered [07/84] Michael ZORC Broad circle: 13 times Considered: 8 times One of the most goal hungry midfielders in the history of the Bundesliga, Zorc was one of the pillars of Borussia Dortmund for some 16 successive seasons. A classic holding midfielder and ball winner who went about his job with great stamina and determination, Michael Zorc was a strategist on the pitch with excellent aerial skills and a very secure penalty taker. He managed to keep up a very consistent level throughout his career. 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered 1983 not considered 1984 considered_ [07/84] [Libero] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Defensive Midfielder] 1985 considered_ [07/85] [Libero] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Offensive Midfielder] 1986 considered_ [07/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1986 considered_ [12/86] [Offensive Midfielder] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#6 Offensive Midfielder] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#10 Defensive Midfielder] 1989 broad circle [07/89] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1989 broad circle [12/89] [#5 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [07/90] [#7 Defensive Midfielder] 1990 broad circle [12/90] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1991 not considered 1992 broad circle [07/92] [#6 Defensive Midfielder] 1992 broad circle [12/92] [#3 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1993 broad circle [07/93] [#2 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1993 broad circle [12/93] [#10 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1994 not considered [07/94] 1994 considered_ [12/94] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 considered_ [07/95] [Central Defensive Midfielder] 1995 broad circle [12/95] [#5 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1996 broad circle [07/96] [#3 Central Defensive Midfielder] 1996 not considered [12/96] 1997 not considered 1998 not considered [07/98] Ralf ZUMDICK Broad circle: 6 times Considered: 8 times 1980 not considered [12/80] 1981 considered_ [07/81] [Goalkeeper] 1981 not considered [12/81] 1982 not considered [07/82] 1982 considered_ [12/82] [Goalkeeper] 1983 considered_ [07/83] [Goalkeeper] 1983 not considered [12/83] 1984 broad circle [07/84] [#7 Goalkeeper] 1984 considered_ [12/84] [Goalkeeper] 1985 broad circle [07/85] [#4 Goalkeeper] 1985 considered_ [12/85] [Goalkeeper] 1986 not considered [07/86] 1986 broad circle [12/86] [#13 Goalkeeper] 1987 broad circle [07/87] [#5 Goalkeeper] 1987 not considered [12/87] 1988 broad circle [07/88] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1988 broad circle [12/88] [#6 Goalkeeper] 1989 not considered 1990 not considered 1991 considered_ [07/91] [Goalkeeper] 1991 considered_ [12/91] [Goalkeeper] 1992 considered_ [07/92] [Goalkeeper] 1992 not considered [12/92] 1993 not considered 1994 not considered [07/94]
RECORDS SECTION Most often - World Class 27x Franz Beckenbauer 14x Uwe Seeler 11x Hans-Hubert Vogts 9x Harald Schumacher 8x Karl-Heinz Schnellinger 8x Wolfgang Overath 8x Gerhard Müller 8x Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 8x Oliver Kahn 7x Horst Szymaniak 7x Paul Breitner 7x Jürgen Klinsmann 6x Hans Tilkowski 6x Willibald Schulz 6x Josef Maier 6x Jürgen Kohler 6x Andreas Köpke 6x Franck Ribéry 6x Arjen Robben 5x Lothar Matthäus 5x Manuel Neuer 4x Wolfgang Weber 4x Günter Netzer 4x Kevin Keegan 4x Rudolf Völler 4x Thomas Hässler 4x Bastian Schweinsteiger 4x Phillip Lahm 3x Erich Juskowiak 3x Allan Simonsen 3x Manfred Kaltz 3x Bruno Pezzey 3x Karlheinz Förster 3x Jean-Marie Pfaff 3x Rune Bratseth 3x Lúcio 3x Thomas Müller - International Class 21x Josef Maier 20x Jürgen Grabowski 20x Lothar Matthäus 20x Ulrich Stein 16x Rudolf Völler 15x Josef Heynckes 15x Norbert Nigbur 15x Jürgen Kohler 15x Bodo Illgner 15x Oliver Kahn 14x Wolfgang Overath 14x Horst-Dieter Höttges 14x Sigfried Held 14x Klaus Fichtel 14x Hans-Peter Briegel 13x Herbert Erhardt 13x Uwe Seeler 13x Manfred Kaltz 13x Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 13x Karlheinz Förster 13x Eike Immel 13x Andreas Brehme 13x Thomas Hässler 12x Wolfgang Weber 12x Hans-Hubert Vogts 12x Bernd Franke 12x Alfred Schmidt 12x Guido Buchwald 12x Andreas Köpke 12x Andreas Möller 12x Stefan Effenberg 11x Hans Tilkowski 11x Willibald Schulz 11x Bernd Patzke 11x Bernd Hölzenbein 11x Ronnie Hellström 11x Michael Ballack 11x Frank Rost 10x Klaus-Dieter Sieloff 10x Günter Netzer 10x Gerhard Müller 10x Rainer Bonhof 10x Bernard Dietz 10x Rudolf Kargus 10x Jens Lehmann 10x Stefan Klos 9x Paul Breitner 9x Klaus Allofs 9x Jürgen Klinsmann 9x Uwe Bein 9x Ulf Kirsten 9x Zvonimir Soldo 9x Marcelo Bordon 9x Phillip Lahm 9x Roman Weidenfeller 8x Friedrich Herkenrath 8x Hans Schäfer 8x Ludwig Müller 8x Dieter Burdenski 8x Wolfgang-Felix Magath 8x Pierre Littbarski 8x Olaf Thon 8x Thomas Helmer 8x Élber 8x Zé Roberto 8x Mesut Özil 7x Günter Sawitzki 7x Albert Brülls 7x Franz Beckenbauer 7x Horst Wolter 7x Herbert