Hans Pflügler
Encyclopedia
Johannes Christian "Hansi" Pflügler (born 27 March 1960) is a former German
footballer.
He could either appear as a left or central defender and played solely for FC Bayern Munich
.
, Bavaria
, Pflügler made his professional debuts in 1981–82, with the only club he ever knew, local and national giants FC Bayern Munich
. After two experimental seasons, he became an automatic first-choice, also netting 27 Bundesliga
goals from 1983–88 combined, and appearing in all the games and minutes in the 1986–87 European Cup, as Bayern finally finished second to F.C. Porto.
After helping the Bavarians to five leagues and three cups
, Pflügler only managed 14 games in 1991–92, and decided to retire. However, a flood of injuries to the side in 1995 prompted a request by then manager Giovanni Trapattoni
which the player accepted, appearing on 8 April, in a home game against 1. FC Kaiserslautern
, where he was also booked. Even more astonishingly, Pflügler spent the entire 2001–02 season with the club's amateurs
in Regionalliga Süd
, helping it to a final 10th place, aged 42.
on 11 occasions, making his debut on 25 March 1987 at Israel
, and being selected for the squad at the following year's UEFA European Football Championship
.
Pflügler was also picked for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
, playing 90 minutes against Colombia
for the eventual champions.
with a diploma. He was also connected with Bayern's merchandising departments, where he already worked before being summoned out of retirement for the first time.
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.
He could either appear as a left or central defender and played solely for FC 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....
.
Club career
Born in FreisingFreising
Freising is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the district Freising. Total population 48,500.The city is located north of Munich at the Isar river, near the Munich International Airport...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Pflügler made his professional debuts in 1981–82, with the only club he ever knew, local and national giants FC 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....
. After two experimental seasons, he became an automatic first-choice, also netting 27 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...
goals from 1983–88 combined, and appearing in all the games and minutes in the 1986–87 European Cup, as Bayern finally finished second to F.C. Porto.
After helping the Bavarians to five leagues and three cups
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...
, Pflügler only managed 14 games in 1991–92, and decided to retire. However, a flood of injuries to the side in 1995 prompted a request by then manager Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni , sometimes known as "Trap" or "Il Trap", is an Italian football coach and former player, considered the most successful club coach in the history of Serie A. As a player he was part of Italy's squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup....
which the player accepted, appearing on 8 April, in a home game against 1. FC 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...
, where he was also booked. Even more astonishingly, Pflügler spent the entire 2001–02 season with the club's amateurs
FC Bayern Munich II
Bayern Munich II are the second team of German association football club Bayern Munich. In 2010–11 they played in the 3rd Liga, having qualified for its inaugural season in 2008, and have consistently played at the third level of German football — they played in the Regionalliga Süd from...
in Regionalliga Süd
Regionalliga Süd
The Regionalliga Süd is currently the fourth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008, it was the third tier. It currently is the highest regional league for the southern part of Germany...
, helping it to a final 10th place, aged 42.
International career
Pflügler played for the German national teamGermany 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....
on 11 occasions, making his debut on 25 March 1987 at Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
, and being selected for the squad at the following year's UEFA European Football Championship
UEFA 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...
.
Pflügler was also picked for the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
, playing 90 minutes against Colombia
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
for the eventual champions.
Club
- German LeagueFußball-BundesligaThe 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...
: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90 - German CupDFB-PokalThe 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...
: 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86; Runner-up 1984–85 - European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe 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...
: Runner-up 1986–87
Personal
Pflügler is an engineerEngineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
with a diploma. He was also connected with Bayern's merchandising departments, where he already worked before being summoned out of retirement for the first time.