He shot faster than Wyatt Earp, was the only national player to win three titles, but Rainer Bonhof was remembered mainly for one assist. His pass directed the winning goal in the WM-Final 1974 against the Netherlands, Bonhof felt connected to the shooter Gerd Müller throughout his life. “Gerd is a part of me”, says Bonhof, who turned 70 on Tuesday. He visited Müller, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s, shortly before his death.
Bonhof will also be able to tell the story of the most important moment in his career on his birthday, which he is celebrating with old companions. On his 65th day of honor he had to pass, the day before he had heart surgery.
On the birthday “some Halligalli”
Now the Vice President of Borussia Monchengladbach In top shape and wants to toast, despite the sporting crisis of his heart club. “I’ll grab some nice people and do some Halligalli”said Bonhof. “We’re going to have some fun, that’s part of it.”
Bonhof’s teacher in Emmerich had predicted that the rascal would have a career as a street sweeper, and the car buff came close to becoming a racing driver, but he found his luck at Soccer. This is thanks to Hennes Weisweiler, who once discovered him at SuS Emmerich. “I had a talent and used it mercilessly”says Bonhof in retrospect.
Won two European Championships and one World Championship
And how: Three big titles with Germany (EM 1972 and 1980, WM 1974) took Bonhof. He could also have played for the Netherlands since his grandfather came from the neighboring country. In 1969, Bonhof made his DFB debut with a Dutch passport for Germany against the Netherlands – and was only naturalized in March 1970.
Bonhof was also extremely successful in club football. With “his” Borussia he was also German champion four times (1971, 1975, 1976, 1977), won the UEFA Cup (1975) and in 1973 against his later employer 1. FC Cologne the DFB Cup, also with FC Valencia the European Cup Winners’ Cup (1980).
It all started in Mönchengladbach in 1970 – also thanks to a hot drink. At the first meeting with Weisweiler, Bonhof ordered a cocoa. “It tasted divine. That’s when I succumbed. That was a point that made me tip over.”, Bonhof revealed in the WDR podcast “Einfach Fußball”. Hamburg and Bochum had also previously expressed an interest.