Wimmer 7x Heinz Flohe 7x Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck 7x Wolfgang Kleff 7x Bernhard Cullmann 7x Klaus Fischer 7x Hans-Peter Müller 7x Bruno Pezzey 7x Ditmar Jakobs 7x Rune Bratseth 7x Ciriaco Sforza 7x Oliver Bierhoff 7x Miroslav Klose 7x Robert Enke 7x Manuel Neuer 6x Fritz Walter 6x Horst Eckel 6x Erich Juskowiak 6x Leo Wilden 6x Helmut Haller 6x Hans Nowak 6x Werner Krämer 6x Ulrich Hoeness 6x Erich Beer 6x Ulrich Stielike 6x Manfred Burgsmüller 6x Harald Schumacher 6x Klaus Augenthaler 6x Matthias Herget 6x Stefan Reuter 6x Mehmet Scholl 6x Patrik Andersson 6x Bixente Lizarazu 6x Torsten Frings 6x Per Mertesacker 6x René Adler 6x Franck Ribéry 6x Sami Khedira 6x Mario Götze - Broad Circle 19x Karl-Heinz Körbel 18x Willi Neuberger 17x Herbert Wimmer 17x Dieter Burdenski 17x Christian Wörns 16x Klaus Fischer 16x Eike Immel 15x Alfred Lutz 15x Alfred Heiss 15x Stefan Reuter 14x Georg Volkert 14x Rolf Rüssmann 14x Reiner Geye 14x Stefan Klos 13x Horst Köppel 13x Manfred Kaltz 13x Ditmar Jakobs 13x Paul Steiner 13x Michael Zorc 12x Engelbert Krause 12x Maximilian Lorenz 12x Wolfgang Seel 12x Hannes Bongartz 12x Klaus Augenthaler 12x Guido Buchwald 12x Olaf Thon 12x Gerald Ehrmann 12x Stefan Kuntz 12x Jens Lehmann 12x Jens Nowotny 11x Heinz Vollmar 11x Reinhard Libuda 11x Sigfried Held 11x Klaus Fichtel 11x Jürgen Grabowski 11x Michael Bella 11x Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck 11x Norbert Nigbur 11x Bernard Dietz 11x Karl Allgöwer 11x Pierre Littbarski 11x Uwe Kamps 11x Mehmet Scholl 11x Thomas Linke 11x Miroslav Klose 11x Kevin Kuranyi 10x Gert Dörfel 10x Horst-Dieter Höttges 10x Manfred Manglitz 10x Josef Heynckes 10x Bernd Hölzenbein 10x Bernhard Cullmann 10x Franz-Josef Tenhagen 10x Wolfgang Rolff 10x Thomas Berthold 10x Andreas Möller 10x Manfred Binz 10x Richard Golz 10x Markus Babbel 10x Fabian Ernst 10x Claudio Pizarro 10x Mario Gomez - Considered 28x Rudolf Wimmer 20x Werner Görts 17x Helmut Kapitulski 17x Jürgen Rynio 17x Uwe Kliemann 17x Miroslav Votava 16x Peter Kunter 16x Karl-Heinz Handschuh 16x Bernd Nickel 16x Dieter Herzog 16x Michael Lameck 16x Frank Mill 16x Ludwig Kögl 15x Wolfgang Fahrian 15x Horst Schnoor 15x Lorenz Horr 15x Winfried Schäfer 15x Manfred Burgsmüller 15x Reiner Geye 15x Friedhelm Funkel 15x Werner Vollack 14x Werner Krämer 14x Carl-Heinz Rühl 14x Rainer Ohlhauser 14x Gerhard Heinze 14x Dieter Bast 14x Wolfgang Kneib 14x Rudolf Bommer 14x Norbert Nachtweih 13x Hans Siemensmeyer 13x Klaus Zaczyk 13x Heinz-Josef Koitka 13x Manfred Ritschel 13x Harald Konopka 13x Lothar Huber 13x Rüdiger Abramczik 13x Ewald Lienen 13x Walter Junghans 13x Jonny Otten 13x Thomas Kempe – mentioned most often [all categories combined] 40x Franz Beckenbauer [27/7/3/3] 37x Ulrich Stein [1/20/8/8] 36x Sigfried Held [-/14/11/11] 36x Lothar Matthäus [5/20/9/2] 35x Guido Buchwald [1/12/12/10] 35x Andreas Köpke [6/12/7/10] 34x Uwe Seeler [14/13/6/1] 34x Klaus Fichtel [-/14/11/9] 34x Manfred Kaltz [3/13/13/5] 34x Oliver Kahn [8/15/8/3] 34x Jens Lehmann [1/10/12/11] 33x Josef Maier [6/21/-/6] 33x Willi Neuberger [-/5/18/10] 33x Eike Immel [-/13/16/4] 33x Jürgen Kohler [6/15/7/5] 32x Jürgen Grabowski [1/20/11/-] 32x Karl-Heinz Körbel [-/1/19/12] 31x Horst-Dieter Höttges [1/14/10/6] 31x Rudolf Wimmer [-/-/3/28] 31x Norbert Nigbur [-/15/11/5] 31x Ditmar Jakobs [-/7/13/11] 30x Josef Heynckes [-/15/10/5] 30x Dieter Burdenski [-/8/17/5] 29x Klaus Fischer [-/7/16/6] 29x Reiner Geye [-/-/14/15] 29x Rudolf Völler [4/16/4/5] 29x Christian Wörns [-/3/17/9] 28x Willibald Schulz [6/11/8/3] 28x Alfred Lutz [-/3/15/10] 28x Wolfgang Overath [8/14/4/2] 28x Werner Görts [-/-/8/20] 28x Wolfgang Kleff [-/7/9/12] 28x Bernd Franke [-/12/6/10] 28x Frank Mill [-/4/8/16] 28x Andreas Brehme [1/13/5/9] 28x Thomas Hässler [4/13/8/3] 28x Andreas Möller [1/Dec 10/5] 27x Hans-Hubert Vogts [11/12/2/2] 27x Gerhard Müller [8/10/4/5] 27x Bernard Dietz [1/10/11/5] 27x Karl-Heinz Rummenigge [8/13/5/1] 27x Miroslav Votava [-/1/9/17] 27x Pierre Littbarski [2/8/11/6] 27x Jürgen Klinsmann [7/9/5/6] 27x Stefan Reuter [-/6/15/6] 26x Herbert Wimmer [-/7/17/2] 26x Georg Volkert [-5/14/7] 26x Manfred Burgsmüller [-/6/5/15] 26x Dieter Bast [-/4/8/14] 26x Karl Allgöwer [-/5/11/10] 26x Wolfgang Rolff [-/4/10/12] 26x Olaf Thon [2/8/12/4] 26x Oliver Reck [-/1/13/12] 26x Stefan Klos [-/10/14/2] 25x Wolfgang Weber [4/12/6/3] 25x Harald Schumacher [9/6/5/5] 25x Klaus Augenthaler [-/6/12/7] 25x Paul Steiner [-/2/13/10] 25x Stefan Effenberg [1/Dec 8/4] 25x Thomas Linke [-/2/11/12] Rated ‚World Class’ most consecutively 16x Franz Beckenbauer [July 1968 to July 1973] 7x Horst Szymaniak [July 1957 to July 1961] 7x Franz Beckenbauer [July 1974 to July 1977] 6x Uwe Seeler [July 1959 to Dec 1962] 6x Hans-Hubert Vogts [Dec 1968 to July 1971] 6x Gerhard Müller [July 1970 to Dec 1972] 6x Karl-Heinz Rummenigge [Dec 1979 to Dec 1981] 6x Oliver Kahn [Dec 1999 to July 2002] 5x Josef Maier [July 1975 to July 1977] 5x Harald Schumacher [Dec 1982 to Dec 1984] 5x Jürgen Klinsmann [July 1994 to July 1996] 4x Uwe