Wolfgang Overath

Wolfgang Overath ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}; born 29 September 1943) is a former West German footballer.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> A true one-club man, Overath spent his entire professional career at 1. FC Köln. He represented his country three times in World Cup finals, culminating in 1974 with the 2–1 victory over the Netherlands on home soil. Primarily an attacking midfielder, Overath was known for his passing ability, technique and outstanding left foot.

Career

File:Wolfgang Overath (1970).jpg

Overath at the 1970 FIFA World Cup

An attacking midfielder, Overath started playing football at SSV Siegburg, but spent the majority of his career at 1. FC Köln, appearing 765 times between 1962 and 1977 and scoring 287 goals. He won the inaugural Bundesliga with 1. FC Köln in 1964, overall he appeared in the first 14 seasons of the newly formed top-flight,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the German Cup in 1968. At European club level he played 71 matches (11 goals) for 1. FC Köln.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He currently holds the all-time appearances record of the club (549 official matches played).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In total, Overath won 81 caps for the national side between 1963 and 1974, scoring 17 goals. As well as the World Cup victory in 1974, he was at the heart of the West German midfield when they reached the final in 1966 and achieved third place in 1970. Overath scored the only goal in the latter match, with many foreign journalists voting him Germany's best player in Mexico.Template:Citation needed

Overath is one of only seven players (alongside his teammates Franz Beckenbauer, Jürgen Grabowski, Horst-Dieter Höttges, Sepp Maier, later compatriot Miroslav Klose, and Italian Franco Baresi) with World Cup medals for first, second and third place. A main rival in the national team for leading the midfield was the flamboyant Günter Netzer from Borussia Mönchengladbach, German Player of the year in 1972 and 73. However, German coach Helmut Schön preferred the more staid Overath.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> An injury forced Overath out of the side before the quarterfinals of the European Championships 1972 where Netzer became alongside Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller one of the outstanding protagonists leading the side, considered still Germany's best of all time, to victory in the final over the USSR. Overath soon regained his place ahead of Netzer, due to the latter's now being injured. Netzer himself said that Overath "was born to play for Germany".Template:Citation needed

In 2004, he was elected President of 1. FC Köln. He resigned on 13 November 2011.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Style of play

A technically gifted playmaker in the same vein as his friend and rival Günter Netzer, the left-footed Overath is considered by many as one of Germany's finest players and one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. Although known as an attacking midfielder with excellent technique, passing skills and a powerful shot, Overath also had good defensive workrate.

Personal life

Overath has been married to his wife Karin for 57 years. They have three children: two sons and one adopted daughter. Also, he was named an honorary citizen of Siegburg in 2003. Overath was awarded the Egidius-Braun-Preis for his charity work.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Overath is a devout Roman Catholic who prays daily.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Career statistics

File:Wolfgang Overath in 1992.jpg

Overath (right) in 1992

Club

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Club performance			League
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals
Germany			League
1963–64	1. FC Köln	Bundesliga	30	8
1964–65			27	9
1965–66			30	3
1966–67			33	6
1967–68			29	9
1968–69			34	6
1969–70			29	12
1970–71			26	4
1971–72			25	6
1972–73			30	3
1973–74			31	5
1974–75			34	4
1975–76			27	2
1976–77			24	6
Country	Germany		409	83
Total			409	83

International

<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Germany national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1963	3	0
1964	4	1
1965	4	2
1966	13	3
1967	8	1
1968	8	2
1969	6	3
1970	12	2
1971	6	1
1972	0	0
1973	8	0
1974	9	2
Total	81	17

Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Overath goal.

List of international goals scored by Wolfgang Overath

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Template:Abbr
1	Template:Dts	Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland	Template:Fb	–	4–1	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2	Template:Dts	Wildparkstadion, Karlsruhe, Germany	Template:Fb	2–0	5–0	1966 FIFA World Cup qualification	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
3				5–0
4	Template:Dts	Dalymount Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland	Template:Fb	3–0	4–0	Friendly	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
5				4–0
6	Template:Dts	Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, Germany	Template:Fb	1–0	2–0	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
7	Template:Dts	Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany	Template:Fb	5–0	5–1	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
8	Template:Dts	Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales	Template:Fb	–	1–1	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
9	Template:Dts	Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France	Template:Fb	1–1	1–1	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
10	Template:Dts	Georg-Melches-Stadion, Essen, Germany	Template:Fb	2–0	12–0	1970 FIFA World Cup qualification	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
11				3–0
12				11–0
13	Template:Dts	Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, Germany	Template:Fb	1–1	1–1	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
14	Template:Dts	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico	Template:Fb	1–0	1–0	1970 FIFA World Cup	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
15	Template:Dts	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway	Template:Fb	1–0	7–1	Friendly	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
16	Template:Dts	Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany	Template:Fb	1–0	3–0	1974 FIFA World Cup	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
17	Template:Dts	Merkur Spiel-Arena, Düsseldorf, Germany	Template:Fb	1–1	4–2	1974 FIFA World Cup	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Honours

Köln

• Bundesliga: 1963–64
• DFB-Pokal: 1968, 1977

Germany

• FIFA World Cup: 1974; second place: 1966; third place: 1970

Individual

• kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 1965–66, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1973–74<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• FIFA XI: 1968<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• FUWO European Team of the Season: 1970<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• DFB-Pokal top scorer: 1971–72
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1974

References

Literature

• Wolfgang Overath, Ja, mein Temperament! Fußball vor und hinter den Kulissen. Ed. Karlheinz Mrazek. Cologne: DuMont Schauberg, 1970, ISBN 3-7701-0580-X.
• Hermann Schmidt, Wolfgang Overath: Der Spielmacher. Cologne: J.P. Bachem 2016, ISBN 978-3-7616-3042-6.
• Wolfgang Overath and Sven Pistor, Alleine kannst du nicht gewinnen. Paderborn: Bonifatius, 2023, ISBN 978-3-9879-0029-7.

External links

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