Günter Netzer

Günter Netzer
Netzer in 2005
Personal information
Full name Günter Theodor Netzer
Date of birth (1944-09-14) 14 September 1944
Place of birth Mönchengladbach, Germany
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1952–1963 1. FC Mönchengladbach
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1973 Borussia Mönchengladbach 297 (108)
1973–1976 Real Madrid 85 (9)
1976–1977 Grasshopper Club Zürich 26 (3)
Total 408 (120)
International career
1965–1975 West Germany 37 (6)
Managerial career
1977–1985 Hamburger SV (general manager)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  West Germany
FIFA World Cup
Winner 1974 West Germany
UEFA European Championship
Winner 1972 Belgium
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Günter Theodor Netzer (born 14 September 1944) is a German former professional football player, executive and pundit. He achieved great success in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach in the early 1970s and, after moving to Spain in 1973, with Real Madrid. A technically gifted playmaker, Netzer played as an attacking midfielder or as a deep-lying playmaker and is considered one of the greatest midfielders and passers in the game's history.[1][2][3][4] He was voted German Footballer of the Year twice, in 1972 and 1973.[5]

Netzer was the general manager for Hamburger SV during much of the team's golden period from the late 1970s through the early 1980s, when the club won three league titles and the 1983 European Cup.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Netzer wird 65 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Whitney, Clark (23 September 2013). "20 Greatest Bundesliga Midfielders of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  3. ^ Cormack, James (8 July 2024). "The best midfielders of all time". 90min.com. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  4. ^ Mark White (5 February 2025). "Ranked! The 100 best football players of all time". fourfourtwo.com. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference ARD-Sportschau was invoked but never defined (see the help page).