Seeler [Dec 1963 to July 1965] 4x Hans Tilkowski [Dec 1964 to July 1966] 4x Hans-Hubert Vogts [July 1974 to Dec 1975] 4x Kevin Keegan [July 1978 to Dec 1979] 4x Paul Breitner [Dec 1979 to July 1981] 4x Matthias Sammer [Dec 1994 to July 1996] 4x Andreas Köpke [July 1996 to Dec 1997] 4x Philipp Lahm [July 2013 to Dec 2014] 4x Arjen Robben [July 2013 to Dec 2014] 3x Karl-Heinz Schnellinger [1960 to Dec 1961] 3x Willibald Schulz [July 1966 to July 1967] 3x Willibald Schulz [Dec 1968 to Dec 1969] 3x Wolfgang Overath [July 1966 to July 1967] 3x Wolfgang Overath [Dec 1969 to Dec 1970] 3x Bruno Pezzey [Dec 1980 to Dec 1981] 3x Harald Schumacher [Dec 1980 to Dec 1981] 3x Lothar Matthäus [July 1990 to July 1991] 3x Rudolf Völler [July 1990 to July 1991] 3x Franck Ribéry [Dec 2007 to Dec 2008] 3x Franck Ribéry [Dec 2012 to Dec 2013] Rated ‚International Class’ most consecutively 16x Josef Maier [July 1966 to Dec 1973] 13x Herbert Erhardt [July 1956 to Dec 1961] 12x Klaus Fichtel [July 1967 to July 1972] 12x Hans-Peter Briegel [Dec 1979 to Dec 1983] 11x Josef Heynckes [Dec 1970 to July 1974] 10x Sigfried Held [July 1966 to July 1970] 10x Jürgen Grabowski [July 1970 to Dec 1972] 10x Rudolf Kargus [Dec 1974 to Dec 1977] 9x Horst-Dieter Höttges [Dec 1966 to Dec 1970] 9x Ulrich Stein [July 1983 to July 1988] 8x Friedrich Herkenrath [July 1956 to 1960] 8x Uwe Seeler [July 1967 to Dec 1970] 8x Ludwig Müller [July 1968 to Dec 1971] 8x Bernd Hölzenbein [Dec 1975 to July 1978] 8x Norbert Nigbur [Dec 1976 to July 1980] 7x Alfred Schmidt [Dec 1957 to Dec 1959] 7x Günter Netzer [July 1967 to July 1970] 7x Horst Wolter [Dec 1967 to Dec 1970] 7x Wolfgang Overath [July 1971 to July 1974] 7x Hans-Peter Müller [July 1978 to July 1981] 7x Karlheinz Förster [Dec 1978 to Dec 1981] 7x Thomas Hässler [Dec 1992 to Dec 1995] 7x Bodo Illgner [July 1989 to July 1992] 7x Jürgen Kohler [July 1992 to July 1995] 7x Ulf Kirsten [Dec 1996 to Dec 1999] 6x Fritz Walter [July 1956 to July 1959] 6x Horst Eckel [July 1956 to July 1959] 6x Leo Wilden [1960 to July 1964] 6x Hans Tilkowski [July 1961 to July 1964] 6x Hans Nowak [Dec 1962 to July 1965] 6x Werner Krämer [Dec 1963 to July 1966] 6x Jürgen Grabowski [Dec 1973 to July 1976] 6x Rainer Bonhof [July 1976 to July 1978] 6x Ronnie Hellström [Dec 1978 to July 1981] 6x Andreas Brehme [July 1984 to July 1986] 6x Stefan Reuter [July 1989 to Dec 1991] 6x Guido Buchwald [Dec 1991 to July 1994] 6x Stefan Effenberg [July 1991 to Dec 1993] 6x Frank Rost [July 2001 to Dec 2003] Rated inside the ‘Broad Circle’ most consecutively 12x Alfred Heiss [Dec 1962 to July 1965] 10x Michael Bella [Dec 1968 to Dec 1972] 9x Herbert Wimmer [July 1967 to July 1970] 8x Alfred Lutz [July 1961 to Dec 1964] 8x Karl-Heinz Thielen [Dec 1961 to Dec 1965] 8x Karl-Heinz Körbel [Dec 1978 to July 1982] 7x Heinz Vollmar [Dec 1956 to July 1961] 7x Bernhard Klodt [Dec 1956 to July 1959] 7x Helmut Faeder [July 1957 to July 1961] 7x Klaus Zaczyk [Dec 1968 to Dec 1971] 7x Reiner Geye [Dec 1972 to Dec 1975] 7x Franz-Josef Tenhagen [July 1975 to July 1978] 7x Wolfgang Seel [Dec 1976 to July 1979] 7x Hermann Ohlicher [July 1978 to July 1981] 7x Rudolf Kargus [Dec 1979 to Dec 1982] 7x Wolfgang Rolff [Dec 1983 to Dec 1986] 7x Franco Foda [Dec 1989 to Dec 1992] 7x Jörg Heinrich [Dec 1997 to Dec 2000] Categories Best Goalkeeper Most often 23x Josef Maier 14x Oliver Kahn 13x Harald Schumacher 11x Hans Tilkowski 8x Manuel Neuer 7x Andreas Köpke 5x Friedrich Herkenrath 5x René Adler 4x Ulrich Stein Most consecutively 13x Harald Schumacher [July 1980 to July 1986] 12x Oliver Kahn [Dec 1996 to July 2002] 11x Josef Maier [July 1974 to July 1979] 7x Josef Maier [July 1970 to July 1973] 5x Hans Tilkowski [July 1959 to Dec 1961] 5x Hans Tilkowski [July 1964 to July 1966] 5x Manuel Neuer [July 2010 to July 2012] Best Full Back / Wide Midfielder / Lateral / Defensive Lateral Most often 12x Hans-Hubert Vogts 11x Phillip Lahm 6x Karl-Heinz Schnellinger 6x Manfred Kaltz 6x Bixente Lizarazu 5x Erich Juskowiak 4x Hans Nowak 4x Horst-Dieter Höttges 4x Paul Breitner Most consecutively 7x Hans-Hubert Vogts [Dec 1968 to Dec 1971] 6x Philipp Lahm [July 2008 to Dec 2010] 5x Erich Juskowiak [July 1957 to Dec 1959] 5x Hans-Hubert Vogts [Dec 1974 to Dec 1976] Best Center Half / Central Defender / Libero Most often 20x Franz Beckenbauer 6x Herbert Erhardt 5x Rune Bratseth 5x Lothar Matthäus 4x Matthias Herget 4x Matthias Sammer Most consecutively 19x Franz Beckenbauer [July 1968 to July 1977] 5x Herbert Erhardt [1958 to July 1961] 4x Matthias Sammer [Dec 1994 to July 1996] Best Half Back / Defensive Midfielder Most often 8x Horst Szymaniak 5x Willibald Schulz 5x Michael Ballack 4x Guido Buchwald 4x Stefan Reuter 4x Zvonimir Soldo 4x Bastian Schweinsteiger Most consecutively 8x Horst Szymaniak [Dec 1956 to July 1961] 5x Willibald Schulz [Dec 1962 to Dec 1964] 4x Bastian Schweinsteiger [Dec 2011 to July 2013] Best Stopper / Defender / Marker / Central Defender Most often 12x Karlheinz Förster 11x Jürgen Kohler 7x Lúcio 4x Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck 