Günter Netzer's assets

Short introduction

The successful, former German football professional, Günter Theodor Netzer, was born on September 14, 1944 in Mönchengladbach. To date, he is one of the best midfielders in Bundesliga history. Günter Netzer played for Borussia Mönchengladbach for ten years and Real Madrid for three years. In the 70s he was a star and attracted attention. Günter Netzer not only demonstrated footballing qualities. In the years after his football career, he was very successful as a manager at Hamburger SV and as a sports moderator. Today he works as a successful media entrepreneur. He has been married to Elvira Lang Netzer since 1987. They have a daughter in common, Alana Netzer.

Early life

Günter Netzer’s passion for football started early. At the age of 9 he already played for Borussia Mönchengladbach. In the following ten years he went through several youth selection teams with the ‘foals’, that was (and is still called) the Gladbach soccer team. In 1963, at the age of 19, Günter Netzer got his first professional contract with Borussia Mönchengladbach. He is quickly recognized as an exceptional talent. Netzer gets a regular place and moves to the Bundesliga in 1965 with the ‘Fohlen-Elf’. With his teammates Berti Vogts, Herbert Laume, Jupp Heynckes and Wolfgang Kleff, the Gladbachers will be the toughest opponents of FC Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He quickly becomes a central figure in the team. Netzer was a strategist and shaped the offensive game. Günter Netzer still has a deep friendship with the then coach Hennes Weisweiler.

Career

In the following years Günter Netzer became a soccer star. He was the captain of the team and a great support for the coach Weisweiler. Günter Netzer had a lot of freedom with the coach, but he also had to deliver success. He did that too. Every passport was right, every strategy worked. Borussia became German champion for the first time in 1970 and even defended its title in 1971 – as the first club in the history of the Bundesliga. Günter Netzer played in the national team from 1965 – 1975. He played 37 caps. In 1972 he and his team became European champions and 1974 world champions in their own country. Günter Netzer quickly became an extravagant figure. He loved fast cars and the extravagant life. A biography of Günter Netzer appeared in 1971. ‘Günter Netzer: Rebell am Ball’ by Peter Bizer.

German champion in 1970 and 1971, German cup winner in 1973, European champion in 1972, world champion in 1974, footballer of the year and goal of the year 1972 and 1973. The 1970s were very successful. Günter Netzer moved to Real Madrid in 1973. Even this change went down in football history. Real Madrid paid a total of DM 800,000 for the termination of the contract. At that time, an unthinkable amount. Günter Netzer was the first German player at Real Madrid and received a high annual salary of DM 295,000 at that time. Netzer was also successful with this team. They were Spanish cup winners in 1974 and 1975 and Spanish champions in 1975 and 1976. After 85 league games, he moved from Real Madrid to Switzerland in 1976 to the Grashopper Club Zurich. In 1977 Günter Netzer ended his active football career at the age of 33. Günter Netzer returned to Germany. From 1978 to 1986 he was a manager at Hamburger SV. Numerous restructurings made HSV three times German champion. 1979, 1982 and 1983. Günter Netzer was manager at FC Schalke 04 from 1991 to 1992. Günter Netzer has lived in Switzerland since 1985. From 1998 to 2010 Günter Netzer worked as a popular sports presenter alongside Gerhard Delling for ARD. Both received the Grimme Prize in 2000 and the Media Prize for Language Culture in 2008. In 2004 Günter Netzer published his first biography “From the Depth of Space. My life.” Günter Netzer is a successful media entrepreneur today. He founded an advertising agency in Zurich and dealt with television rights. He is the Executive Director of the Swiss sports rights agency Infront Sports & Media AG. He also regularly writes in a column for the Bild newspaper.

Famous quotes

“For me, headball was always something like handball.”
When asked what happens if South Korea wins against the Netherlands, Günter Netzer says: “There is no such thing in football.”
“Most games that ended 1-0 were won.”
“The head thinks, the foot steers!”

Amazing facts

The fans of Borussia gave their mascot, a foal, the name “Younger”. It is named after Günter Netzer.
From 1971 to 1973, Günter Netzer ran a trendy discotheque in Mönchengladbach called ‘Lovers’ Lane’ in addition to his successful football career.
Günter Netzer drove a Ferrari as early as 1972. Exclusive sports cars have always been his passion.
The stadium newspaper by Borussia Mönchengladbach was founded in 1965 by Günter Netzer.