Detlef Irrgang
Encyclopedia
Detlef Irrgang is a German
former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is best remembered for his two spells with Energie Cottbus
, spanning 22 years, over 400 appearances, and the reunification of Germany
.
Born in Finsterwalde
, Irrgang began his footballing career with Motor Finsterwalde Süd, before joining Cottbus at age 11. He progressed to the first-team, and played for the club in the late-1980s as they yo-yoed between the DDR-Oberliga
and the second tier DDR-Liga
. After reunification, Energie failed to qualify for the 2. Bundesliga
, so Irrgang joined a club who had: he spent the 1991–92 season with Stahl Brandeburg, but returned to Cottbus a year later, after 16 appearances and 2 goals.
Cottbus were one of the stronger sides in the NOFV-Oberliga Mitte
, but couldn't overtake perennial champions Union Berlin
, who were themselves unable to earn promotion. However, Energie's second-place finish in 1994 was enough to qualify for the newly-formed Regionalliga Nordost
in 1994. Irrgang scored 22 goals in his second season at this level, making him the League's top scorer, and better was to come the following year. Cottbus ended the 1996–97 season as league champions, and defeated Hannover 96
in a playoff
to earn promotion to the 2. Bundesliga
, with Irrgang scoring two goals in the tie. The club had also reached the final of the 1996–97 DFB-Pokal, eventually losing against VfB Stuttgart
.
Irrgang continued to be a key player for Cottbus in the second tier, making 84 appearances in three seasons, and scoring 13 goals. He scored the winning goal in his last game for the club, a 1–0 win over 1. FC Köln
which secured a remarkable promotion to the Bundesliga
. He retired with Energie's all-time appearance record (which he still holds), and the nickname Fußballgott (Football God) from the club's fans.
After retirement, Irrgang continued with Energie in a marketing
capacity. He was appointed as the club's general manager during the 2007–08 season, but left the club at the end of the season after a dispute, the details of which are still unknown. He also served as a councillor
in Cottbus from 2003 to 2008, as part of the CDU
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is best remembered for his two spells with Energie Cottbus
Energie Cottbus
FC Energie Cottbus is a German association football club based in Cottbus, Lusatia . It was founded in 1963 as SC Cottbus in what was, at the time, East Germany...
, spanning 22 years, over 400 appearances, and the reunification of Germany
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
.
Born in Finsterwalde
Finsterwalde
Finsterwalde is a town in the Elbe-Elster district , in Brandenburg, Germany.-Overview:It is situated on the Schackebach, a tributary of the Kleine Elster, 28 m. W.S.W of Cottbus by rail. Pop. 18,840. The town has a Gothic church , a castle, schools, cloth and cigar factories, iron-foundries,...
, Irrgang began his footballing career with Motor Finsterwalde Süd, before joining Cottbus at age 11. He progressed to the first-team, and played for the club in the late-1980s as they yo-yoed between the DDR-Oberliga
DDR-Oberliga
The DDR-Oberliga was, prior to German reunification in 1990, the elite level of football competition in the DDR , being roughly equivalent to the Oberliga or Bundesliga in West Germany.-Overview:Following World...
and the second tier DDR-Liga
DDR-Liga
The DDR-Liga was, prior to German reunification in 1990, the second level of football competition in the DDR , being roughly equivalent to the Bundesliga in West Germany.-1950-1955:The league was established with two divisions of ten teams each in 1950...
. After reunification, Energie failed to qualify for the 2. Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
, so Irrgang joined a club who had: he spent the 1991–92 season with Stahl Brandeburg, but returned to Cottbus a year later, after 16 appearances and 2 goals.
Cottbus were one of the stronger sides in the NOFV-Oberliga Mitte
NOFV-Oberliga Mitte
The NOFV-Oberliga Mitte was the third tier of the German football league system in the central states of former East Germany and West-Berlin. The league existed from 1991 to 1994...
, but couldn't overtake perennial champions Union Berlin
1. FC Union Berlin
1. FC Union Berlin is a German association football club based in Berlin. It is one of two sides in the city bearing the name Union that emerged during the Cold War and played in East Germany, while the other played in the west. The club currently plays in the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga.-Foundation to...
, who were themselves unable to earn promotion. However, Energie's second-place finish in 1994 was enough to qualify for the newly-formed Regionalliga Nordost
Regionalliga Nordost
The Regionalliga Nordost was the third tier of the German football league system in the states of former East Germany and West-Berlin from 1994 to 2000. As such, it was almost identical in territorial cover to the old DDR-Oberliga....
in 1994. Irrgang scored 22 goals in his second season at this level, making him the League's top scorer, and better was to come the following year. Cottbus ended the 1996–97 season as league champions, and defeated Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
in a playoff
Playoff
The playoffs, postseason, or finals of a sports league are a game or series of games played after the regular season by the top competitors, usually but not always with a single-elimination system, to determine the league champion or a similar accolade.In the U.S...
to earn promotion to the 2. Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
, with Irrgang scoring two goals in the tie. The club had also reached the final of the 1996–97 DFB-Pokal, eventually losing against VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
.
Irrgang continued to be a key player for Cottbus in the second tier, making 84 appearances in three seasons, and scoring 13 goals. He scored the winning goal in his last game for the club, a 1–0 win over 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
which secured a remarkable promotion to the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
. He retired with Energie's all-time appearance record (which he still holds), and the nickname Fußballgott (Football God) from the club's fans.
After retirement, Irrgang continued with Energie in a marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
capacity. He was appointed as the club's general manager during the 2007–08 season, but left the club at the end of the season after a dispute, the details of which are still unknown. He also served as a councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
in Cottbus from 2003 to 2008, as part of the CDU
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
.