4x Rolf Rüssmann 4x Marcelo Bordon 4x Mats Hummels Most consecutively 5x Karlheinz Förster [July 1981 to July 1983] 5x Jürgen Kohler [July 1987 to July 1989] 4x Rolf Rüssmann [July 1977 to Dec 1978] Best Inside Forward / Midfielder / Offensive Midfielder Most often 8x Franz Beckenbauer 7x Paul Breitner 6x Fritz Walter 5x Werner Krämer 5x Günter Netzer 4x Albert Brülls 4x Pierre Littbarski 4x Andreas Möller 4x Diego Most consecutively 7x Paul Breitner [Dec 1979 to Dec 1982] 5x Werner Krämer [Dec 1963 to Dec 1965] 5x Günter Netzer [July 1971 to July 1973] 4x Albert Brülls [Dec 1959 to Dec 1961] Best Outside Left Most often 7x Josef Heynckes 5x Gert Dörfel 5x Heinz Hornig 5x Georg Volkert 4x Johannes Löhr Most consecutively 4x Heinz Hornig [Dec 1964 to July 1966] 4x Josef Heynckes [July 1975 to Dec 1976] 3x Heinz Vollmar [July 1956 to July 1957] 3x Erwin Kremers [July 1972 to July 1973] 3x Georg Volkert [Dec 1978 to Dec 1979] Best Outside Right Most often 10x Jürgen Grabowski 6x Helmut Rahn 4x Reinhard Libuda 4x Bernd Dörfel 4x Bernd Hölzenbein Most consecutively 9x Jürgen Grabowski [July 1970 to July 1974] 3x Helmut Rahn [1958 to Dec 1959] 3x Rudolf Brunnenmeier [Dec 1964 to Dec 1965] 3x Bernd Dörfel [July 1968 to July 1969] Best Center Forward / Central Forward / Forward Most often 17x Uwe Seeler 15x Gerhard Müller 7x Rudolf Völler 6x Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 6x Miroslav Klose 5x Jürgen Klinsmann 4x Klaus Fischer 4x Ulf Kirsten 4x Robert Lewandowski Most consecutively 15x Uwe Seeler [1958 to Dec 1966] 12x Gerhard Müller [July 1969 to Dec 1974] 5x Karl-Heinz Rummenigge [Dec 1979 to Dec 1981] 4x Robert Lewandowski [Dec 2012 to July 2014] Best Foreign Player Most often 4x Jean-Marie Pfaff 3x Roland Sandberg 3x Kevin Keegan 3x Bruno Pezzey 3x Søren Lerby Most consecutively 3x Roland Sandberg [July 1974 to July 1975] 3x Bruno Pezzey [Dec 1980 to Dec 1981] 3x Jean-Marie Pfaff [Dec 1982 to Dec 1983] Best German abroad Most often 8x Stefan Klos 4x Michael Ballack 4x Jens Lehmann 3x Jürgen Klinsmann 3x Andreas Köpke 3x Bodo Illgner 3x Mesut Özil Most consecutively 6x Stefan Klos [July 2002 to Dec 2004] 3x Andreas Köpke [Dec 1996 to Dec 1997] 3x Bodo Illgner [July 1998 to July 1999]
Best Goalkeeper 1955-b Fritz Herkenrath (WC) 1956-1 Fritz Herkenrath 1956-2 Fritz Herkenrath 1957-1 Hans Tilkowski 1957-2 Fritz Herkenrath 1958-b Fritz Herkenrath 1959-1 Hans Tilkowski 1959-2 Hans Tilkowski (WC) 1960-b Hans Tilkowski (WC) 1961-1 Hans Tilkowski 1961-2 Hans Tilkowski 1962-1 not issued 1962-2 Wolfgang Fahrian 1963-1 Wolfgang Fahrian 1963-2 Wolfgang Fahrian 1964-1 Hans Tilkowski 1964-2 Hans Tilkowski (WC) 1965-1 Hans Tilkowski (WC) 1965-2 Hans Tilkowski (WC) 1966-1 Hans Tilkowski (WC) 1966-2 Josef Maier 1967-1 Josef Maier 1967-2 Josef Maier 1968-1 Horst Wolter 1968-2 Josef Maier 1969-1 Josef Maier 1969-2 Manfred Manglitz 1970-1 Josef Maier 1970-2 Josef Maier 1971-1 Josef Maier 1971-2 Josef Maier 1972-1 Josef Maier 1972-2 Josef Maier 1973-1 Josef Maier 1973-2 Wolfgang Kleff 1974-1 Josef Maier (WC) 1974-2 Josef Maier 1975-1 Josef Maier (WC) 1975-2 Josef Maier (WC) 1976-1 Josef Maier (WC) 1976-2 Josef Maier (WC) 1977-1 Josef Maier (WC) 1977-2 Josef Maier 1978-1 Josef Maier 1978-2 Josef Maier 1979-1 Josef Maier 1979-2 Norbert Nigbur 1980-1 Harald Schumacher 1980-2 Harald Schumacher (WC) 1981-1 Harald Schumacher (WC) 1981-2 Harald Schumacher (WC) 1982-1 Harald Schumacher 1982-2 Harald Schumacher (WC) 1983-1 Harald Schumacher (WC) 1983-2 Harald Schumacher (WC) 1984-1 Harald Schumacher (WC) 1984-2 Harald Schumacher (WC) 1985-1 Harald Schumacher 1985-2 Harald Schumacher 1986-1 Harald Schumacher (WC) 1986-2 Ulrich Stein 1987-1 Ulrich Stein 1987-2 Andreas Köpke 1988-1 Eike Immel 1988-2 Raimond Aumann 1989-1 Bodo Illgner 1989-2 Ulrich Stein 1990-1 Bodo Illgner 1990-2 Ulrich Stein 1991-1 Andreas Köpke 1991-2 Bodo Illgner 1992-1 Eike Immel 1992-2 Andreas Köpke (WC) 1993-1 Andreas Köpke (WC) 1993-2 Oliver Kahn 1994-1 Raimond Aumann 1994-2 Andreas Köpke 1995-1 Andreas Köpke 1995-2 Stefan Klos 1996-1 Andreas Köpke (WC) 1996-2 Oliver Kahn (WC) 1997-1 Oliver Kahn (WC) 1997-2 Oliver Kahn 1998-1 Oliver Kahn 1998-2 Oliver Kahn 1999-1 Oliver Kahn 1999-2 Oliver Kahn (WC) 2000-1 Oliver Kahn (WC) 2000-2 Oliver Kahn (WC) 2001-1 Oliver Kahn (WC) 2001-2 Oliver Kahn (WC) 2002-1 Oliver Kahn (WC) 2002-2 Jens Lehmann 2003-1 Jens Lehmann 2003-2 Timo Hildebrand 2004-1 Timo Hildebrand 2004-2 Frank Rost 2005-1 Roman Weidenfeller 2005-2 Oliver Kahn 2006-1 Jens Lehmann (WC) 2006-2 Markus Pröll 2007-1 Manuel Neuer 2007-2 René Adler 2008-1 René Adler 2008-2 René Adler 2009-1 Tim Wiese 2009-2 René Adler 2010-1 Manuel Neuer 2010-2 Manuel Neuer (WC) 2011-1 Manuel Neuer (WC) 2011-2 Manuel Neuer 2012-1 Manuel Neuer 2012-2 René Adler 2013-1 Roman Weidenfeller (WC) 2013-2 Bernd Leno 2014-1 Manuel Neuer (WC) 2014-2 Manuel Neuer (WC) Best Full Back 1955-b Josef Posipal 1956-1 Josef Posipal 1956-2 Karl Schmidt 1957-1 Erich Juskowiak 1957-2 Erich Juskowiak 1958-b Erich Juskowiak (WC) 1959-1 Erich Juskowiak (WC) 1959-2 