Heinz Krügel
Encyclopedia
Heinz Krügel was a former football player and manager.
. He remained there until 1948 and had his biggest success as a player there, when he won the Championship of the Eastern Zone
in the same year. In 1950 he suffered a knee injury and his playing career was over, even though he was only 29 years old.
. Later on he managed Einheit Ost/SC Rotation Leipzig
and SC Empor Rostock. In 1959, he was made national manager of East Germany
and remained in this position until 1961, coaching the team in 8 matches. From 1961 to 1966, he managed Hallescher FC Chemie
, winning the 1962 FDGB-Pokal.
His biggest success awaited Krügel at 1. FC Magdeburg
. When he arrived, the club had just been relegated to the second-tier DDR-Liga
, but Krügel rebuilt the squad, winning re-promotion immediately. In the following 8 years, Krügel's 1. FC Magdeburg team captured three East German Championships (1971/72
, 1973/74
, 1974/75
), came in third four times (1967/68
, 1968/69
, 1972/73
, 1975/76
) and won the FDGB-Cup twice (1969, 1973). On top of all that, Magdeburg won the 1974
edition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
, beating favorites and holders A.C. Milan
2–0 in Rotterdam. Because of his successes, Krügel had offers from many European clubs, including the likes of Juventus Turin
who offered four million Marks for Krügel's services, if he also brought young forward Martin Hoffmann. However, Krügel declined these offers.
He also would not let his work be influenced by the Magdeburg branch of the SED
. When Magdeburg played FC Bayern Munich
in the European Champions' Cup
in 1974, the Stasi
had bugged the West Germans'
dressing room, but Krügel declined to make use of these devices.
In 1976, the East German FA banned Krügel from his managerial duties, citing "insufficient development of the Olympic athletes at 1. FC Magdeburg". After the German reunification
Krügel was rehabilitated and was given an award by the German Football Association
. For one year, he was Executive Director (Football) at 1. FC Magdeburg. He later was an honorary member of the club and often watched their matches.
Playing career
At age 6, Krügel began his playing career in the youth teams of then SC PlanitzFSV Zwickau
FSV Zwickau is a German association football club located in Zwickau, Saxony. Today's club claims as part of its complex heritage sides that were East Germany's first champions: 1948 Ostzone winners SG Planitz and 1950 DDR-Oberliga champions ZSG Horch Zwickau.-History:In addition to the earliest...
. He remained there until 1948 and had his biggest success as a player there, when he won the Championship of the Eastern Zone
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...
in the same year. In 1950 he suffered a knee injury and his playing career was over, even though he was only 29 years old.
Management career
Soon after this setback, Krügel began his managing career as the youngest Oberliga manager at the army sports club KVP Vorwärts LeipzigFC Viktoria Frankfurt
Frankfurter FC Viktoria is a German association football club based in Frankfurt , Brandenburg. The club was originally founded in East Germany as the army club SV Vorwärts der HVA Leipzig in 1951 in the city of Leipzig.- History :One of the characteristics of East German football after World War...
. Later on he managed Einheit Ost/SC Rotation Leipzig
Lokomotive Leipzig
1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig is a German football club based in the city of Leipzig in Saxony and may be more familiar to many of the country's football fans as the historic side VfB Leipzig, the first national champions of Germany...
and SC Empor Rostock. In 1959, he was made national manager of East Germany
East Germany national football team
The East Germany national football team was from 1952 to 1990 the football team of East Germany, playing as one of three post-war German teams, along with Saarland and West Germany....
and remained in this position until 1961, coaching the team in 8 matches. From 1961 to 1966, he managed Hallescher FC Chemie
Hallescher FC
Hallescher FC is a German association football club based in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt.-History:The club's roots are in the 1946 formation of SG Glaucha in Soviet-occupied East Germany around the core of Hallescher Fußball-Club Wacker which was founded in 1900...
, winning the 1962 FDGB-Pokal.
His biggest success awaited Krügel at 1. FC Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg is a German association football club playing in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt.-History:Football has been played in Magdeburg since the end of the 19th century. On 15 June 1896 SV Victoria 96 Magdeburg was founded, a club that had its best days before World War II, when it participated...
. When he arrived, the club had just been relegated to 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...
, but Krügel rebuilt the squad, winning re-promotion immediately. In the following 8 years, Krügel's 1. FC Magdeburg team captured three East German Championships (1971/72
DDR-Oberliga 1971-72
The 1971/72 DDR-Oberliga season was the 22nd season of the top football league in East Germany. As in the previous season, 14 teams from all over the GDR competed. The teams played each other twice, once at home and once on the road. Two points were awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a...
, 1973/74
DDR-Oberliga 1973-74
The 1973/74 DDR-Oberliga season was the 24th season of the top football league in East Germany. As in the season before, 14 teams from all over the GDR competed. The teams played each other twice, once at home and once on the road. Two points were awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a...
, 1974/75
DDR-Oberliga 1974-75
The 1974/75 DDR-Oberliga season was the 25th season of the top football league in East Germany. As in the previous season, 14 teams from all over the GDR competed. The teams played each other twice, once at home and once on the road. Two points were awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a...
), came in third four times (1967/68
DDR-Oberliga 1967-68
-League standings:-References:...
, 1968/69
DDR-Oberliga 1968-69
-Overview:It was contested by 14 teams, and FC Vorwärts Berlin won the championship.-League standings:-References:...
, 1972/73
DDR-Oberliga 1972-73
-League standings:-References:...
, 1975/76
DDR-Oberliga 1975-76
-League standings:-References:...
) and won the FDGB-Cup twice (1969, 1973). On top of all that, Magdeburg won the 1974
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1973-74
The season 1973-74 of the European Cup Winners' Cup football club tournament was won by 1. FC Magdeburg in a final victory against defending champions A.C. Milan...
edition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
, beating favorites and holders A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
2–0 in Rotterdam. Because of his successes, Krügel had offers from many European clubs, including the likes of Juventus Turin
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
who offered four million Marks for Krügel's services, if he also brought young forward Martin Hoffmann. However, Krügel declined these offers.
He also would not let his work be influenced by the Magdeburg branch of the SED
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
. When Magdeburg played FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
in the European Champions' Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in 1974, the Stasi
Stasi
The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security (German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS), commonly known as the Stasi (abbreviation , literally State Security), was the official state security service of East Germany. The MfS was headquartered...
had bugged the West Germans'
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
dressing room, but Krügel declined to make use of these devices.
In 1976, the East German FA banned Krügel from his managerial duties, citing "insufficient development of the Olympic athletes at 1. FC Magdeburg". After the German reunification
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...
Krügel was rehabilitated and was given an award by 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...
. For one year, he was Executive Director (Football) at 1. FC Magdeburg. He later was an honorary member of the club and often watched their matches.