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Karl-Heinz Metzner
Personal information
Full name Karl-Heinz Metzner
Date of birth (1923-01-09)9 January 1923
Place of birth Kassel, Germany
Date of death 25 October 1994(1994-10-25) (aged 71)
Playing position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1943–1944 Borussia Fulda
1949–1961 Hessen Kassel
National team
1952–1953 West Germany 2 (0)
Honours
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (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.

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

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