Bernd Franke facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 February 1948 | ||
| Place of birth | Bliesen, Saar Protectorate | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1966 | SV Bliesen | ||
| 1966–1967 | SV Urexweiler | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1967–1969 | Saar 05 Saarbrücken | 35 | (0) |
| 1969–1971 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | 29 | (0) |
| 1971–1985 | Eintracht Braunschweig | 387 | (0) |
| Total | 451 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1972–1977 | West Germany B | 6 | (0) |
| 1973–1982 | West Germany | 7 | (0) |
| 1982–1984 | West Germany Olympic | 12 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Bernd Franke is a famous German former football player. He was a goalkeeper, which means he protected the goal. He was born on February 12, 1948.
Contents
Bernd Franke's Football Journey
Starting His Club Career
Bernd Franke started playing football when he was young. He was so good that he even played as an outfield player, not just a goalkeeper. He began his professional journey at a club called Saar 05 Saarbrücken. His manager there, Otto Knefler, was very impressed with him.
Later, when Otto Knefler moved to Fortuna Düsseldorf, he brought Bernd Franke with him. Then, in 1971, Knefler became the manager for Bundesliga team Eintracht Braunschweig. He signed Franke again, wanting him to be a strong backup goalkeeper.
A Long Time at Eintracht Braunschweig
Bernd Franke quickly became the main goalkeeper for Eintracht Braunschweig. Even though his team was moved down to a lower league in 1973, he decided to stay with them. This showed how loyal he was to the club. He even turned down a chance to join another team, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, which was still in the top league.
In 1974, Eintracht Braunschweig returned to the Bundesliga, and Franke continued to be a reliable player. In 1977, his team finished third in the league, which was a great achievement!
Towards the end of his career, Bernd Franke started to get injured more often. But he remained loyal to Eintracht Braunschweig. He played for them until 1985, when the team was moved down from the top league again. After that, Bernd Franke retired from football to start a new career outside the sport. He played in 345 Bundesliga matches for Eintracht Braunschweig between 1971 and 1985.
Playing for His Country: West Germany
Bernd Franke's great performances for Eintracht Braunschweig caught the eye of the West Germany national team. He became a backup goalkeeper for famous players like Sepp Maier and Wolfgang Kleff. He played his first game for West Germany on March 28, 1973, in a friendly match. Friendly matches are games that don't count for a championship.
Franke's decision to stay with his club after they were moved down in 1973 meant he missed out on being part of the 1974 FIFA World Cup winning team. Another goalkeeper, Norbert Nigbur, took his spot as the third choice.
World Cup Dreams and Olympic Games
Even more unfortunately, Bernd Franke got injured in May 1978. This happened just before the 1978 FIFA World Cup, and he had to leave the team. This was the second time he missed a World Cup!
So, he was very happy when he finally made it into the final squad for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Even though he didn't play in any games during that tournament, it was still a big achievement to be part of the team. Before the World Cup, he played his last two games for West Germany, helping them win against Portugal and Norway.
Later, even though he was no longer playing for the main national team, Franke got another chance to represent West Germany. He was the starting goalkeeper for all four matches in the football competition at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Many people thought Bernd Franke was as good as other top goalkeepers of his time. However, bad luck with injuries at the wrong moments kept him from becoming the main goalkeeper for West Germany.
See also
In Spanish: Bernd Franke para niños
