Jürgen Croy
Encyclopedia
Jürgen Croy is a former international football
goalkeeper
for the German Democratic Republic
.
(today FSV Zwickau
), with which he won the East German Cup in 1967 and 1975. He was one of East Germany's few international players not to play for a top club such as Dynamo Dresden
, FC Carl Zeiss Jena
, or FC Magdeburg. As such, Croy did not get the chance to play frequently in European competitions and did not gain the international fame he deserved. Though tall (190 cm), he was an outstanding shot-stopper capable of amazing reflexes on his line. Combined with an excellent command of his penalty area, first-rate ball-handling skills, and above-average consistency, this quality made Croy one of the best goalkeepers of his time and arguably one of the best ever. East and West German media alike often placed him on an equal footing with his contemporaries Sepp Maier and Dino Zoff
, two of the game's all-time legends.
Croy earned his first East Germany
cap
in May 1967 against Sweden
(1-0). He was the starting goalkeeper during East Germany
's only World Cup
appearance in 1974. In particular, Croy stood in goal for the GDR
's historic 1-0 victory over its West German
neighbor in the only match ever to oppose the two Germany national teams. Two years later, Croy celebrated his greatest sporting triumph with the win of the gold medal in the Olympic
football tournament. Croy went on to play 86 times for his country, the last one a 5-0 victory over Cuba
in May 1981.
Croy was elected GDR Footballer of the Year in 1972, 1976, and 1978 by the East German football press. He played 372 East Germany first-division matches in his career.
. Today, Jürgen Croy is the managing director of the Zwickau Chamber of Commerce, Tourism, and Culture.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
for the German Democratic Republic
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....
.
Sporting career
Croy spent his entire footballing career at BSG Sachsenring ZwickauFSV 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...
(today FSV Zwickau
FSV 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...
), with which he won the East German Cup in 1967 and 1975. He was one of East Germany's few international players not to play for a top club such as Dynamo Dresden
Dynamo Dresden
SG Dynamo Dresden are a German association football club, based in Dresden, Saxony. They were founded in 1950, as a club affiliated with the East German police, and became one of the most popular and successful clubs in East German football, winning eight league titles...
, FC Carl Zeiss Jena
FC Carl Zeiss Jena
FC Carl Zeiss Jena is a German association football club based in Jena, Thuringia.-History:The club was founded in May 1903 by workers at the Carl Zeiss AG optics factory as the company-sponsored Fussball-Club der Firma Carl Zeiss. The club underwent name changes in 1911 to Fussball Club Carl Zeiss...
, or FC Magdeburg. As such, Croy did not get the chance to play frequently in European competitions and did not gain the international fame he deserved. Though tall (190 cm), he was an outstanding shot-stopper capable of amazing reflexes on his line. Combined with an excellent command of his penalty area, first-rate ball-handling skills, and above-average consistency, this quality made Croy one of the best goalkeepers of his time and arguably one of the best ever. East and West German media alike often placed him on an equal footing with his contemporaries Sepp Maier and Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff is an Italian former football goalkeeper and is the oldest winner ever of the World Cup, which he earned as captain of the Italian team in the 1982 tournament in Spain, at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days.Zoff was a goalkeeper of outstanding ability and has a place in the...
, two of the game's all-time legends.
Croy earned his first 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....
cap
Cap
A cap is a form of headgear. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head and have no brim or only a visor. They are typically designed for warmth and, when including a visor, blocking sunlight from the eyes...
in May 1967 against Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
(1-0). He was the starting goalkeeper during 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....
's only World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
appearance in 1974. In particular, Croy stood in goal for the GDR
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....
's historic 1-0 victory over its West German
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....
neighbor in the only match ever to oppose the two Germany national teams. Two years later, Croy celebrated his greatest sporting triumph with the win of the gold medal in the Olympic
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
football tournament. Croy went on to play 86 times for his country, the last one a 5-0 victory over Cuba
Cuba national football team
The Cuba national football team is the national team of Cuba and is controlled by the Asociación de Fútbol de Cuba. They are affiliated to the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF....
in May 1981.
Croy was elected GDR Footballer of the Year in 1972, 1976, and 1978 by the East German football press. He played 372 East Germany first-division matches in his career.
Later activities
At the end of his footballing career, Croy worked as a football instructor for some time. From 1991 to 2001, he served as city commissioner for education, culture, and sports in his hometown of ZwickauZwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
. Today, Jürgen Croy is the managing director of the Zwickau Chamber of Commerce, Tourism, and Culture.