He was one of the greatest players at 1. FC Köln and shaped the club even after his career ended like no other: Wolfgang Overath. Now he’s 80.
Former soccer world champion Wolfgang Overath will not be available to anyone on his 80th birthday on Friday (September 29th, 2023). “I celebrated my 50th,” he said: “With 500 people in Phantasialand. Franz Beckenbauer, Günter Netzer, Uwe Seeler, Fritz Walter – everyone was there. I just shook hands for two hours. Then when I was 60 I left, At 70 too. And at 80 I’ll definitely leave too.” “I’m getting away for a few days” with his wife Karin, to whom he has been married for 57 years, and his three children.
Wolfgang Overath from Cologne has helped write some crucial chapters in the history of German football and its national team. Because the long-time playmaker of the 1. FC Cologne was one of the best midfielders ever for over a decade and embodied absolute world class for many years.
At 22 in the World Cup final
After playing in the World Cup final against England in 1966 as a 22-year-old, he reached the highlight of his career eight years later in his 81st and final international match when he won the World Cup with the DFB team in Munich. Overath, together with Günter Netzer, who was a year younger and his long-term rival, was the playmaker type par excellence and was considered the classic “number 10”.
Despite his exuberant temperament (the subtitle of his biography published in 1970 is: “Yes, my temperament”), Wolfgang Overath was only sent off once in the Bundesliga (1965 in Munich against 1860). Overath said of himself: “Everywhere I performed, I was as irritable as a bull in the arena.”
Technician, fighter, universal genius
A brilliant technician with an inimitable feel for the ball, Overath was able to play wonderful passes over 50 or more meters and was also a goal threat himself. Although he was also headstrong and difficult, Overath, whose form depended heavily on his mental state and his inner balance (“If I succeed in the first pass, I succeed in the whole game”), never played the role of a star who let others work for him .
Rather, he was a tireless, aggressive fighter and driver who was not above playing the role of water carrier and, if necessary, did the so-called “dirty work” himself. It was often said that Overath did not master the game, but rather gave himself up to it .
Skillful businessman
Overath, who was made an honorary citizen of his hometown Siegburg in 2003, secured himself economically early on, primarily with real estate. As he admits, increasing his wealth is a lot of fun for the multi-millionaire (“I build, I invest money. I work because I enjoy it”).
However, Overath, who already owned several houses, supermarkets and warehouses in 1970, at the age of 27, emphasized: “I’ll say it again: I didn’t want to get rich. That wasn’t my primary goal. I wanted to be independent, free, my own master. I also wanted to secure the future of my children and of course the life of my wife. I am proud that I succeeded in doing this so well.”
2004 – FC President
After serving on the board of directors of 1. FC Köln from 1991 to 1998 after his active career, the “FC icon” Overath was elected the new club president of the “Billy Billy Goats” in June 2004.
Overath’s election in March of that year was preceded by a largely public “mud battle” over the office of president, in which Overath insisted on having sole say in the club and insisted on the departure of his predecessor Albert Casper. But also under Overath’s leadership The club was relegated to the second division and clearly missed promotion in the first second division year of the Overath era.
Still an active footballer in old age
Overath, who was still at his “fighting weight” from his playing days on his 60th birthday, openly admitted that he has problems with getting older. “If I’m honest, I have a big problem with this number. My father was an old man at 60. I don’t feel like that at all. I still train twice a week, football is still my biggest passion.”
Overath’s ambition has long been legendary in his Cologne training group. Even in his old age, Chef Overath liked to keep playing the indoor kick until his team was finally ahead. It is rumored that sometimes the hall lights could be seen until the early hours of the morning…
