Horst Blankenburg
Encyclopedia
Horst Blankenburg is a former German
football player, who played as a sweeper. He is best known for the time in the beginning of the 1970s, during which he played for Ajax Amsterdam
and won the European Cup
three times and the Dutch championship
and the KNVB Cup
twice. In 1976, he won the German Cup
with Hamburger SV
. He was never selected for the German national team
.
in the 1967–68 season. Nuremberg won the Bundesliga
in that season, even though his contribution consisted of only 13 games, none of them league matches. He then transferred to Wiener Sportclub
in Vienna
for 45,000 German mark
s, where he managed to impress. After the season, he switched to TSV 1860 München
for 100,000 German marks. In that season, he had 31 appearances and even scored one goal, but his team was relegated, he moved on to Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands
, Johan Neeskens
, Ruud Krol
, and Arie Haan. His coaches at Ajax were Stefan Kovács and Rinus Michels
– who designed the famous Dutch offside trap around him and Velibor Vasović. Horst was Ajax's team sweeper and was widely considered to be one of the best in Europe. In the five seasons at Ajax he won the European Cup
three years in a row between 1971 and 1973 and the Intercontinental Cup
in 1972. He became Dutch champion in 1972 and 1973 and won the Dutch cup in 1971 and 1972.
, Under Kuno Klötzer
, he won the German Cup in 1976 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
in 1977, although he didn't get to play in the final against RSC Anderlecht. In the end, he couldn't assert himself at the club - during his second season at the club he only played 13 league matches, so he transferred at the end of that season to Neuchâtel Xamax
in Switzerland
. In 1978, Blankenburg moved to Chicago Sting
in the United States
, before being loaned out for a few months to KSC Hasselt
in Belgium. He retired from professional football in 1981 at Preußen Münster
.
fulfilled the role of libero there at the time. Johan Cruijff has asked him to play for the Netherlands in the 1974 World Cup but Horst refused, he was still hoping for his homeland selection.
With AFC Ajax:
With Hamburger SV
:
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...
football player, who played as a sweeper. He is best known for the time in the beginning of the 1970s, during which he played for Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
and won the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The 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...
three times and the Dutch championship
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
and the KNVB Cup
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
twice. In 1976, he won the German 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...
with Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
. He was never selected for the German national team
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....
.
Playing career
Horst Blankenburg's career began at the youth of VfL Heidenheim; his professional career began at 1. FC Nuremberg under Max MerkelMax Merkel
Maximilian Merkel was an Austrian football player and coach. The former Rapid player featured twice in a national team...
in the 1967–68 season. Nuremberg won 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 that season, even though his contribution consisted of only 13 games, none of them league matches. He then transferred to Wiener Sportclub
Wiener Sportclub
The Wiener Sport-Club, commonly referred to simply as WSC, was established in 1883 playing in club colours of black and white. It is one of the Austrian capital Vienna's oldest athletics clubs, their traditional home is in the Dornbach quarter of the city....
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
for 45,000 German mark
German mark
The Deutsche Mark |mark]], abbreviated "DM") was the official currency of West Germany and Germany until the adoption of the euro in 2002. It is commonly called the "Deutschmark" in English but not in German. Germans often say "Mark" or "D-Mark"...
s, where he managed to impress. After the season, he switched to TSV 1860 München
TSV 1860 München
Turn- und Sportverein München von 1860, commonly known as TSV 1860 München or 1860 Munich, is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. The club's football team plays in the Second Bundesliga, after relegation from the Bundesliga following the 2003–04 season...
for 100,000 German marks. In that season, he had 31 appearances and even scored one goal, but his team was relegated, he moved on to Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Ajax Golden Era
He played together with Johan CruyffJohan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff OON , known as Johan Cruyff, is a retired Dutch footballer and is currently the manager of the Catalan national team as well as a member of the AFC Ajax board of directors. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974, which is a record jointly held with...
, Johan Neeskens
Johan Neeskens
Johannes Jacobus "Johan" Neeskens is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder. As a player, he was an important member of the Dutch national team that finished as runners-up in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups. Former England manager Alf Ramsey said Neeskens was "as good as any player" in...
, Ruud Krol
Ruud Krol
Rudolf Jozef Krol is a retired Dutch footballer who was capped 83 times for his native country. Playing the vast majority of his career with his home town club of Ajax before traveling the world as both a player and a coach...
, and Arie Haan. His coaches at Ajax were Stefan Kovács and Rinus Michels
Rinus Michels
Marinus Jacobus Hendricus Michels OON was a Dutch association football player and coach...
– who designed the famous Dutch offside trap around him and Velibor Vasović. Horst was Ajax's team sweeper and was widely considered to be one of the best in Europe. In the five seasons at Ajax he won the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The 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...
three years in a row between 1971 and 1973 and the Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
in 1972. He became Dutch champion in 1972 and 1973 and won the Dutch cup in 1971 and 1972.
Hamburger SV
In 1975, he returned to Germany to play for Hamburger SVHamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
, Under Kuno Klötzer
Kuno Klötzer
Kuno Klötzer was a German former football coach who won the 1977 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with Hamburger SV.Born in Geyer, Germany, Klötzer managed included Arminia Hannover, Hannover 96, Fortuna Düsseldorf, 1. FC Nuremberg, Kickers Offenbach, Hamburger SV, Hertha BSC, MSV Duisburg and Werder Bremen...
, he won the German Cup in 1976 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
in 1977, although he didn't get to play in the final against RSC Anderlecht. In the end, he couldn't assert himself at the club - during his second season at the club he only played 13 league matches, so he transferred at the end of that season to Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club is a Swiss football club, based in Neuchâtel. It was created in 1970 through a merger between FC Cantonal and FC Xamax . The club plays in red shirts, black shorts and red socks and are currently in the Axpo Super League, the highest Swiss football league. They play...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. In 1978, Blankenburg moved to Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, before being loaned out for a few months to KSC Hasselt
K.S.C. Hasselt
Koninklijke Sporting Club Hasselt was a Belgian football club founded in 1908 as E.F.C. Hasselt. The matricule n°37 was erased in 2001 after the merge with K.S.K. Kermt to become K.S.K. Kermt-Hasselt...
in Belgium. He retired from professional football in 1981 at Preußen Münster
SC Preußen Münster
SC Preußen Münster are a German association football club based in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia.-History:The club was founded as FC Preussen in 1906 and has its roots in a group formed at the Johann-Conrad-Schlaun Grammar School...
.
National team
He was never selected for the German national football team, one of the reasons being is that the outstanding Franz BeckenbauerFranz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
fulfilled the role of libero there at the time. Johan Cruijff has asked him to play for the Netherlands in the 1974 World Cup but Horst refused, he was still hoping for his homeland selection.
Honours
With 1. FC Nuremberg:- Fußball-BundesligaFußball-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...
winner: 1967–68
With AFC Ajax:
- EredivisieEredivisieThe Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
Winner: 1971–72, 1972–73 - KNVB CupKNVB CupThe KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
Winner: 1970–71, 1971–72 - 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...
Winner: 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73 - European Super Cup Winner: 19721972 European Super CupThe 1972 European Super Cup was a football match played over two legs between the winner of the 1971–72 European Cup and the winner of the 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup...
, 1973 - Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
Winner: 19721972 Intercontinental CupThe 1972 Intercontinental Cup was a football tie held over two legs in September 1972 between the winners of the 1971–72 European Cup, Ajax, and winners of the 1972 Copa Libertadores, Independiente....
With Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
:
- 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...
Winner: 1975–76 - European Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
Winner: 1976–77
External links
- Horst Blankenburg at worldfootball.net
- NASL Stats