Werner Liebrich
Encyclopedia
Werner Liebrich was a German
footballer
who played in the centre back position. He is notable for his role in West Germany's
triumph in the 1954 FIFA World Cup
, and spending his entire playing career of almost twenty years with hometown club Kaiserslautern
, with whom he also briefly coached.
to a worker’s family who were members of the Social Democratic German party SPD
.
, and made his professional début in 1944 at the age of 17. He was part of the team that won the German championship
in the 1950–51 and 1952–53 seasons.
He appeared sixteen times for the West German national football team
, and was a member of the West Germany team that won the 1954 FIFA World Cup
, in which he played in the final. He was the player who injured Hungarian team captain Ferenc Puskás
during the two teams' first game in the tournament in the group stage. Puskás was forced to miss the next two matches of his team, and has only shown up in the final against Germany again, still in a questionable condition.
In 1950, AC Milan offered him a contract which he declined to stay at his hometown club.
Apart from winning the German championship with Kaiserslautern in 1951 and 1953, the pinnacle of Liebrich’s career were his defensive performances during the 1954 FIFA World Cup
, especially in the quarter final against Yugoslavia
. After the 1954 World Cup, one of his best performances came in the game against England
at Wembley
on 1 December 1954. He effectively marked English centre forward Ronnie Allen
and also helped out covering Stanley Matthews
.
Liebrich retired from playing in 1962, after nearly twenty years with his hometown club; however he came back for a coaching stint in the 1964–65 season and was celebrated as saving his club from relegation.
In March 1995, Liebrich died of heart failure aged 68, in Kaiserslautern.
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...
footballer
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...
who played in the centre back position. He is notable for his role in West Germany's
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....
triumph in the 1954 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
, and spending his entire playing career of almost twenty years with hometown club Kaiserslautern
1. FC Kaiserslautern
1. Fußball-Club Kaiserslautern, also known as 1. FCK, FCK or simply Kaiserslautern, is a German association football club based in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate. On 2 June 1900, Germania 1896 and FG Kaiserslautern merged to create FC 1900...
, with whom he also briefly coached.
Early life
Liebrich was brought up in KaiserslauternKaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern is a city in southwest Germany, located in the Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate at the edge of the Palatinate forest . The historic centre dates to the 9th century. It is from Paris, from Frankfurt am Main, and from Luxembourg.Kaiserslautern is home to 99,469 people...
to a worker’s family who were members of the Social Democratic German party SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
.
Career
At club level, Liebrich played solely for Kaiserslautern1. FC Kaiserslautern
1. Fußball-Club Kaiserslautern, also known as 1. FCK, FCK or simply Kaiserslautern, is a German association football club based in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate. On 2 June 1900, Germania 1896 and FG Kaiserslautern merged to create FC 1900...
, and made his professional début in 1944 at the age of 17. He was part of the team that won the German championship
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 the 1950–51 and 1952–53 seasons.
He appeared sixteen times for the West German national football 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....
, and was a member of the West Germany team that won the 1954 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
, in which he played in the final. He was the player who injured Hungarian team captain Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...
during the two teams' first game in the tournament in the group stage. Puskás was forced to miss the next two matches of his team, and has only shown up in the final against Germany again, still in a questionable condition.
In 1950, AC Milan offered him a contract which he declined to stay at his hometown club.
Apart from winning the German championship with Kaiserslautern in 1951 and 1953, the pinnacle of Liebrich’s career were his defensive performances during the 1954 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
, especially in the quarter final against Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
. After the 1954 World Cup, one of his best performances came in the game against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
on 1 December 1954. He effectively marked English centre forward Ronnie Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...
and also helped out covering Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
.
Liebrich retired from playing in 1962, after nearly twenty years with his hometown club; however he came back for a coaching stint in the 1964–65 season and was celebrated as saving his club from relegation.
In March 1995, Liebrich died of heart failure aged 68, in Kaiserslautern.