Rudolf Kargus
Encyclopedia
Rudolf 'Rudi' Kargus is a former German
football player.
Joining the youth ranks of Hamburger SV
from boyhood-club Wormatia Worms
in 1970, Kargus stepped up to become a Bundesliga
goalkeeper for the North Germans from 1971, capturing the starting role in the goal of Hamburg in 1973. He served as the clubs first-choice until Hamburg headed for a change on that position in 1980.
In his years with Hamburg he graduated into a goalkeeper as promising as reliable, known for his ability to save penalties (which earned him the Elfmetertöter nickname). He won the European Cup Winners' Cup with Hamburger SV
in 1977, was runner-up with them in the European Cup
in 1980 after winning the Bundesliga title the season before.
After the end of his deal with Hamburg in 1980 it took him four months to sign a new deal elsewhere, joining 1. FC Nuremberg. He was in the 1. FC Nuremberg goal when Nuremberg was relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga
in 1984, going on for them in the lower division until Bundesliga
side Karlsruher SC
snapped him up in December 1984. He had tough luck in this change of clubs since Karlsruher SC could not avoid relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga in the remainder of the season and, so, he had to return to playing games on that level in 1985–1986.
For the campaign of 1986–1987 he returned to the Bundesliga with a move to Fortuna Düsseldorf
, but experienced another relegation from Bundesliga with them then. Following Düsseldorf's relegation the then well-travelled goalkeeper signed with another Bundesliga side, 1. FC Köln
. However, in his three years with the side from Cologne
he was just the veteran stand-in for Köln's young first-choice Bodo Illgner
and did not manage to get any Bundesliga game for his final professional club. In total, Kargus played in 408 Bundesliga matches in his career and took part 19 times for his clubs in the 2nd Bundesliga.
His West Germany career had started early with youth internationals in his years with Wormatia Worms
. His first senior cap was a product of Helmut Schön
looking for Sepp Maier replacements and the good form of young Kargus for Hamburg in the Bundesliga. Four days prior to Christmas 1975 Kargus was chosen to represent West Germany in a friendly against Turkey
. He did well and was subsequently named in the 1976 UEFA European Championship squad, serving as (the unused) deputy of Sepp Maier. A further friendly appearance later, Kargus came on also at half-time against Yugoslavia
in 1977 to replace Maier. That was the last cap (of three) Kargus won in his career, although he was one of three goalkeepers in the West German squad for the 1978 FIFA World Cup
.
After the end of his career, Kargus had several stints as coach to school kids in goalkeeping and has been active as artist painter since 1996, painting scenes of football in 2006, but exclusively non-footballing themes after that. He attended an art course at the Kunstschule Blankenese before exhibiting his paintings.
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.
Joining the youth ranks of 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...
from boyhood-club Wormatia Worms
Wormatia Worms
VfR Wormatia 08 Worms is a German association football club that plays in Worms, Rhineland-Palatinate. The club and its historical predecessors were regular participants in regional first division football competition right up until the formation of the national top-flight Bundesliga in 1963...
in 1970, Kargus stepped up to become a 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...
goalkeeper for the North Germans from 1971, capturing the starting role in the goal of Hamburg in 1973. He served as the clubs first-choice until Hamburg headed for a change on that position in 1980.
In his years with Hamburg he graduated into a goalkeeper as promising as reliable, known for his ability to save penalties (which earned him the Elfmetertöter nickname). He won the European Cup Winners' Cup 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...
in 1977, was runner-up with them in 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...
in 1980 after winning the Bundesliga title the season before.
After the end of his deal with Hamburg in 1980 it took him four months to sign a new deal elsewhere, joining 1. FC Nuremberg. He was in the 1. FC Nuremberg goal when Nuremberg was relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga
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...
in 1984, going on for them in the lower division until 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...
side Karlsruher SC
Karlsruher SC
Karlsruher SC is a German association football club, based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. KSC rose out of the consolidation of a number of predecessor clubs. They currently play in the 2...
snapped him up in December 1984. He had tough luck in this change of clubs since Karlsruher SC could not avoid relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga in the remainder of the season and, so, he had to return to playing games on that level in 1985–1986.
For the campaign of 1986–1987 he returned to the Bundesliga with a move to Fortuna Düsseldorf
Fortuna Düsseldorf
' is a German association football club based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the second tier of German league football, the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga...
, but experienced another relegation from Bundesliga with them then. Following Düsseldorf's relegation the then well-travelled goalkeeper signed with another Bundesliga side, 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
. However, in his three years with the side from Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
he was just the veteran stand-in for Köln's young first-choice Bodo Illgner
Bodo Illgner
Bodo Illgner is a retired German footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.During his career, he played for 1. FC Köln and Real Madrid, and helped West Germany to the 1990 World Cup, where he became the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup final.-Club career:Born in Koblenz, Illgner...
and did not manage to get any Bundesliga game for his final professional club. In total, Kargus played in 408 Bundesliga matches in his career and took part 19 times for his clubs in the 2nd Bundesliga.
His West Germany career had started early with youth internationals in his years with Wormatia Worms
Wormatia Worms
VfR Wormatia 08 Worms is a German association football club that plays in Worms, Rhineland-Palatinate. The club and its historical predecessors were regular participants in regional first division football competition right up until the formation of the national top-flight Bundesliga in 1963...
. His first senior cap was a product of Helmut Schön
Helmut Schön
Helmut Schön was a German football player and manager. He is best remembered for his exceptional career as manager of West Germany....
looking for Sepp Maier replacements and the good form of young Kargus for Hamburg in the Bundesliga. Four days prior to Christmas 1975 Kargus was chosen to represent West Germany in a friendly against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
. He did well and was subsequently named in the 1976 UEFA European Championship squad, serving as (the unused) deputy of Sepp Maier. A further friendly appearance later, Kargus came on also at half-time against Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
in 1977 to replace Maier. That was the last cap (of three) Kargus won in his career, although he was one of three goalkeepers in the West German squad for the 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
.
After the end of his career, Kargus had several stints as coach to school kids in goalkeeping and has been active as artist painter since 1996, painting scenes of football in 2006, but exclusively non-footballing themes after that. He attended an art course at the Kunstschule Blankenese before exhibiting his paintings.
Honours
- UEFA Euro 1976 runner-up
- 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...
finalist: 1980 - UEFA 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: 1977 - 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...
champion: 1979 - Bundesliga runner-up: 1976, 1980, 1989, 1990
- DFB-PokalDFB-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: 1976 - DFB-Pokal finalist: 1974, 1982