Fritz Herkenrath facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 September 1928 | ||
| Place of birth | Cologne, Germany | ||
| Date of death | 18 April 2016 (aged 87) | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1946–1951 | Preußen Dellbrück | ||
| 1951–1952 | 1. FC Köln | ||
| 1952–1965 | Rot-Weiss Essen | ||
| National team | |||
| 1954–1958 | West Germany | 21 | (0) |
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Fritz Herkenrath was a famous German football goalkeeper. He was born in Cologne, Germany, on September 9, 1928. Fritz played for the West Germany team in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He was known for his amazing saves and was often called "the flying schoolmaster." He passed away on April 18, 2016, at the age of 87.
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Fritz Herkenrath: A Football Legend
From Handball to Football
Fritz Herkenrath didn't start his sports career in football. He first played handball, where he was a right winger. After World War II, he decided to switch to football. This was a big change for him!
He began studying at the German Sport University Cologne. There, he met Sepp Herberger, a famous football coach. Herkenrath started playing for 1. FC Köln in the early 1950s. At first, he was often the second-choice goalkeeper.
Becoming a Champion
In 1952, Herkenrath joined Rot-Weiss Essen. This is where he truly became famous. He helped his team reach the very best part of its history. In 1955, Rot-Weiss Essen won a national championship!
The next season was also very special. Rot-Weiss Essen became the first German team to play in the European Cup. This was a huge achievement for the club and for German football.
The "Flying Schoolmaster"
Fritz Herkenrath had a unique nickname: "the flying schoolmaster." This was because he was a teacher in his main job. He was known for his acrobatic saves, which made it seem like he was flying. This nickname showed how talented he was both on the field and in his profession.
He played 21 games for the West Germany national team between 1954 and 1958. These games are called "caps" in football.
Life After Football
Fritz Herkenrath retired from playing football in 1962. He had played 336 games in the Oberliga West, a top German league at the time. After retiring, he became a professor at a college in Aachen. He continued to teach and inspire others.
