Helmut Schön
Encyclopedia
Helmut Schön was a German football
player and manager. He is best remembered for his exceptional career as manager of West Germany
.
He played for Dresdner SC
, winning the German football champions
hip in 1943 and 1944 as well as the cup
in 1941 and 1942. He appeared 16 times for his country between 1937 and 1941, scoring 17 goals.
After World War II he began his career in football management in his native state of Saxony
, then part of Soviet-occupied East Germany. He was in charge of coaching selections from Saxony and the Soviet occupation zone before political interference to the sport made him flee to Western Germany in 1950. Having played in Hamburg even during his Friedrichstadt spell, he now was appointed player-coach with Hertha BSC Berlin
where he had several former team-mates in his squad but left before the end of the season. Schön became a licensed coach in Cologne before managing Wiesbaden. Between 1952 and 1956, he was in charge of the then-independent Saarland
side, who met West Germany in qualification for the 1954 World Cup. When the Saarland was permitted to rejoin Germany in 1956, Schön joined the West German national side as assistant to Sepp Herberger
, whom he succeeded as manager in November 1964.
Under Schön's leadership, the German team were Football World Cup runners-up in 1966, third in the World Cup of 1970, European champions
in 1972, World Cup winners in 1974 and European Championship runners-up in 1976. He holds World Cup records
for both coaching the most matches (25) and the most wins (16), and remains the only coach to win both a World Cup and a European Championship.
Schön gave notice that he would retire after the 1978 World Cup, to be replaced by his assistant Jupp Derwall. He was unable to go out on a high note as his team were knocked out of the competition by Austria
, who had already been eliminated. During his 14 year tenure as national coach, his record was 87 victories, 30 draws and 22 defeats in 139 matches.
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...
player and manager. He is best remembered for his exceptional career as manager of West Germany
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....
.
He played for Dresdner SC
Dresdner SC
Dresdner SC is a German multisport club playing in Dresden, Saxony. Founded on 30 April 1898, the club was a founding member of the German Football Association in 1900...
, winning the German football champions
German football champions
The German football champions are the annual winners of the highest association football competition in Germany. The history of the German football championship is complex and reflects the turbulent history of the country through the course of the 20th century.Brought to the country by English...
hip in 1943 and 1944 as well as the cup
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...
in 1941 and 1942. He appeared 16 times for his country between 1937 and 1941, scoring 17 goals.
After World War II he began his career in football management in his native state of Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, then part of Soviet-occupied East Germany. He was in charge of coaching selections from Saxony and the Soviet occupation zone before political interference to the sport made him flee to Western Germany in 1950. Having played in Hamburg even during his Friedrichstadt spell, he now was appointed player-coach with Hertha BSC Berlin
Hertha BSC Berlin
Hertha Berliner Sport-Club von 1892, commonly known as Hertha BSC or Hertha Berlin, is a German association football club based in Berlin. A founding member of the German Football Association in Leipzig in 1900, the club has a long history as Berlin's best-supported side...
where he had several former team-mates in his squad but left before the end of the season. Schön became a licensed coach in Cologne before managing Wiesbaden. Between 1952 and 1956, he was in charge of the then-independent Saarland
Saarland national football team
The Saarland national football team was the association football team representing Saarland from 1950 to 1956 during the French occupation following World War II...
side, who met West Germany in qualification for the 1954 World Cup. When the Saarland was permitted to rejoin Germany in 1956, Schön joined the West German national side as assistant to Sepp Herberger
Sepp Herberger
Josef "Sepp" Herberger was a German football player and manager...
, whom he succeeded as manager in November 1964.
Under Schön's leadership, the German team were Football World Cup runners-up in 1966, third in the World Cup of 1970, European champions
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...
in 1972, World Cup winners in 1974 and European Championship runners-up in 1976. He holds World Cup records
FIFA World Cup records
This is a list of records of the FIFA World Cup and its qualification matches.-Most championships:5, -Most finishes in the top two:7, ,...
for both coaching the most matches (25) and the most wins (16), and remains the only coach to win both a World Cup and a European Championship.
Schön gave notice that he would retire after the 1978 World Cup, to be replaced by his assistant Jupp Derwall. He was unable to go out on a high note as his team were knocked out of the competition by Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
, who had already been eliminated. During his 14 year tenure as national coach, his record was 87 victories, 30 draws and 22 defeats in 139 matches.
Honours
- FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
- Champions: 19741974 FIFA World CupThe 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
- Runners-up: 19661966 FIFA World CupThe 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
- Third-place: 19701970 FIFA World CupThe 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
- Champions: 1974
- UEFA European ChampionshipUEFA European Football ChampionshipThe 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...
- Champions: 1972
- Runner-up: 1976