Bernd Hölzenbein (9 March 1946 – 15 April 2024) was a German professional footballer who played as a striker or winger.[1] He played for Eintracht Frankfurt from 1967 to 1981 and is the club's all-time Bundesliga top scorer, having tallied 160 goals in 420 league matches. At the international level, Hölzenbein was a member of the West German team that won the World Cup in 1974. He was fouled in the final against the Netherlands, which led to the Germans' equalizing penalty.[2]

Bernd Hölzenbein
Hölzenbein in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth (1946-03-09)9 March 1946
Place of birth Runkel, Greater Hesse, Allied-occupied Germany
Date of death 15 April 2024(2024-04-15) (aged 78)
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Winger, striker
Youth career
1956–1966 TuS Dehrn
1966–1967 Eintracht Frankfurt
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967–1981 Eintracht Frankfurt 420 (160)
1981–1982 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 46 (10)
1982?–1984? Memphis Americans 89 (41)
1984?–1985? Baltimore Blast 24 (4)
1986 FSV Salmrohr
International career
1973–1978 West Germany 40 (5)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  West Germany
FIFA World Cup
Winner 1974 West Germany
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up 1976 Yugoslavia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Hölzenbein in 2010

A qualified merchant, Hölzenbein debuted for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga in 1967 to serve for this club until his departure in 1981. A three times German Cup winner with them in 1974, 1975 and 1981, Hölzenbein also won the UEFA Cup with Frankfurt in 1980. His output of 160 goals in his 420 Bundesliga matches is still club record achievement for Frankfurt.[3][4]

Hölzenbein joined Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the United States in 1981. He later played for Memphis Americans and Baltimore Blast in the Major Indoor Soccer League.[5]

In his international career, Hölzenbein scored five goals in forty appearances for West Germany between 1973 and 1978. He made six appearances at the 1974 World Cup finals, including the final.[6] He also played in the UEFA Euro 1976 Final where he scored the equalizing goal in a 2–2 draw against Czechoslovakia,[7] which West Germany lost on penalties. However, he was the oldest player to score in a Euro final, aged 30 years and 103 days.[8]

Death

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Hölzenbein died from complications of dementia on 15 April 2024, at the age of 78.[9][10]

Honours

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Eintracht Frankfurt

West Germany

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Hölzenbein, Bernd" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Oranje crushed in Munich". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  3. ^ "Bernd Hölzenbein: Das ewige Schlitzohr wird 75". kicker (in German). 9 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  4. ^ Heinrich, Benjamin (21 April 2021). "Hütter: Jetzt kann Silva auch den Hölzenbein-Rekord knacken!". fussball.news (in German). Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Bernd Holzenbein". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Obituaries". World Soccer. June 2024. p. 22.
  7. ^ Michael Mühlen (2 November 2002). "Bernd Hölzenbein – Goals in International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Who is the oldest player to have appeared at a EURO?". UEFA. 24 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Bernd Hölzenbein ist tot: Eintracht Frankfurt trauert um Legende und Weltmeister" [Bernd Hölzenbein is dead: Eintracht Frankfurt mourns legend and world champion]. Hessenschau (in German). 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Bernd Hölzenbein obituary: Footballer who shone in the 1974 World Cup final". The Times. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Der berühmteste Sitzkopfball der Welt". Eintracht Frankfurt (in German). Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Schlitzohr und Eintracht-Idol: Bernd Hölzenbein wird 75". SPOX.com (in German). 9 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Schlitzohr und Eintracht-Idol: Hölzenbein wird 75". FOCUS Online (in German). 8 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Hölzenbein 44 Jahre danach: Ja, es war eine Schwalbe – Zweibrücken". Die Rheinpfalz (in German). 17 May 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Rangliste – Bundesliga Winter 1975/76". kicker (in German). 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
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