Karl-Heinz Metzner facts for kids
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Karl-Heinz Metzner | ||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 9 January 1923 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kassel, Germany | ||||||||||||
| Date of death | 25 October 1994 (aged 71) | ||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||
| 1943–1944 | Borussia Fulda | ||||||||||||
| 1949–1961 | Hessen Kassel | ||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||
| 1952–1953 | West Germany | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||
Karl-Heinz "Gala" Metzner (born January 9, 1923 – died October 25, 1994) was a famous German football player. He was born in the city of Kassel, Germany. Metzner was a key part of the West German squad that won the 1954 FIFA World Cup. This was a huge achievement for his country.
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Early Football Career
Karl-Heinz Metzner showed great football talent from a young age. When he was just 17, he was invited to a special training session for the German national team. This was a big deal for a young player. However, his dreams of playing for his country were put on hold.
Impact of World War II
World War II affected many people, including athletes like Metzner. He had to serve in the war, which meant he could not play football professionally for a while. During his time in the war, he got a hand injury. This injury caused him problems for the rest of his life.
Playing for Hessen Kassel
After the war ended, Metzner returned to playing football. He joined Hessen Kassel, a club where he would spend most of his career. He played in different positions on the field. Sometimes he was an inside forward, which is a type of attacker. Other times, he played as a half-back, a position similar to a midfielder or defender.
National Team Call-Ups
Metzner's skills caught the eye of the West German coach, Sepp Herberger. He was called up to the national team in 1952. His first international game was against Spain in Madrid. Even though he was a talented player, it was hard for him to get a regular spot in the starting team. Other players like Horst Eckel, Karl Mai, Max Morlock, and Fritz Walter were also very strong in his positions.
Winning the 1954 FIFA World Cup
Karl-Heinz Metzner was a member of the West German team that won the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland. This was a historic victory for Germany. Even though he only played two games for the national team in total, being part of the World Cup-winning squad was a major highlight of his career. It showed he was among the best players of his time.
End of His Career
Metzner played for Hessen Kassel for many years. He was very loyal to his club. He played an amazing 620 games for Hessen Kassel throughout his career. He officially ended his football career on August 5, 1961. His last game was a friendly match between Kassel and Radnički Belgrade. Karl-Heinz Metzner passed away in 1994 due to heart failure.
See also
- In Spanish: Karl-Heinz Metzner para niños