Erich Juskowiak (WC) 1960-b Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (WC) 1961-1 Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (WC) 1961-2 Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (WC) 1962-1 not issued 1962-2 Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (WC) 1963-1 Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (WC) 1963-2 Hans Nowak 1964-1 Hans Nowak 1964-2 Hans Nowak 1965-1 Hans Nowak 1965-2 Horst-Dieter Höttges 1966-1 Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (WC) 1966-2 Horst-Dieter Höttges 1967-1 Bernd Patzke 1967-2 Bernd Patzke 1968-1 Horst-Dieter Höttges 1968-2 Hans-Hubert Vogts (WC) 1969-1 Hans-Hubert Vogts (WC) 1969-2 Hans-Hubert Vogts (WC) 1970-1 Hans-Hubert Vogts (WC) 1970-2 Hans-Hubert Vogts (WC) 1971-1 Hans-Hubert Vogts (WC) 1971-2 Hans-Hubert Vogts 1972-1 Paul Breitner (WC) 1972-2 Paul Breitner 1973-1 Paul Breitner 1973-2 Horst-Dieter Höttges 1974-1 Paul Breitner (WC) 1974-2 Hans-Hubert Vogts 1975-1 Hans-Hubert Vogts (WC) 1975-2 Hans-Hubert Vogts (WC) 1976-1 Hans-Hubert Vogts 1976-2 Hans-Hubert Vogts (WC) 1977-1 Manfred Kaltz 1977-2 Bernard Dietz (WC) 1978-1 Harald Konopka 1978-2 Bernard Dietz 1979-1 Bernard Dietz 1979-2 Manfred Kaltz (WC) 1980-1 Manfred Kaltz 1980-2 Manfred Kaltz 1981-1 Hans-Peter Briegel 1981-2 Manfred Kaltz (WC) 1982-1 Hans-Peter Briegel 1982-2 Bernd Förster 1983-1 Manfred Kaltz 1983-2 Manfred Bockenfeld 1984-1 Hans-Peter Briegel 1984-2 Karl-Heinz Wöhrlin 1985-1 Andreas Brehme Category merged with “Defensive Midfielders” between 1985-2 and 1992-1 Best Wide Midfielder 1992-2 Knut Reinhardt 1993-1 Christian Ziege 1993-2 Paulo Sérgio 1994-1 Jorginho (WC) 1994-2 Mario Basler 1995-1 Mario Basler 1995-2 Stefan Reuter 1996-1 Christian Ziege 1996-2 Jörg Heinrich 1997-1 Jörg Heinrich Best Lateral 1997-2 Jörg Heinrich 1998-1 Bixente Lizarazu 1998-2 Bixente Lizarazu 1999-1 Martin Groth 1999-2 Michael Tarnat 2000-1 Bixente Lizarazu 2000-2 Jörg Böhme 2001-1 Bixente Lizarazu Best Defensive Lateral 2001-2 Bixente Lizarazu 2002-1 Diego Placente 2002-2 Markus Münch 2003-1 Willy Sagnol 2003-2 Bixente Lizarazu 2004-1 Philipp Lahm 2004-2 Bernd Schneider 2005-1 Arne Friedrich 2005-2 Willy Sagnol 2006-1 Philipp Lahm 2006-2 Clemens Fritz 2007-1 Javier Pinola 2007-2 Gonzalo Castro 2008-1 Philipp Lahm 2008-2 Philipp Lahm 2009-1 Philipp Lahm 2009-2 Philipp Lahm 2010-1 Philipp Lahm 2010-2 Philipp Lahm 2011-1 Lukasz Piszczek 2011-2 Philipp Lahm 2012-1 Lukasz Piszczek 2012-2 Philipp Lahm 2013-1 Philipp Lahm (WC) 2013-2 David Alaba 2014-1 David Alaba 2014-2 David Alaba Best Center Half 1955-b Werner Liebrich (WC) 1956-1 Werner Liebrich 1956-2 Heinz Wewers 1957-1 Rudolf Hoffmann 1957-2 Heinz Wewers 1958-b Herbert Erhardt 1959-1 Herbert Erhardt 1959-2 Herbert Erhardt 1960-b Herbert Erhardt 1961-1 Herbert Erhardt 1961-2 Leo Wilden 1962-1 not issued 1962-2 Herbert Erhardt 1963-1 Leo Wilden 1963-2 Leo Wilden 1964-1 Willi Giesemann 1964-2 Willi Giesemann 1965-1 Klaus-Dieter Sieloff 1965-2 Wolfgang Weber (WC) Best Central Defender 1966-1 Willi Schulz (WC) 1966-2 Willi Schulz (WC) 1967-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1967-2 Willi Schulz 1968-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1968-2 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1969-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1969-2 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1970-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1970-2 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) Best Libero 1971-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1971-2 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1972-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1972-2 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1973-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1973-2 Franz Beckenbauer 1974-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1974-2 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1975-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1975-2 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1976-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1976-2 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1977-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1977-2 Manfred Kaltz 1978-1 Gerd Zewe 1978-2 Gerd Zewe 1979-1 Klaus Fichtel 1979-2 Bernhard Cullmann 1980-1 Wilfried Hannes 1980-2 Kurt Niedermayer 1981-1 Wilfried Hannes 1981-2 Wilfried Hannes 1982-1 Ulrich Stielike 1982-2 Gerhard Strack 1983-1 Gerhard Strack 1983-2 Matthias Herget 1984-1 Ulrich Stielike 1984-2 Matthias Herget 1985-1 Matthias Herget 1985-2 Klaus Augenthaler 1986-1 Ditmar Jakobs 1986-2 Thomas Hörster 1987-1 Ditmar Jakobs 1987-2 Norbert Nachtweih 1988-1 Matthias Herget 1988-2 Rune Bratseth (WC) 1989-1 Klaus Augenthaler 1989-2 Rune Bratseth 1990-1 Klaus Augenthaler 1990-2 Thomas Helmer 1991-1 Miroslav Kadlec 1991-2 Manfred Binz 1992-1 Rune Bratseth 1992-2 Rune Bratseth (WC) 1993-1 Rune Bratseth (WC) 1993-2 Lothar Matthäus 1994-1 Lothar Matthäus 1994-2 Matthias Sammer (WC) 1995-1 Matthias Sammer (WC) 1995-2 Matthias Sammer (WC) 1996-1 Matthias Sammer (WC) 1996-2 Frank Verlaat 1997-1 Olaf Thon (WC) 1997-2 Olaf Thon (WC) 1998-1 Olaf Thon 1998-2 Ciriaco Sforza 1999-1 Lothar Matthäus (WC) 1999-2 Lothar Matthäus 2000-1 Lothar Matthäus 2000-2 Jens Nowotny 2001-1 Patrik Andersson Best Stopper 1971-1 Wolfgang Weber 1971-2 Wolfgang Weber 1972-1 Georg Schwarzenbeck 1972-2 Georg Schwarzenbeck 1973-1 Bernhard Cullmann 1973-2 Wolfgang Weber 1974-1 Georg Schwarzenbeck 1974-2 Uwe Kliemann 1975-1 Uwe Kliemann 1975-2 Georg Schwarzenbeck 1976-1 Georg Schwarzenbeck 1976-2 Wolfgang Weber 1977-1 Rolf Rüssmann 1977-2 Rolf Rüssmann 1978-1 Rolf Rüssmann 1978-2 Rolf Rüssmann 1979-1 Karlheinz Förster 1979-2 Karlheinz Förster 1980-1 Karlheinz Förster 1980-2 Hans-Peter Briegel (WC) 1981-1 Karlheinz Förster 1981-2 Karlheinz Förster 1982-1 Karlheinz Förster (WC) 1982-2 Karlheinz Förster 1983-1 Karlheinz Förster (WC) 1983-2 Ditmar Jakobs 1984-1 Karlheinz Förster 1984-2 Karlheinz Förster 1985-1 Karlheinz Förster Best Defender 1985-2 Norbert Eder 1986-1 Karlheinz Förster (WC) 1986-2 Guido Buchwald 1987-1 Jürgen Kohler 1987-2 Jürgen Kohler 1988-1 Jürgen Kohler 1988-2 Jürgen Kohler (WC) 1989-1 Jürgen Kohler 1989-2 Guido Buchwald 1990-1 Jürgen Kohler (WC) Best Marker 1990-2 Jürgen Kohler 1991-1 Dietmar Beiersdorfer 1991-2 Martin Kree 1992-1 Michael Schulz 1992-2 Guido Buchwald 1993-1 Michael Schulz 1993-2 Torsten Wohlert 1994-1 Jürgen Kohler 1994-2 Júlio César 1995-1 Patrik Andersson 1995-2 Thomas Helmer 1996-1 Thomas Helmer 1996-2 Jürgen Kohler (WC) 1997-1 Jürgen Kohler (WC) 1997-2 Thomas Helmer 1998-1 Christian Wörns Best Defender 1998-2 Jürgen Kohler 1999-1 Robert Kovac 1999-2 Frank Baumann 2000-1 Jens Nowotny 2000-2 Tomasz Waldoch 2001-1 Lúcio 2001-2 Lúcio (WC) 2002-1 Lúcio (WC) Best Central Defender 2002-2 Thomas Linke 2003-1 Thomas Linke 2003-2 Marcelo Bordon 2004-1 Lúcio 2004-2 Marcelo Bordon 2005-1 Lúcio 2005-2 Lúcio (WC) 2006-1 Lúcio 2006-2 Naldo 2007-1 Marcelo Bordon 2007-2 Marcelo Bordon 2008-1 Martin Demichelis 2008-2 Josip Simunic 2009-1 Josip Simunic 2009-2 Sami Hyypiä 2010-1 Arne Friedrich 2010-2 Mats Hummels 2011-1 Mats Hummels 2011-2 Holger Badstuber 2012-1 Mats Hummels 2012-2 Dante 2013-1 Jerome Boateng 2013-2 Jerome Boateng 2014-1 Mats Hummels (WC) 2014-2 Jerome Boateng (WC) Best Half Back 1955-b Horst Eckel (WC) 1956-1 Horst Eckel 1956-2 Horst Szymaniak 1957-1 Horst Szymaniak (WC) 1957-2 Horst Szymaniak (WC) 1958-b Horst Szymaniak (WC) 1959-1 Horst Szymaniak (WC) 1959-2 Horst Szymaniak (WC) 1960-b Horst Szymaniak (WC) 1961-1 Horst Szymaniak (WC) 1961-2 Karl-Heinz Schnellinger 1962-1 not issued 1962-2 Willi Schulz 1963-1 Willi Schulz 1963-2 Willi Schulz 1964-1 Willi Schulz 1964-2 Willi Schulz 1965-1 Wolfgang Weber 1965-2 Horst Szymaniak Best Midfielder 1966-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1966-2 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1967-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1967-2 Wolfgang Overath 1968-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1968-2 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1969-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1969-2 Wolfgang Overath (WC) 1970-1 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1970-2 Franz Beckenbauer (WC) 1971-1 Günter Netzer (WC) 1971-2 Günter Netzer 1972-1 Günter Netzer (WC) 1972-2 Günter Netzer (WC) 1973-1 Günter Netzer 1973-2 Ulrich Hoeness 1974-1 Wolfgang Overath 1974-2 Jürgen Grabowski 1975-1 Herbert Wimmer 1975-2 Herbert Wimmer 1976-1 Rainer Bonhof (WC) 1976-2 Rainer Bonhof 1977-1 Jürgen Grabowski 1977-2 Jürgen Grabowski (WC) 1978-1 Heinz Flohe 1978-2 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1979-1 Herbert Zimmermann 1979-2 Paul Breitner (WC) 1980-1 Paul Breitner (WC) 1980-2 Paul Breitner (WC) 1981-1 Paul Breitner (WC) 1981-2 Paul Breitner 1982-1 Paul Breitner Best Offensive Midfielder 1982-2 Paul Breitner (WC) 1983-1 Felix Magath (WC) 1983-2 Norbert Meier 1984-1 Felix Magath 1984-2 Uwe Rahn 1985-1 Uwe Rahn 1985-2 Norbert Meier 1986-1 Lothar Matthäus (WC) 1986-2 Uwe Rahn 1987-1 Wolfram Wuttke 1987-2 Pierre Littbarski 1988-1 Lothar Matthäus 1988-2 Thomas Hässler (WC) 1989-1 Pierre Littbarski 1989-2 Pierre Littbarski 1990-1 Pierre Littbarski 1990-2 Andreas Möller 1991-1 Thomas Doll 1991-2 Andreas Möller 1992-1 Thomas Hässler (WC) Best Central Offensive Midfielder 1992-2 Andreas Herzog 1993-1 Andreas Herzog 1993-2 Jordan Letchkov 1994-1 Carlos Dunga 1994-2 Andreas Möller 1995-1 Piotr Nowak 1995-2 Andreas Möller 1996-1 Mehmet Scholl 1996-2 Thomas Hässler (WC) 1997-1 Dariusz Wosz (WC) Best Offensive Midfielder 1997-2 Krassimir Balakov (WC) 1998-1 Ciriaco Sforza 1998-2 Stefan Beinlich 1999-1 Stefan Effenberg 1999-2 Rodolfo Cardoso 2000-1 Stefan Effenberg (WC) 2000-2 Mehmet Scholl 2001-1 Mehmet Scholl 2001-2 Lincoln 2002-1 Torsten Frings 2002-2 Tomas Rosicky 2003-1 Marcelinho 2003-2 Johan Micoud 2004-1 Michael Ballack 2004-2 Marcelinho 2005-1 Michael Ballack 2005-2 Tim Borowski 2006-1 Michael Ballack 2006-2 Diego 2007-1 Bernd Schneider 2007-2 Diego 2008-1 