Franz Gerber
Encyclopedia
Franz Gerber is a German former professional footballer who is currently general manager of SSV Jahn Regensburg.
, until finally making the senior squad in 1971–72, aged just 17. He made his debut on 15 April 1972 as a substitute in a 3–1 victory over Hannover 96
during the club's championship winning campaign. Despite this breakthrough, this would be Gerber's sole appearance for the legendary team as he moved onto FC St. Pauli
of the (then) second flight Regionalliga North during the summer.
Here, he began the first of three different spells at the club, making an immediate impact as the team finished as winners of the division in his first season. However, Gerber was denied a rapid return to the top flight as FC St. Pauli
narrowly missed promotion after losing out in the playoff group to Fortuna Köln. The following season Gerber again helped fire the club to this stage, but once more they came unstuck in the final group phase. Although the club hadn't progressed, Gerber certainly had as he staked his claim as one of the best young goalscorers in Germany with his astonishing haul of 51 goals in 55 games.
This was enough to tempt Bundesliga
club Wuppertaler SV to sign him in Summer 1974. Gerber settled well and was easily the club's top goalscorer with 12 goals in his debut season there. However, this was insufficient to retain the club's top flight status and they dropped down to the recently-formed 2. Bundesliga North
. Gerber again proved himself the club's leading marksman with 19 goals in 32 games, but they could only manage 5th place, prompting the striker to leave.
In 1976, he returned for a second spell at FC St. Pauli
, still fighting for promotion to the Bundesliga
. With Gerber restored to their strike force, the club finally broke through into the top level as they won the division. Gerber was instrumental, scoring 27 goals, enough to land him the top goalscorer award for the division. Their stay at this class would last just the one season though, as they finished bottom, but Gerber proved himself equipped for this standard with 16 goals.
Nonetheless, he had to return to the second tier, though not with FC St. Pauli
, as he returned south to his home city with TSV 1860 Munich in 1978. Once more, Gerber would fire a club to the Bundesliga as his 19 goal tally pushed the side to the championship. The following season would prove an uncharacteristically poor one for the striker as he lost form scoring just twice in his opening 10 games and being cast to the sidelines with the arrival of new coach Carl-Heinz Rühl
.
After this setback, Gerber left the club for fellow Bavarians ESV Ingolstadt
of the 2. Bundesliga South. His scoring touch duly returned and he contributed 23 goals in 36 games. However the team could only manage 16th place, which due to the criteria set in place for the following year's modification of the division into one from its two regions, meant relegation for the club.
Gerber would not make the drop into the Oberliga
though, as he headed for a new challenge in Canada, joining the Calgary Boomers
of the North American Soccer League
. The club played only one season before folding, which saw Gerber move on to the Tulsa Roughnecks
and, finally, the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He played 76 games in total in the league, scoring 35 goals. When the league collapsed into bankruptcy after the 1984 season, the German returned to his homeland with 2. Bundesliga Hannover 96
.
Now in his 30's, Gerber could still cut the mustard at this level as his 12 goals helped the club win promotion in the 1984–85 season, his third promotion from the division. The following season was a much harder experience as the club fell back down and Gerber, for the first time in his professional career, failed to register a single goal for the campaign (from 18 games).
After this lean season, Gerber headed back for a final stint at FC St. Pauli
. His finishing returned and he managed 15 goals, enough to take the club to third place and another potential promotion. They faced FC Homburg
of the Bundesliga
in a playoff for the final spot in the top flight, but narrowly lost 4–3 on aggregate. Gerber's hopes of another successful promotion campaign were immediately shattered in the 1987–88 season as he was badly injured in the opening game at Union Solingen
. This proved enough to end his career, aged 34.
His tally of 115 goals at 2. Bundesliga level puts him as the 8th most successful marksmen in the division's history. Over his three spells at FC St. Pauli
, he became the club's most successful goalscorer since the formation of the Bundesliga.
Niedersachsen. Gerber immediately tasted success, as the club won this division and climbed into the Oberliga North. During this time he was also coach of the youth ranks.
In 1996, he was appointed club manager of Hannover 96. This post lasted until August 1997, as he was fired by new club president Utz Claassen, but reinstated just weeks later after angry fan demonstrations. He remained in this role until 1999, when he became coach of the side after the firing of Reinhold Fanz
in the winter break. Gerber lifted the team up the 2. Bundesliga table into genuine promotion challengers, but they fell just short, one point off off third.
Gerber left the club after this near-miss, ending up at BV Cloppenburg
in January 2000 as club manager. He lasted 12 months in this position before taking up an advisory role with VfB Oldenburg
in January 2001. This left this in the summer to return to Hannover 96 as sporting director but had left by Christmas. In April 2002, he returned to his advisory role at VfB Oldenburg
.
However, he would stay long as the lure of the club manager's role at his old club FC St. Pauli
proved too strong in July 2002. After the firing of coach Joachim Philipkowski
in December 2002, Gerber moved into the coach's role. The club were mired in the relegation zone of 2. Bundesliga at the halfway stage, and despite adding some wins – and his son Fabian
to the team – he could not prevent the drop.
