Sepp Herberger(1897-1977)
- Actor
Herberger played for Waldhof Mannheim from 1907 to 1924. From 1924 to 1925 he was a player for VfR Mannheim, with whom he became South German champions. From 1925 to 1930 he was signed to Borussia. Between 1921 and 1925 he played three international matches in which he scored two goals. He was then hired by the West German Football Association and ended his active career as a player. In 1925 Herberger moved to Berlin. In 1930 he submitted his diploma thesis entitled "The path to peak performance in football" to the German University of Physical Education. In the same year, 1930, he became assistant to Reich coach Otto Nerz. In 1936, Herberger completed his physical education teacher exam as the best in his class.
After the favored German national team's surprising exit from the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936 due to a 2-0 defeat against outsiders Norway, he replaced Otto Nerz as Reich coach on September 31, 1936. After Austria was "annexed" to the German Reich, Herberger had to form a unit from the well-rehearsed national teams of Germany and Austria on orders from the highest political authority that took part in the World Cup in France. Germany lost 2-4 to Switzerland in the round of 16. After international games were stopped due to the Second World War, he was brought back to office in 1949 by the newly founded German Football Association "DFB". After finishing fourth at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, the German national team achieved great international success in 1954. The Federal Republic of Germany became world champions for the first time at the World Cup in Switzerland. Herberger's team won the final against the big favorites Hungary 3-2, after a goal from Max Morlock and two goals from Helmut Rahn.
In doing so, he gave the young Federal Republic a new self-confidence, which went down in history as the "Miracle of Bern". In 1964, Herberger resigned from all positions for reasons of age. His successor was his assistant coach at the time, Helmut Schön. In total, Herberger led the German national team in 167 international matches, of which they won 94. The result was a draw 27 times and his team lost 46 times. Herberger was one of football's early visionaries. Herberger knew how to form a team and a unit from different player personalities and he was considered an excellent game strategist and psychologist. His quotes are still respected today. Herberger's statements like "The ball is round" or "You have to be eleven friends" are now popular cult terms in the football scene. He has been honored several times for his services to German football.
Sepp Herberger died on April 28, 1977 in Weinheim.
After the favored German national team's surprising exit from the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936 due to a 2-0 defeat against outsiders Norway, he replaced Otto Nerz as Reich coach on September 31, 1936. After Austria was "annexed" to the German Reich, Herberger had to form a unit from the well-rehearsed national teams of Germany and Austria on orders from the highest political authority that took part in the World Cup in France. Germany lost 2-4 to Switzerland in the round of 16. After international games were stopped due to the Second World War, he was brought back to office in 1949 by the newly founded German Football Association "DFB". After finishing fourth at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, the German national team achieved great international success in 1954. The Federal Republic of Germany became world champions for the first time at the World Cup in Switzerland. Herberger's team won the final against the big favorites Hungary 3-2, after a goal from Max Morlock and two goals from Helmut Rahn.
In doing so, he gave the young Federal Republic a new self-confidence, which went down in history as the "Miracle of Bern". In 1964, Herberger resigned from all positions for reasons of age. His successor was his assistant coach at the time, Helmut Schön. In total, Herberger led the German national team in 167 international matches, of which they won 94. The result was a draw 27 times and his team lost 46 times. Herberger was one of football's early visionaries. Herberger knew how to form a team and a unit from different player personalities and he was considered an excellent game strategist and psychologist. His quotes are still respected today. Herberger's statements like "The ball is round" or "You have to be eleven friends" are now popular cult terms in the football scene. He has been honored several times for his services to German football.
Sepp Herberger died on April 28, 1977 in Weinheim.
