Paul Breitner
Encyclopedia
Paul Breitner is a former German football player. One of Germany
's most controversial players, he was capped
48 times for his country.
(1974–78), with one season playing for Eintracht Braunschweig
. His early success was as a free roaming left back, as likely to score from the right midfield as to stop an attacker in his own penalty area. Later in his career he moved to midfield and became one of the top midfielders through the early 1980s.
The early peak of Breitner's long and successful career was at age 21 in 1972 as part of the winning German European Championship team. This was followed two years later with victory as a member of the German World Cup
squad. The final was played in Munich
against the Netherlands
, and Breitner scored the first German goal on a penalty kick. In the final, he, Franz Beckenbauer
and Berti Vogts
formed a slick unit at the back and their water-tight defense prevented the Dutch from winning the World Cup. He moved to Real Madrid
following the World Cup and quit the West German squad
, remaining off the side until enticed to return by Jupp Derwall in 1981. Breitner is one of only four footballers to have achieved the feat of scoring in two different World Cup final matches, sharing that honour with Pelé
, Vavá
, and Zinédine Zidane
. He achieved this in 1974 against the Netherlands
and in 1982
against Italy
.
During his club career, Breitner won seven National Championships with Bayern Munich
(1972, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981) and Real Madrid (1975, 1976), the Champions' Cup
(1974) as well as the German
(1971, 1982) and Spanish Cup
s (1975). During his spell with Bayern Munich, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
and he formed such a formidable one-two-punch that they were often called Breitnigge.
By many of the older and more traditional football fans in Germany he was decried for his "revolutionary" attitude and his tendency for voicing strong opinions on political and social issues. Before the 1982 World Cup (held in Spain) former "leftist" Breitner caused a major uproar in Germany when he accepted an offer by a German cosmetics company to pay him the – what many Germans regarded at that time as a "scandalously high" – sum of 150,000 Deutsche Mark if he shaved off his fluffy full beard, used their fragrance and advertised for the company. He currently works as a football commentator in Germany and is also an advisor to the Board of Bayern Munich.
|1970–71||rowspan="4"|Bayern Munich
||rowspan="4"|Bundesliga
||21||2||||||||
|-
|1971–72||30||4||||||||
|-
|1972–73||32||4||||||||
|-
|1973–74||26||7||||||||
|-
|1974–75||rowspan="3"|Real Madrid
||rowspan="3"|La Liga
||29||3||||||||
|-
|1975–76||25||6||||||||
|-
|1976–77||30||1||||||||
|-
|1977–78||Eintracht Braunschweig
||Bundesliga
||30||10||||||||
|-
|1978–79||rowspan="5"|Bayern Munich
||rowspan="5"|Bundesliga
||33||12||||||||
|-
|1979–80||32||10||||||||
|-
|1980–81||30||17||||||||
|-
|1981–82||29||18||||||||
|-
|1982–83||22||9||||||||
285||93||||||||
84||10||||||||
369||103||||||||
DFB-Pokal
European Cup
Copa del Rey
FIFA World Cup
by DFB
president Egidius Braun
. However, after some steam from fellow association officials, Braun reconsidered 17 hours later, making Breitner the infamous 17 Hours Bundestrainer.
Today, Breitner mainly works as a TV pundit and newspaper columnist. In March 2007 he entered into a contract with FC Bayern Munich and acts as an advisor on various issues. He occasionally still plays for the Bayern All-stars in charity games, captaining the team on several occasions.
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....
's most controversial players, he was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
48 times for his country.
Playing career
His football career lasted from 1970 until 1983, mainly playing for Bayern Munich (1970–74 and 1978–83) and Real MadridReal Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
(1974–78), with one season playing for Eintracht Braunschweig
Eintracht Braunschweig
Eintracht Braunschweig is a German association football club based in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony. The club was one of the founding members of the Bundesliga in 1963 and won the national title in 1967.-History:...
. His early success was as a free roaming left back, as likely to score from the right midfield as to stop an attacker in his own penalty area. Later in his career he moved to midfield and became one of the top midfielders through the early 1980s.