Diego 2008-2 Zvjezdan Misimovic 2009-1 Diego 2009-2 Mesut Özil 2010-1 Thomas Müller (WC) 2010-2 Shinji Kagawa 2011-1 Thomas Müller 2011-2 Toni Kroos 2012-1 Shinji Kagawa (WC) 2012-2 Mario Götze (WC) 2013-1 Mario Götze 2013-2 Toni Kroos 2014-1 Toni Kroos (WC) 2014-2 Kevin De Bruyne (WC) Best Defensive Midfielder 1982-2 Hans-Peter Briegel 1983-1 Wolfgang Rolff 1983-2 Jürgen Groh 1984-1 Guido Buchwald 1984-2 Andreas Brehme 1985-1 Lothar Matthäus 1985-2 Andreas Brehme 1986-1 Hans-Peter Briegel 1986-2 Norbert Nachtweih 1987-1 Norbert Nachtweih 1987-2 Mirko Votava 1988-1 Armin Görtz 1988-2 Srecko Katanec 1989-1 Stefan Reuter 1989-2 Stefan Reuter 1990-1 Guido Buchwald (WC) 1990-2 Stefan Reuter 1991-1 Stefan Reuter 1991-2 Guido Buchwald 1992-1 Guido Buchwald Best Central Defensive Midfielder 1992-2 Jan Wouters 1993-1 Jan Wouters 1993-2 Andreas Brehme 1994-1 Ioan Lupescu 1994-2 Pavel Hapal 1995-1 Dieter Eilts 1995-2 Dieter Eilts 1996-1 Dieter Eilts 1996-2 Sunday Oliseh 1997-1 Zvonimir Soldo Best Defensive Midfielder 1997-2 Zvonimir Soldo 1998-1 Zvonimir Soldo 1998-2 Jens Jeremies 1999-1 Stefan Effenberg 1999-2 Emerson 2000-1 Emerson (WC) 2000-2 Niko Kovac 2001-1 Jens Jeremies 2001-2 Michael Ballack 2002-1 Michael Ballack (WC) 2002-2 Michael Ballack 2003-1 Michael Ballack 2003-2 Zvonimir Soldo 2004-1 Frank Baumann 2004-2 Michael Ballack 2005-1 Fabian Ernst 2005-2 Torsten Frings 2006-1 Torsten Frings (WC) 2006-2 Trosten Frings 2007-1 Pavel Pardo 2007-2 Simon Rolfes 2008-1 Mark van Bommel 2008-2 Zé Roberto 2009-1 Jermaine Jones 2009-2 Zé Roberto 2010-1 Bastian Schweinsteiger (WC) 2010-2 Nuri Sahin 2011-1 Arturo Vidal 2011-2 Bastian Schweinsteiger (WC) 2012-1 Ilkay Gündogan 2012-2 Bastian Schweinsteiger 2013-1 Bastian Schweinsteiger (WC) 2013-2 Philipp Lahm (WC) 2014-1 Philipp Lahm (WC) 2014-2 Philipp Lahm (WC) Best Inside Forward 1955-b Fritz Walter (WC) 1956-1 Fritz Walter 1956-2 Fritz Walter 1957-1 Willi Schröder 1957-2 Fritz Walter 1958-b Fritz Walter 1959-1 Fritz Walter 1959-2 Albert Brülls 1960-b Albert Brülls 1961-1 Albert Brülls 1961-2 Albert Brülls 1962-1 not issued 1962-2 Jürgen Schütz 1963-1 Jürgen Schütz 1963-2 Werner Krämer 1964-1 Werner Krämer 1964-2 Werner Krämer 1965-1 Werner Krämer 1965-2 Werner Krämer Best Outside Left 1955-b Hans Schäfer 1956-1 Heinz Vollmar 1956-2 Heinz Vollmar 1957-1 Heinz Vollmar 1957-2 Hans Schäfer 1958-b Helmut Rahn 1959-1 Helmut Rahn 1959-2 Heinz Hornig 1960-b Gert Dörfel 1961-1 Gert Dörfel 1961-2 Albert Brülls 1962-1 not issued 1962-2 Gert Dörfel 1963-1 Alfred Heiss 1963-2 Gert Dörfel 1964-1 Gert Dörfel 1964-2 Heinz Hornig 1965-1 Heinz Hornig 1965-2 Heinz Hornig 1966-1 Heinz Hornig 1966-2 Sigfried Held 1967-1 Johannes Löhr 1967-2 Johannes Löhr 1968-1 Georg Volkert 1968-2 Klaus Gerwien 1969-1 Dieter Brenninger 1969-2 Erich Maas 1970-1 Johannes Löhr 1970-2 Johannes Löhr 1971-1 Josef Heynckes 1971-2 Josef Heynckes 1972-1 Erwin Kremers 1972-2 Erwin Kremers 1973-1 Erwin Kremers 1973-2 Josef Heynckes 1974-1 Bernd Hölzenbein 1974-2 Sigfried Held 1975-1 Josef Heynckes 1975-2 Josef Heynckes 1976-1 Josef Heynckes 1976-2 Josef Heynckes 1977-1 Georg Volkert 1977-2 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1978-1 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1978-2 Georg Volkert 1979-1 Georg Volkert 1979-2 Georg Volkert 1980-1 Ewald Lienen 1980-2 Werner Dressel 1981-1 Karl Allgöwer 1981-2 Norbert Meier 1982-1 Pierre Littbarski Best Outside Right 1955-b Helmut Rahn 1956-1 Helmut Rahn 1956-2 Erwin Waldner 1957-1 Helmut Rahn 1957-2 Wolfgang Peters 1958-b Helmut Rahn (WC) 1959-1 Helmut Rahn 1959-2 Helmut Rahn (WC) 1960-b Heinz Vollmar 1961-1 Richard Kress 1961-2 Richard Kress 1962-1 not issued 1962-2 Engelbert Kraus 1963-1 Karl-Heinz Thielen 1963-2 Reinhard Libuda 1964-1 Reinhard Libuda 1964-2 Rudolf Brunnenmeier 1965-1 Rudolf Brunnenmeier 1965-2 Rudolf Brunnenmeier 1966-1 Albert Brülls 1966-2 Bernd Dörfel 1967-1 Jürgen Grabowski 1967-2 Reinhard Libuda 1968-1 Bernd Dörfel 1968-2 Bernd Dörfel 1969-1 Bernd Dörfel 1969-2 Reinhard Libuda 1970-1 Jürgen Grabowski 1970-2 Jürgen Grabowski 1971-1 Jürgen Grabowski 1971-2 Jürgen Grabowski 1972-1 Jürgen Grabowski 1972-2 Jürgen Grabowski 1973-1 Jürgen Grabowski 1973-2 Jürgen Grabowski 1974-1 Jürgen Grabowski 1974-2 Reiner Geye 1975-1 Manfred Ritschel 1975-2 Bernd Hölzenbein 1976-1 Bernd Hölzenbein 1976-2 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1977-1 Rüdiger Abramczik 1977-2 Bernd Hölzenbein 1978-1 Bernd Hölzenbein 1978-2 Rüdiger Abramczik 1979-1 Rüdiger Abramczik 1979-2 Peter Geyer 1980-1 Karl Del’Haye 1980-2 Reiner Geye 1981-1 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1981-2 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (WC) 1982-1 Pierre Littbarski (WC) Best Wingers 1982-2 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (WC) 1983-1 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1983-2 Klaus Allofs 1984-1 Klaus Allofs 1984-2 Klaus Täuber 1985-1 Pierre Littbarski (WC) Best Center Forward 1955-b Ottmar Walter 1956-1 Ulrich Biesinger 1956-2 Alfred Kelbassa 1957-1 Alfred Kelbassa 