Helmut Haller facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Helmut Haller

Haller with Juventus in 1969
Personal information
Date of birth	(1939-07-21)21 July 1939
Place of birth	Augsburg, Germany
Date of death	11 October 2012(2012-10-11) (aged 73)
Place of death	Augsburg, Germany
Height	1.78 m
Playing position	Forward
Youth career
1948–1957	BC Augsburg
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1957–1962	BC Augsburg	85	(24)
1962–1968	Bologna	180	(48)
1968–1973	Juventus	116	(21)
1973–1976	FC Augsburg	79	(21)
1976–1977	BSV Schwenningen	2	(0)
1977–1979	FC Augsburg	15	(2)
Total		477	(116)
National team
1958–1970	West Germany	33	(13)
Honours Men's football Representing  West Germany FIFA World Cup Runner-up 1966 England Third 1970 Mexico
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Helmut Haller (born July 21, 1939 – died October 11, 2012) was a famous German footballer. He played as a forward, which means he was usually trying to score goals.

Helmut Haller played for West Germany in three different World Cups. He also played for football clubs in both Germany and Italy. He won Italian league titles, which are like championships, with two big teams: Bologna and Juventus.

Helmut Haller's Club Career

Helmut Haller started his club career playing for a team called BC Augsburg from 1948 to 1962. After that, he moved to Italy to play football. This was a big move because player salaries in Germany were much lower back then.

Playing for Bologna

Haller first played for Bologna. In 1964, his team won the Italian league title. This was a very special win because it was Bologna's first league title in 23 years. It also turned out to be the last league title the club has won so far.

Haller (kneeling, third from the right) with the 1963–64 Italian champion Bologna

Playing for Juventus

From 1968 to 1973, Haller played for another famous Italian club, Juventus. He helped Juventus win the Italian league title twice, in 1972 and 1973.

In 1973, Juventus reached the final of the European Champions Cup. This is one of the biggest club competitions in Europe. They played against AFC Ajax, a strong team led by Johan Cruyff. Juventus lost the final 1–0.

Two years before that, in 1971, Juventus also played in the final of another European competition, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. They lost to Leeds United because of the away goals rule. This rule means if the score is tied, the team that scored more goals away from home wins.

Returning to FC Augsburg

In 1973, Helmut Haller decided to return to his hometown of Augsburg, Germany. He joined a new club called FC Augsburg. This club was formed by combining his old team, BC Augsburg, with another local team.

FC Augsburg had just been promoted to the second division of German football. Haller's return made the team very popular. Fans even started a new chant: "Haller-Haller-Hallerluja!"

Thanks to his popularity, a match in Munich in 1973 drew a huge crowd of about 90,000 people. This was a world record for a second-division football match! FC Augsburg finished first in their league that season. However, they just missed out on being promoted to the top German league, the Bundesliga.

Helmut Haller stopped playing professional football in 1979.

Helmut Haller's International Career

Helmut Haller played for the West Germany team for many years. He made his first international appearance in 1958 when he was 19 years old.

World Cup Appearances

He played in three World Cups:

• The 1962 World Cup in Chile.
• The 1966 World Cup in England.
• The 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

In total, he played 33 games for West Germany and scored 13 goals.

1966 World Cup Final

At the 1966 World Cup, Haller was a key player in the midfield for West Germany. He played alongside famous players like Wolfgang Overath and a young Franz Beckenbauer. West Germany reached the final of the tournament, where they played against England.

Haller scored the first goal in the final match. However, Germany eventually lost the game 4–2 to England. After the match, Haller received his medal and also got the match ball. Years later, he returned the ball to Geoff Hurst, who had scored three goals in that game for England.

Haller was the second-highest goal scorer in the 1966 World Cup, with six goals. Only Eusébio from Portugal scored more.

1970 World Cup

At the 1970 World Cup, West Germany finished in third place. Haller only played in the first group match against Morocco. He had some injury problems before the tournament, which limited his playing time.

Helmut Haller's Style of Play

Haller (left) playing for the Bianconeri in 1971 against Verona

Helmut Haller was known for being both a playmaker and a goalscorer. A playmaker is a player who helps create scoring chances for their team. He was famous for his amazing skills and cleverness as a striker.

In Italy, many people remember Haller as one of the best wingers of the 1960s. A winger plays on the sides of the field and often dribbles the ball past opponents. He was admired for his "irresistible dribbling," his natural talent, his great eye for goal, and his exciting personality on the field.

After Retirement

After he stopped playing football, Helmut Haller did some coaching for amateur clubs, including FC Augsburg. He also owned a fashion shop.

Personal Life

Helmut Haller faced some health challenges later in his life. He passed away on October 11, 2012. He is remembered as a great football player. He was also the uncle of Christian Hochstätter, who was another German international footballer.

Honours

Bologna

• Serie A: 1963–64

Juventus

From left to right: club doctor La Neve, Marchetti, Morini, Haller and Anastasi celebrate the Italian title won by Juventus in the 1972–73 season

• Serie A: 1971–72, 1972–73
• European Cup: runner-up 1972–73
• Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: runner-up 1971
• Coppa Italia: runner-up 1972–73

Augsburg

• Regionalliga Süd: 1973–74

Germany

• FIFA World Cup: runner-up 1966, third place 1970

See also

In Spanish: Helmut Haller para niños