1. Overview
Günter Bernard (born November 4, 1939) is a German former professional footballer who primarily played as a goalkeeper. He is the son of Robert Bernard, who was also a German international football player. Bernard spent the majority of his club career with SV Werder Bremen, where he was a key player in their surprising 1965 Bundesliga championship victory. He also represented the West Germany national team from 1962 to 1968, participating in the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
2. Early life and background
Günter Bernard was born on November 4, 1939, in Schweinfurt, a city located in the state of Bavaria, Germany. His father, Robert Bernard, was a notable German international football player, suggesting an early exposure and connection to the sport for Günter.
3. Club career
Bernard began his senior football career with his boyhood club, Schweinfurt 05. He made his top-tier debut for Schweinfurt 05 in the Oberliga Süd, a regional first division league, in 1958. In 1963, during the founding year of the Bundesliga, Germany's new top-flight professional league, Bernard transferred to SV Werder Bremen.
He remained loyal to Werder Bremen throughout the rest of his professional career, playing for the North German club until his retirement in 1974. Bernard quickly established himself as the club's first-choice goalkeeper. His most significant achievement with Werder Bremen came in the 1964-65 season, when the team surprisingly won the Bundesliga championship, with Bernard as their starting keeper. Throughout his tenure at this level, Bernard made a total of 287 appearances for Werder Bremen.
4. International career
Bernard's career with the West Germany national team began with a call-up to the youth national squad in 1961. Impressed by his performance, legendary coach Sepp Herberger elevated him to the senior national team a year later.
At the time, Bernard faced significant competition for the starting goalkeeper position from established players such as Wolfgang Fahrian and Hans Tilkowski. He made his first appearance for West Germany on October 24, 1962, while still under contract with Schweinfurt 05. His pivotal role in Werder Bremen's 1965 Bundesliga triumph earned him a spot in Helmut Schön's squad for the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England. However, despite being part of the squad, Bernard did not gain the competitive edge he had hoped for, as Hans Tilkowski ultimately served as West Germany's primary goalkeeper throughout the tournament. Bernard made his fifth and final appearance for West Germany in 1968, coming on as a substitute for Horst Wolter in a match against the Wales national team.
5. Honours
During his professional playing career, Günter Bernard achieved several notable honours at both the club and international levels:
Werder Bremen
- Bundesliga:
- Winner**: 1964-65
- Runner-up: 1967-68
West Germany
- FIFA World Cup:
- Runner-up: 1966