He started the 2003–04 Regionalliga North campaign still as coach but by the run-in the club were in danger of slipping down another level for the third year running. Gerber was fired on 28 March 2004, after the club had lost 0–1 at Rot-Weiss Essen
.
In December 2006, he became manager at Verbandsliga
Niedersachsen East side Goslarer SC 08
.
In 2007, he was appointed manager of Madagascar
with a view to guiding them through the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Madagascar defeated Comoros
6–2 and 4–0 to secure a place in the first group stage.
Playing career
Gerber spent most of his teenage years playing in the youth ranks at Bayern MunichFC 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....
, until finally making the senior squad in 1971–72, aged just 17. He made his debut on 15 April 1972 as a substitute in a 3–1 victory over Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
during the club's championship winning campaign. Despite this breakthrough, this would be Gerber's sole appearance for the legendary team as he moved onto FC St. Pauli
FC St. Pauli
Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that also has Rugby Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that...
of the (then) second flight Regionalliga North during the summer.
Here, he began the first of three different spells at the club, making an immediate impact as the team finished as winners of the division in his first season. However, Gerber was denied a rapid return to the top flight as FC St. Pauli
FC St. Pauli
Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that also has Rugby Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that...
narrowly missed promotion after losing out in the playoff group to Fortuna Köln. The following season Gerber again helped fire the club to this stage, but once more they came unstuck in the final group phase. Although the club hadn't progressed, Gerber certainly had as he staked his claim as one of the best young goalscorers in Germany with his astonishing haul of 51 goals in 55 games.
This was enough to tempt 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...
club Wuppertaler SV to sign him in Summer 1974. Gerber settled well and was easily the club's top goalscorer with 12 goals in his debut season there. However, this was insufficient to retain the club's top flight status and they dropped down to the recently-formed 2. Bundesliga North
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
. Gerber again proved himself the club's leading marksman with 19 goals in 32 games, but they could only manage 5th place, prompting the striker to leave.
In 1976, he returned for a second spell at FC St. Pauli
FC St. Pauli
Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that also has Rugby Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that...
, still fighting for promotion to 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...
. With Gerber restored to their strike force, the club finally broke through into the top level as they won the division. Gerber was instrumental, scoring 27 goals, enough to land him the top goalscorer award for the division. Their stay at this class would last just the one season though, as they finished bottom, but Gerber proved himself equipped for this standard with 16 goals.
Nonetheless, he had to return to the second tier, though not with FC St. Pauli
FC St. Pauli
Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that also has Rugby Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that...
, as he returned south to his home city with TSV 1860 Munich in 1978. Once more, Gerber would fire a club to the Bundesliga as his 19 goal tally pushed the side to the championship. The following season would prove an uncharacteristically poor one for the striker as he lost form scoring just twice in his opening 10 games and being cast to the sidelines with the arrival of new coach Carl-Heinz Rühl
Carl-Heinz Rühl
Carl-Heinz Rühl is a retired German football player and manager.-External links:...
.
After this setback, Gerber left the club for fellow Bavarians ESV Ingolstadt
FC Ingolstadt 04
FC Ingolstadt 04 is a German football club based in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. The club was founded in 2004 out of the merger of the football sides of two other clubs: ESV Ingolstadt and MTV Ingolstadt.-ESV Ingolstadt:...
of the 2. Bundesliga South. His scoring touch duly returned and he contributed 23 goals in 36 games. However the team could only manage 16th place, which due to the criteria set in place for the following year's modification of the division into one from its two regions, meant relegation for the club.
Gerber would not make the drop into the Oberliga
Oberliga (football)
The Oberliga is currently the name of the fifth tier of the German football leagues. Before the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008, it was the fourth tier...
though, as he headed for a new challenge in Canada, joining the Calgary Boomers
Calgary Boomers
The Calgary Boomers were a professional soccer team, that competed in the North American Soccer League during the 1981 season, after which they folded. They were owned by Nelson Skalbania, a Canadian businessman who moved the Memphis Rogues to Calgary, Alberta after the 1980 season.-1981 Roster:*No...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. The club played only one season before folding, which saw Gerber move on to the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
and, finally, the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He played 76 games in total in the league, scoring 35 goals. When the league collapsed into bankruptcy after the 1984 season, the German returned to his homeland with 2. Bundesliga Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
.
Now in his 30's, Gerber could still cut the mustard at this level as his 12 goals helped the club win promotion in the 1984–85 season, his third promotion from the division. The following season was a much harder experience as the club fell back down and Gerber, for the first time in his professional career, failed to register a single goal for the campaign (from 18 games).
After this lean season, Gerber headed back for a final stint at FC St. Pauli
FC St. Pauli
Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that also has Rugby Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that...