1957-2 Alfred Kelbassa 1958-b Uwe Seeler 1959-1 Uwe Seeler (WC) 1959-2 Uwe Seeler (WC) 1960-b Uwe Seeler (WC) 1961-1 Uwe Seeler (WC) 1961-2 Uwe Seeler (WC) 1962-1 not issued 1962-2 Uwe Seeler (WC) 1963-1 Uwe Seeler 1963-2 Uwe Seeler (WC) 1964-1 Uwe Seeler (WC) 1964-2 Uwe Seeler (WC) 1965-1 Uwe Seeler (WC) 1965-2 Uwe Seeler Best Central Forwards 1966-1 Uwe Seeler (WC) 1966-2 Uwe Seeler (WC) 1967-1 Gerd Müller 1967-2 Uwe Seeler 1968-1 Sigfried Held 1968-2 Uwe Seeler 1969-1 Gerd Müller 1969-2 Gerd Müller 1970-1 Gerd Müller (WC) 1970-2 Gerd Müller (WC) 1971-1 Gerd Müller (WC) 1971-2 Gerd Müller (WC) 1972-1 Gerd Müller (WC) 1972-2 Gerd Müller (WC) 1973-1 Gerd Müller 1973-2 Gerd Müller 1974-1 Gerd Müller (WC) 1974-2 Gerd Müller 1975-1 Jürgen Grabowski 1975-2 Klaus Fischer 1976-1 Gerd Müller (WC) 1976-2 Gerd Müller (WC) 1977-1 Klaus Fischer 1977-2 Klaus Fischer 1978-1 Dieter Müller 1978-2 Klaus Fischer 1979-1 Klaus Allofs 1979-2 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (WC) 1980-1 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (WC) 1980-2 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (WC) 1981-1 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (WC) 1981-2 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (WC) 1982-1 Horst Hrubesch 1982-2 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (WC) 1983-1 Rudolf Völler 1983-2 Rudolf Völler 1984-1 Rudolf Völler 1984-2 Klaus Allofs 1985-1 Rudolf Völler (WC) Best Forward 1985-2 Rudolf Völler 1986-1 Klaus Allofs 1986-2 Herbert Waas 1987-1 Uwe Rahn 1987-2 Frank Mill 1988-1 Jürgen Klinsmann 1988-2 Jürgen Klinsmann (WC) 1989-1 Karlheinz Riedle 1989-2 Wynton Rufer 1990-1 Rudolf Völler (WC) 1990-2 Brian Laudrup 1991-1 Jan Furtok 1991-2 Stéphane Chapuisat 1992-1 Stéphane Chapuisat (WC) 1992-2 Stéphane Chapuisat (WC) 1993-1 Ulf Kirsten 1993-2 Anthony Yeboah (WC) 1994-1 Jürgen Klinsmann (WC) 1994-2 Ulf Kirsten 1995-1 Rudolf Völler 1995-2 Jürgen Klinsmann (WC) 1996-1 Jürgen Klinsmann (WC) 1996-2 Sean Dundee 1997-1 Ulf Kirsten 1997-2 Ulf Kirsten 1998-1 Oliver Bierhoff (WC) 1998-2 Élber 1999-1 Michael Preetz 1999-2 Youri Djorkaeff 2000-1 Zé Roberto 2000-2 Ebbe Sand 2001-1 Claudio Pizarro (WC) 2001-2 Élber 2002-1 Miroslav Klose 2002-2 Ailton 2003-1 Élber 2003-2 Ailton 2004-1 Roy Makaay 2004-2 Miroslav Klose 2005-1 Roy Makaay 2005-2 Miroslav Klose 2006-1 Miroslav Klose (WC) 2006-2 Miroslav Klose 2007-1 Theofanis Gekas 2007-2 Luca Toni 2008-1 Luca Toni 2008-2 Vedad Ibisevic (WC) 2009-1 Edin Dzeko (WC) 2009-2 Stefan Kiessling 2010-1 Edin Dzeko (WC) 2010-2 Mario Gomez 2011-1 Mario Gomez (WC) 2011-2 Mario Gomez (WC) 2012-1 Jan-Klaas Huntelaar 2012-2 Robert Lewandowski 2013-1 Robert Lewandowski (WC) 2013-2 Robert Lewandowski 2014-1 Robert Lewandowski 2014-2 Alexander Meier Best Foreign players 1970-2 Willi Lippens 1971-1 Zoltan Varga 1971-2 Ulrik Le Fevre 1972-1 Idriz Hosic 1972-2 Idriz Hosic 1973-1 Henning Jensen 1973-2 Johann Ettmayer 1974-1 Roland Sandberg 1974-2 Roland Sandberg 1975-1 Roland Sandberg 1975-2 Henning Jensen (WC) 1976-1 Henning Jensen 1976-2 Branko Oblak 1977-1 Allan Simonsen (WC) 1977-2 Allan Simonsen (WC) 1978-1 Ronnie Hellström (WC) 1978-2 Kevin Keegan (WC) 1979-1 Kevin Keegan (WC) 1979-2 Bum-Kun Cha (WC) 1980-1 Kevin Keegan 1980-2 Bruno Pezzey (WC) 1981-1 Bruno Pezzey (WC) 1981-2 Bruno Pezzey (WC) 1982-1 Didier Six 1982-2 Jean-Marie Pfaff 1983-1 Jean-Marie Pfaff (WC) 1983-2 Jean-Marie Pfaff (WC) 1984-1 Asgeir Sigurvinsson (WC) 1984-2 Sören Lerby 1985-1 Sören Lerby 1985-2 Bruno Pezzey 1986-1 Sören Lerby (WC) 1986-2 Miroslaw Okonski 1987-1 Jean-Marie Pfaff 1987-2 Rune Bratseth 1988-1 Lajos Detari Best German abroad 1990-2 Thomas Hässler (WC) 1991-1 Lothar Matthäus (WC) 1991-2 Jürgen Kohler (WC) 1992-1 Bernd Schuster 1992-2 Jürgen Kohler 1993-1 Jürgen Klinsmann (WC) 1993-2 Andreas Möller (WC) 1994-1 Falko Götz 1994-2 Jürgen Klinsmann (WC) 1995-1 Jürgen Klinsmann (WC) 1995-2 Oliver Bierhoff 1996-1 Eike Immel 1996-2 Andreas Köpke (WC) 1997-1 Andreas Köpke (WC) 1997-2 Andreas Köpke (WC) 1998-1 Bodo Illgner 1998-2 Bodo Illgner 1999-1 Bodo Illgner 1999-2 Christian Ziege 2000-1 Stefan Klos 2000-2 Stefan Klos 2001-1 Markus Babbel 2001-2 Dietmar Hamann 2002-1 Stefan Klos 2002-2 Stefan Klos 2003-1 Stefan Klos 2003-2 Stefan Klos 2004-1 Stefan Klos 2004-2 Stefan Klos 2005-1 Jens Lehmann 2005-2 Jens Lehmann 2006-1 Thomas Linke 2006-2 Jens Lehmann 2007-1 Jens Lehmann 2007-2 Dietmar Hamann 2008-1 Michael Ballack 2008-2 Michael Ballack 2009-1 Fabian Ernst 2009-2 Michael Ballack 2010-1 Michael Ballack 2010-2 Mesut Özil 2011-1 Mesut Özil 2011-2 Miroslav Klose 2012-1 Sami Khedira 2012-2 Sami Khedira 2013-1 Mesut Özil 2013-2 Per Mertesacker 2014-1 Per Mertesacker 2014-2 Toni Kroos (WC)
Yes, very good job Gregoriak. The info about formations and Beckenbauer's differing role away from home, and the detailed write-up on Fritz Walter for example really add to the thread too, so there is more here than just the ratings themselves (but they are also very useful for reference of course, and it's a great job to put them on here in such a complete form).