Helmut Benthaus
Encyclopedia
Helmut Benthaus is a German
retired football player and former coach. He spent his best playing days at Westfalia Herne
and his best coaching days at FC Basel
.
in 1958. In 1959 he won the Oberliga West title but left just a year later to join 1860 Munich before moving to 1. FC Köln
. He won the Oberliga West again in 1963 with Köln, then the German Bundesliga
in 1964. In 1965 he joined Swiss
club FC Basel
as player-manager. He retired from playing in 1971 aged 36.
He played for the West German national team
on eight occasions between 1958 and 1960.
for 17 years between 1965 and 1982. He won the Swiss Championship
seven times and the Swiss Cup twice. He coached Basel's legendary team of the 1970s that won the Championship in 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1977 as well as the Cup in 1975. The squad included Karl Odermatt
and Ottmar Hitzfeld
. After Basel he joined German
club VfB Stuttgart
in 1982. There he won the Bundesliga
in 1984. He left in 1985 and rejoined Basel. However, this spell was much less successful and he was sacked after the club were relegated to the Nationalliga B in 1987.
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...
retired football player and former coach. He spent his best playing days at Westfalia Herne
Westfalia Herne
SC Westfalia Herne is a German football club based in Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded on 13 June 1904 by the sons of the more well-heeled residents of the city as a rival to the worker-based club SV Sodingen.- History :...
and his best coaching days at FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
.
Playing career
Helmut Benthaus started his professional career at Westfalia HerneWestfalia Herne
SC Westfalia Herne is a German football club based in Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded on 13 June 1904 by the sons of the more well-heeled residents of the city as a rival to the worker-based club SV Sodingen.- History :...
in 1958. In 1959 he won the Oberliga West title but left just a year later to join 1860 Munich before moving to 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....
. He won the Oberliga West again in 1963 with Köln, then the German 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...
in 1964. In 1965 he joined Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
club FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
as player-manager. He retired from playing in 1971 aged 36.
He played for the West German national team
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
on eight occasions between 1958 and 1960.
Coaching career
Benthaus coached FC BaselFC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
for 17 years between 1965 and 1982. He won the Swiss Championship
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
seven times and the Swiss Cup twice. He coached Basel's legendary team of the 1970s that won the Championship in 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1977 as well as the Cup in 1975. The squad included Karl Odermatt
Karl Odermatt
Karl Odermatt is a Swiss former footballer who played for FC Basel and BSC Young Boys throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He played as a midfielder or striker and is generally regarded as one of the best players ever to have worn the FC Basel shirt...
and Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld is a German former football player and manager, nicknamed der General ....
. After Basel he joined German
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...
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...
in 1982. There he won 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...
in 1984. He left in 1985 and rejoined Basel. However, this spell was much less successful and he was sacked after the club were relegated to the Nationalliga B in 1987.