. His finishing returned and he managed 15 goals, enough to take the club to third place and another potential promotion. They faced FC Homburg
FC Homburg
FC 08 Homburg is a German association football club based in Homburg, Saarland. The club was founded on 15 June 1908 as Fussball Club Homburg by a group of seventeen young men at the local Hohenburg pub.- History :...
of 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 a playoff for the final spot in the top flight, but narrowly lost 4–3 on aggregate. Gerber's hopes of another successful promotion campaign were immediately shattered in the 1987–88 season as he was badly injured in the opening game at Union Solingen
Union Solingen
1. FC Union Solingen is a German association football club from Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- History :The side can trace its roots back to an earlier Union Solingen club founded in 1897 out of the merger of a number of clubs from the district of Ohligs that would over time include Ohligs FC...
. This proved enough to end his career, aged 34.
His tally of 115 goals at 2. Bundesliga level puts him as the 8th most successful marksmen in the division's history. Over his three spells at FC St. Pauli
FC St. Pauli
Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that also has Rugby Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that...
, he became the club's most successful goalscorer since the formation of the Bundesliga.
Managerial career
Since his playing retirement, Gerber has remained in the game in many capacities. In 1989, he began as manager of TuS Celle of the VerbandsligaVerbandsliga
The Verbandsliga is the 6th tier of football in Germany, played on a regional basis by Bundesland. In Saxony, Thuringia, Hamburg, Bremen and Bavaria the 6th tier is called Landesliga, which is the 7th tier in some of the other Bundesländer...
Niedersachsen. Gerber immediately tasted success, as the club won this division and climbed into the Oberliga North. During this time he was also coach of the youth ranks.
In 1996, he was appointed club manager of Hannover 96. This post lasted until August 1997, as he was fired by new club president Utz Claassen, but reinstated just weeks later after angry fan demonstrations. He remained in this role until 1999, when he became coach of the side after the firing of Reinhold Fanz
Reinhold Fanz
Reinhold Fanz is a German former professional footballer and formerly manager of the Cuba national football team.-Playing career:...
in the winter break. Gerber lifted the team up the 2. Bundesliga table into genuine promotion challengers, but they fell just short, one point off off third.
Gerber left the club after this near-miss, ending up at BV Cloppenburg
BV Cloppenburg
BV Cloppenburg is a German association football club located in Cloppenburg, Lower Saxony. The club was founded after World War I in 1919 as the successor to SV Cloppenburg 1911...
in January 2000 as club manager. He lasted 12 months in this position before taking up an advisory role with VfB Oldenburg
VfB Oldenburg
VfB Oldenburg is a German association football club based in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony. As of the 2011/12 season they play in the Oberliga Niedersachsenliga, which is at the 5th level of football in Germany.-History:...
in January 2001. This left this in the summer to return to Hannover 96 as sporting director but had left by Christmas. In April 2002, he returned to his advisory role at VfB Oldenburg
VfB Oldenburg
VfB Oldenburg is a German association football club based in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony. As of the 2011/12 season they play in the Oberliga Niedersachsenliga, which is at the 5th level of football in Germany.-History:...
.
However, he would stay long as the lure of the club manager's role at his old club FC St. Pauli
FC St. Pauli
Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that also has Rugby Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that...
proved too strong in July 2002. After the firing of coach Joachim Philipkowski
Joachim Philipkowski
Joachim Philipkowski is a German football coach and a former player who is currently managing the youth team of FC St. Pauli.-External links:...
in December 2002, Gerber moved into the coach's role. The club were mired in the relegation zone of 2. Bundesliga at the halfway stage, and despite adding some wins – and his son Fabian
Fabian Gerber
Fabian Gerber is a German footballer currently playing for FC Ingolstadt 04.- External links :...
to the team – he could not prevent the drop.
He started the 2003–04 Regionalliga North campaign still as coach but by the run-in the club were in danger of slipping down another level for the third year running. Gerber was fired on 28 March 2004, after the club had lost 0–1 at Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen is a German association football club based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- Early years :The club was formed as SV Vogelheim on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: SC Preussen and Deutsche Eiche. In 1910, Vogelheim came to an arrangement with Turnerbund...
.
In December 2006, he became manager at Verbandsliga
Verbandsliga
The Verbandsliga is the 6th tier of football in Germany, played on a regional basis by Bundesland. In Saxony, Thuringia, Hamburg, Bremen and Bavaria the 6th tier is called Landesliga, which is the 7th tier in some of the other Bundesländer...
Niedersachsen East side Goslarer SC 08
Goslarer SC 08
The Goslarer SC 08 is a German association football club from the city of Goslar, Lower Saxony.The clubs most notable achievement was winning the tier-five Oberliga Niedersachsen-Ost and earning promotion to the Regionalliga Nord in 2009....
.
In 2007, he was appointed manager of Madagascar
Madagascar national football team
The Madagascar national football team, nicknamed Les Guerriers Zébus , is the national team of Madagascar and is controlled by the Fédération Malagasy de Football. It has never qualified for the finals of the World Cup or the African Nations Cup...
with a view to guiding them through the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Madagascar defeated Comoros
Comoros national football team
The Comoros national football team is the national football team of Comoros, which is controlled by the Fédération Comorienne de Football. It was formed in 1979, joined the Confederation of African Football in 2003, and became a FIFA member in 2005....
6–2 and 4–0 to secure a place in the first group stage.