Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder
Encyclopedia
Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder (born March 3, 1933), often called "MV", is the current Vice President
of the Union of European Football Associations
(UEFA). Prior to his UEFA career, Mayer-Vorfelder was a politician
of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, and served in the state cabinet of Baden-Württemberg
from 1976 to 1998. He was later president of German soccer club VfB Stuttgart
, and the German Football Association
.
, and studied at the university of Freiburg
, and Heidelberg
University, graduating with a law degree in 1959. A CDU
politician, he joined the government of Baden-Württemberg
and was appointed permanent secretary at the State Ministry Baden-Württemberg with the rank of a cabinet member in 1976. From 1980 to 1991, he was Minister of Culture and Sports, and Minister of Finance from 1991 to 1998. He was also member of the German Bundesrat
during that period. He is a co-founder of the Hans Filbinger Foundation
.
Parallel to his CDU career, Mayer-Vorfelder entered the soccer world. In 1975, he became president of VfB Stuttgart
, a position he held until 2000. In 2000, Mayer-Vorfelder succeeded Egidius Braun
as president of the German Football Association
. Narrowly surviving a vote of mistrust in 2004, he shared this duty with Theo Zwanziger
until 2006.
, and that the German Miracle of Bern World Cup win of 1954 is his favourite match.
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the Union of European Football Associations
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
(UEFA). Prior to his UEFA career, Mayer-Vorfelder was a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, and served in the state cabinet of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
from 1976 to 1998. He was later president of German soccer club 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...
, and the German Football Association
German Football Association
The German Football Association is the governing body of football in Germany. A founding member of both FIFA and UEFA, the DFB organises the German football leagues, including the national league, the Bundesliga, and the men's and women's national teams. The DFB is based in Frankfurt and is...
.
Biography
Mayer-Vorfelder was born in MannheimMannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
, and studied at the university of Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
, and Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
University, graduating with a law degree in 1959. A 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...
politician, he joined the government of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
and was appointed permanent secretary at the State Ministry Baden-Württemberg with the rank of a cabinet member in 1976. From 1980 to 1991, he was Minister of Culture and Sports, and Minister of Finance from 1991 to 1998. He was also member of the German Bundesrat
Bundesrat
Bundesrat means federal council and may refer to:* Bundesrat of Germany* Federal Council of Austria* Swiss Federal Council...
during that period. He is a co-founder of the Hans Filbinger Foundation
Hans Filbinger Foundation
The Hans Filbinger Foundation is a German Christian Democratic foundation that was founded in 1993 by around 100 members of Studienzentrum Weikersheim, including Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder and leading journalist Gerhard Löwenthal. It is named after CDU politician Hans Filbinger, the long-time...
.
Parallel to his CDU career, Mayer-Vorfelder entered the soccer world. In 1975, he became president of 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...
, a position he held until 2000. In 2000, Mayer-Vorfelder succeeded Egidius Braun
Egidius Braun
Egidius Braun was, from 1992 to 2001, the eighth president of the Deutscher Fußball-Bund . In 1985 he was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz.-External links:* at dfb.de...
as president of the German Football Association
German Football Association
The German Football Association is the governing body of football in Germany. A founding member of both FIFA and UEFA, the DFB organises the German football leagues, including the national league, the Bundesliga, and the men's and women's national teams. The DFB is based in Frankfurt and is...
. Narrowly surviving a vote of mistrust in 2004, he shared this duty with Theo Zwanziger
Theo Zwanziger
Dr. Theo Zwanziger is a German lawyer and sports official. He is the current president of the German Football Association . For his contributions to German football, he received the Bundesverdienstkreuz in 2005.- Career :...
until 2006.
Private life
Mayer-Vorfelder is married to Margit Deutschle. His son, Michael Mayer-Vorfelder, played 3 games for VfB Stuttgart. On his FIFA page, Mayer-Vorfelder states his all-time favourite player is Franz BeckenbauerFranz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
, and that the German Miracle of Bern World Cup win of 1954 is his favourite match.