Wolfgang Overath

Wolfgang Overath

Personal information
Date of birth	29 September 1943 (1943-09-29)
Place of birth	Siegburg, Germany
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1962–1977	1. FC Köln	409	(84)
National team
1963–1974	West Germany	81	(17)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Wolfgang Overath (born 29 September 1943 in Siegburg, Germany) is a former West German football player. He represented his country three times in World Cup finals, culminating in 1974 with victory on home soil. Primarily a creative playmaker, Overath was known for his passing ability, technique and left-foot.

A playmaking midfielder, Overath started playing football at SSV Siegburg, but spent the majority of his career at 1. FC Köln, appearing 765 times between 1962 and 1977 and scoring 287 goals. He won the Bundesliga with 1. FC Köln in 1964 and the German Cup in 1968. In total he won 81 caps for the national side between 1963 and 1974, scoring 17 goals. As well as the World Cup victory in 1974, he was at the heart of the West German midfield when they reached the final in 1966 and achieved third place in 1970. Overath scored the only goal in the latter match, with many foreign journalists voting him Germany's best player in Mexico.

Overath is one of the few players with World Cup medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. He would have made more appearances for West Germany but for the outstanding play of Günter Netzer that made him a 2nd choice for a brief period including the UEFA Euro 1972 victory. But he soon regained his place ahead of Netzer, who said himself that Overath "was born to play for Germany".

In 2004 he was elected President of 1. FC Köln.

References

• Wolfgang Overath at fussballdaten.de (German)

Sporting positions
Preceded by Uwe Seeler	Germany captain 1970–1972	Succeeded by Franz Beckenbauer