Professional Soccer Player. FIFA World Cup Champion 1954. He began his professional career in 1951 with his home town Rot-Weiss Essen leading them to the German Cup in 1953 and the German Championship in 1955. But he is best known for his play in the 1954 FIFA World Cup. He was not originally a starter, but his play against Hungary in the preliminary round led the German coach Sepp Herberger to choose him in the playoff rounds. When Germany unexpectedly reached the 1954 final in Bern, Switzerland, in a rematch vs Hungary, he assisted on the first goal and scored both the tying and winning goals as Germany came from two goals down to upset Hungary 3-2 and win the World Cup, in what later was called "The Miracle of Bern" ("Der Wunder von Bern"). He scored 21 goals in 40 games for Germany, also participating in the 1958 FIFA World Cup, where Germany finished fourth, and finished second in the voting for Europe's Player of the Year, that same year. He also played for 1 FC Köln and Sportclub Enschide in the Netherlands, and finished his career with Meidericher SV (today's MSV Duisberg), with 145 goals in 318 first division matches, retiring due to an Achilles tendon injury in 1965. He was arrested twice for drunk driving, which almost kept him out of the 1958 World Cup. After his career was over, he ran an auto dealership in Essen.
Professional Soccer Player. FIFA World Cup Champion 1954. He began his professional career in 1951 with his home town Rot-Weiss Essen leading them to the German Cup in 1953 and the German Championship in 1955. But he is best known for his play in the 1954 FIFA World Cup. He was not originally a starter, but his play against Hungary in the preliminary round led the German coach Sepp Herberger to choose him in the playoff rounds. When Germany unexpectedly reached the 1954 final in Bern, Switzerland, in a rematch vs Hungary, he assisted on the first goal and scored both the tying and winning goals as Germany came from two goals down to upset Hungary 3-2 and win the World Cup, in what later was called "The Miracle of Bern" ("Der Wunder von Bern"). He scored 21 goals in 40 games for Germany, also participating in the 1958 FIFA World Cup, where Germany finished fourth, and finished second in the voting for Europe's Player of the Year, that same year. He also played for 1 FC Köln and Sportclub Enschide in the Netherlands, and finished his career with Meidericher SV (today's MSV Duisberg), with 145 goals in 318 first division matches, retiring due to an Achilles tendon injury in 1965. He was arrested twice for drunk driving, which almost kept him out of the 1958 World Cup. After his career was over, he ran an auto dealership in Essen.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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