Harald Konopka facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Harald Konopka | ||
| Date of birth | 18 November 1952 | ||
| Place of birth | Düren, West Germany | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender, Full back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Teutonia Echtz | |||
| Düren 99 | |||
| 1. FC Köln | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1971–1983 | 1. FC Köln | 335 | (21) |
| 1983–1984 | Borussia Dortmund | 17 | (0) |
| Total | 352 | (21) | |
| International career | |||
| 1978–1979 | West Germany | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Harald Konopka is a famous former German football player. He was born on November 18, 1952, in Düren, West Germany. Harald was known for being a tough and reliable defender.
Contents
Harald Konopka's Football Career
Starting His Football Journey
Harald Konopka started playing football as a striker. He joined 1. FC Köln in 1971. That same year, his team won the German Under-19 title. This was a great start to his professional career.
Playing for 1. FC Köln
Harald became a very important player for 1. FC Köln. He was known as a strong defender, especially in the "full back" position. A full back is a player who defends the sides of the field. He helped his team win the German Cup three times. They also finished second in the cup competition twice.
In 1978, Harald Konopka was part of a very special team. Under manager Hennes Weisweiler, 1. FC Köln won the Bundesliga, which is Germany's top football league. They also won the German Cup in the same season. Winning both the league and the cup in one year is called a "double." This was a huge achievement for the club.
Moving to Borussia Dortmund
After many successful years with 1. FC Köln, Harald moved to Borussia Dortmund. He played for them for the rest of his career. In total, Harald Konopka played in 352 Bundesliga matches. He scored 21 goals during his time in the league.
Playing for West Germany
Harald Konopka also played for the West Germany national team. His international career was short, with only two matches. However, it was very special because he was part of the team for the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
He was one of only two players in the squad who had not played for the national team before. During the World Cup, he came on as a substitute in a match against Italy. This game ended in a 0-0 draw. Almost a year later, he played his final international match. West Germany won that game 3-1 against Iceland.
References
