Gerhardt Neef
Encyclopedia
Gerhard "Gerry" Neef, often known as Gerhardt Neef (30 October 1946 – 23 February 2010) was a German
professional football player.
, manager of Aberdeen
, Neef was best known for his spell at Scottish side Rangers
, whom he signed for in spring 1968. A former German policeman, he was seen as the answer to the clubs problematic goalkeeping position. The manager Davie White had been struggling to find a replacement to Billy Ritchie
since his departure in 1967, using Erik Sorensen
and Norrie Martin
but not settling on either.
He made his debut on 19 April 1969 in a league match against Greenock Morton
, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 home win. The following season he became first choice at the club playing 39 games and winning the 1970 League Cup
, after keeping out Celtic F.C.
in the final.
The 1970–71 season saw him lose his place to new signing Peter McCloy
. His appearances were sporadic thereafter. He was part of the European Cup Winners' Cup 1971–72 squad, but never played. Neef left Rangers to return to West Germany
in 1973, having made 48 appearances in total for the club.
on 23 February 2010 . A one-minute silence was held in respect for Neef before the Old Firm derby at Ibrox Stadium on February 28, 2010. The silence was disrupted by Celtic supporters, with the disruption reacted to by angered Rangers fans – a situation described by The Times
as "perverse."
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...
professional football player.
Club career
Although he was taken to Scotland initially by Eddie TurnbullEddie Turnbull
Edward Hunter Turnbull was a Scottish professional football player and manager.During the late 1940s and 1950s he was one of the Famous Five, the noted Hibernian forward line, along with Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, and Willie Ormond...
, manager of Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
, Neef was best known for his spell at Scottish side Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, whom he signed for in spring 1968. A former German policeman, he was seen as the answer to the clubs problematic goalkeeping position. The manager Davie White had been struggling to find a replacement to Billy Ritchie
Billy Ritchie
William "Billy" Ritchie is a Scottish former professional football player who is best known for his time with Rangers.Ritchie started his career at local side Bathgate Thistle before moving to Rangers in 1955...
since his departure in 1967, using Erik Sorensen
Erik Sorensen
Erik Sørensen, also known by his full name Erik Lykke Sørensen, is a Danish former association football player and manager. He was a goalkeeper, and played professionally in the 1960s and 1970s for Scottish clubs Greenock Morton and Rangers, and later served as the manager of Morton...
and Norrie Martin
Norrie Martin
Neil 'Norrie' Martin is a Scottish former footballer who played for Rangers. He was a goalkeeper.He started his career at junior side Dalry Thistle and joined Hamilton Academical in 1957 but after a few months he moved back to Dalry....
but not settling on either.
He made his debut on 19 April 1969 in a league match against Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 home win. The following season he became first choice at the club playing 39 games and winning the 1970 League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
, after keeping out Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in the final.
The 1970–71 season saw him lose his place to new signing Peter McCloy
Peter McCloy
Peter McCloy is a retired football goalkeeper who played for Motherwell and Rangers. He was a member of the Rangers team which won the 1972 Cup Winners Cup, and was Rangers' first-choice goalkeeper for most of his 16-year spell at the club despite competition from players such as Gerhardt Neef and...
. His appearances were sporadic thereafter. He was part of the European Cup Winners' Cup 1971–72 squad, but never played. Neef left Rangers to return to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
in 1973, having made 48 appearances in total for the club.
Death
Neef died from throat cancer at his home in NurembergNuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
on 23 February 2010 . A one-minute silence was held in respect for Neef before the Old Firm derby at Ibrox Stadium on February 28, 2010. The silence was disrupted by Celtic supporters, with the disruption reacted to by angered Rangers fans – a situation described by The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
as "perverse."