The early peak of Breitner's long and successful career was at age 21 in 1972 as part of the winning German European Championship team. This was followed two years later with victory as a member of the German World Cup
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
squad. The final was played in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
against the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
, and Breitner scored the first German goal on a penalty kick. In the final, he, Franz Beckenbauer
Franz 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 Berti Vogts
Berti Vogts
Hans-Hubert "Berti" Vogts is a German former footballer. He played for Borussia Mönchengladbach and won the World Cup with West Germany in 1974. He later managed Germany , Scotland and Nigeria...
formed a slick unit at the back and their water-tight defense prevented the Dutch from winning the World Cup. He moved to Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
following the World Cup and quit the West German squad
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....
, remaining off the side until enticed to return by Jupp Derwall in 1981. Breitner is one of only four footballers to have achieved the feat of scoring in two different World Cup final matches, sharing that honour with Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, Vavá
Vavá
Vavá, real name Edvaldo Izídio Neto, was an association footballer who is widely considered one of the best strikers of his generation. His nickname was "Peito de Aço"...
, and Zinédine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
. He achieved this in 1974 against the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
and in 1982
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
.
During his club career, Breitner won seven National Championships with 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....
(1972, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981) and Real Madrid (1975, 1976), the 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...
(1974) as well as the German
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
(1971, 1982) and Spanish Cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
s (1975). During his spell with Bayern Munich, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Karl-Heinz "Kalle" Rummenigge is a German former football player.He had his greatest career success with German club Bayern Munich, where he won the Intercontinental Cup, the European Cup, as well as two league titles and two domestic cups.A member of the German national team, Rummenigge won the...
and he formed such a formidable one-two-punch that they were often called Breitnigge.
By many of the older and more traditional football fans in Germany he was decried for his "revolutionary" attitude and his tendency for voicing strong opinions on political and social issues. Before the 1982 World Cup (held in Spain) former "leftist" Breitner caused a major uproar in Germany when he accepted an offer by a German cosmetics company to pay him the – what many Germans regarded at that time as a "scandalously high" – sum of 150,000 Deutsche Mark if he shaved off his fluffy full beard, used their fragrance and advertised for the company. He currently works as a football commentator in Germany and is also an advisor to the Board of Bayern Munich.
Career statistics
|-|1970–71||rowspan="4"|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....
||rowspan="4"|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...
||21||2||||||||
|-
|1971–72||30||4||||||||
|-
|1972–73||32||4||||||||
|-
|1973–74||26||7||||||||
|-
|1974–75||rowspan="3"|Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
||rowspan="3"|La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
||29||3||||||||
|-
|1975–76||25||6||||||||
|-
|1976–77||30||1||||||||
|-
|1977–78||Eintracht Braunschweig
Eintracht Braunschweig
Eintracht Braunschweig is a German association football club based in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony. The club was one of the founding members of the Bundesliga in 1963 and won the national title in 1967.-History:...
||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...
||30||10||||||||
|-
|1978–79||rowspan="5"|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....
||rowspan="5"|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...
||33||12||||||||
|-
|1979–80||32||10||||||||
|-
|1980–81||30||17||||||||
|-
|1981–82||29||18||||||||
|-
|1982–83||22||9||||||||
285||93||||||||
84||10||||||||
369||103||||||||
Bayern Munich
BundesligaFußball-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...
- Winner: 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1980–81
DFB-Pokal
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
- Winner: 1970–71, 1981–82
European Cup
- Winner: 1973–74
- Runner-up: 1981–82
Real Madrid
La LigaLa Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
- Winner: 1974–75, 1975–76
Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
- Winner: 1974–75
West Germany
UEFA European Football ChampionshipUEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
- Winner: 1972
FIFA 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...
- Winner: 19741974 FIFA World CupThe 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
- Runner-up: 19821982 FIFA World CupThe 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
Individual
- Footballer of the Year in Germany 1981
- European Footballer of the Year 1981 (Silver Ball)
Post-retirement
In 1998, Breitner was announced as the new national coachGermany national football team manager
The Germany national football team manager is a position created in 1926 and first held by Otto Nerz. The German team began playing matches in 1908, but for 18 years it had no manager. Instead a selection committee chose the team.Ten different men have occupied the post since its inception, all of...
by DFB
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...
president 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...
. However, after some steam from fellow association officials, Braun reconsidered 17 hours later, making Breitner the infamous 17 Hours Bundestrainer.
Today, Breitner mainly works as a TV pundit and newspaper columnist. In March 2007 he entered into a contract with FC Bayern Munich and acts as an advisor on various issues. He occasionally still plays for the Bayern All-stars in charity games, captaining the team on several occasions.