Werner Kohlmeyer
Encyclopedia
Werner Kohlmeyer was a German
footballer
.
He was part of the West German
team that won the 1954 FIFA World Cup
. In total he earned 22 caps for West Germany. He also played for 1. FC Kaiserslautern
from 1941 to 1957.
His position was that of a left full back. The burly Kohlmeyer became renowned for saves on the goalline, especially in the game against Yugoslavia
during the 1954 World Cup, in which he several times none to soon threw himself into shots on the German goal. In the 1954 FIFA World Cup Final
, Kohlmeyer stopped Zoltan Czibor
.
Kohlmeyer won the German football championship with 1. FC Kaiserslautern
in 1951 and 1953. In one of his last games for Germany, Kohlmeyer faced Stanley Matthews
at Wembley
on 1 December 1954, in an international friendly between England
and West Germany
. While he proved incapable of stopping Matthews and clearly lost that duel, Kohlmeyer was proud that he never lost his composure by committing not a single foul on Matthews. It was this attitude of fairness which Germany
coach Sepp Herberger
appreciated, as well as Kohlmeyer's assuredness and defensive reliability.
Kohlmeyer remained a starter for Kaiserslautern until 1957. After retirement he suffered from a divorce and the detachment from his three children as well as alcoholism and poverty; he lived on welfare for a while, before taking a job as a doorman for a newspaper publisher in Mainz
. He died at the age of 49 due to heart failure.
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
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...
.
He was part of the West German
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....
team that won the 1954 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
. In total he earned 22 caps for West Germany. He also played for 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...
from 1941 to 1957.
His position was that of a left full back. The burly Kohlmeyer became renowned for saves on the goalline, especially in the game 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...
during the 1954 World Cup, in which he several times none to soon threw himself into shots on the German goal. In the 1954 FIFA World Cup Final
1954 FIFA World Cup Final
- External links :* - fifa.com, FIFA, 2002.*...
, Kohlmeyer stopped Zoltan Czibor
Zoltán Czibor
Zoltán Czibor Suhai , also referred to as Czibor Zoltán, was a Hungarian footballer who played for several Hungarian clubs, including Ferencváros TC and Honvéd, and Hungary before joining CF Barcelona. Czibor played as a left-winger or striker and was notable for having a powerful shot, good...
.
Kohlmeyer won the German football championship with 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...
in 1951 and 1953. In one of his last games for Germany, Kohlmeyer faced Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
at Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
on 1 December 1954, in an international friendly between England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and 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....
. While he proved incapable of stopping Matthews and clearly lost that duel, Kohlmeyer was proud that he never lost his composure by committing not a single foul on Matthews. It was this attitude of fairness which 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....
coach Sepp Herberger
Sepp Herberger
Josef "Sepp" Herberger was a German football player and manager...
appreciated, as well as Kohlmeyer's assuredness and defensive reliability.
Kohlmeyer remained a starter for Kaiserslautern until 1957. After retirement he suffered from a divorce and the detachment from his three children as well as alcoholism and poverty; he lived on welfare for a while, before taking a job as a doorman for a newspaper publisher in Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
. He died at the age of 49 due to heart failure.