Horst Hrubesch

1.1. Childhood and education

Horst Hrubesch was born on 17 April 1951 in Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia. Standing at 74 in ^{(188 cm)} and weighing 194 lb ^{(88 kg)}, he learned football at FC Pelkum from 1958 to 1970. Besides football, he also actively played handball. Hrubesch pursued vocational training and worked as a tile setter to earn a living during his early years.

1.2. Early amateur career

Before turning professional, Hrubesch played for several smaller amateur clubs. He played for Germania Hamm in 1971, Hammer SpVg from 1971 to 1972, and SC Westtünnen from 1972 to 1975. It was at the age of 24 that he signed his first professional contract with Rot-Weiss Essen.

2.1. Club career

Hrubesch began his professional journey with Rot-Weiss Essen in 1975. Despite being a late bloomer, he quickly demonstrated his capabilities, performing well enough that Hamburger SV (HSV) acquired him in 1978 for a transfer fee of approximately 1.00 M DEM. At Hamburg, he developed into one of the most prolific forwards in the Bundesliga, scoring 96 goals in 159 matches for the club.

At HSV, Hrubesch formed a formidable attacking partnership with right wingback Manfred Kaltz. Kaltz's precise crosses frequently found Hrubesch, who would either head the ball into the net himself or create scoring chances for teammates. With Hrubesch as a key player, Hamburg won the West German championship three times: in 1979, 1982, and 1983. The team also secured second place in the league in 1980 and 1982. In the 1981-82 Bundesliga season, Hrubesch was the league's top scorer with 27 goals, including two crucial goals in the final minutes of a 4-3 victory over FC Bayern Munich during the 29th matchday.

Hrubesch also played a significant role in Hamburg's European campaigns. In the 1979-80 European Cup, he scored seven goals in nine matches, contributing to HSV's run to the final, where they ultimately lost to Nottingham Forest. Despite being injured shortly before the match, he came on as a second-half substitute. In the semi-final against Real Madrid, Hrubesch scored two goals in a dominant 5-1 second-leg victory. Three years later, in 1983, Hrubesch captained HSV to their first and only European Cup title, defeating favorites Juventus 1-0 in the final held in Athens. He also featured in the 1982 UEFA Cup final, which Hamburg lost to IFK Göteborg. After the 1983 season, Hrubesch left Hamburg, citing age as a factor.

In 1983, Hrubesch signed a two-year contract with Belgian club Standard Liège. Following his tenure in Belgium, he returned to the Bundesliga in 1985 to play for Borussia Dortmund. He appeared in 17 matches for Dortmund before retiring from professional football due to a hernia. Over his entire Bundesliga career, Hrubesch scored 136 goals in 224 games.

2.2. International career

Horst Hrubesch made his debut for the West Germany national team at the age of 29, on April 2, 1980, against Austria. His call-up came after the regular center forward, Klaus Fischer, suffered a broken leg in March 1980. The game against Belgium in the UEFA Euro 1980 final was only his fifth international appearance. Hrubesch became the match-winning hero, scoring two goals, including a characteristic powerful header in the 89th minute, securing West Germany's 2-1 victory and their second European Championship title. His performance earned him a spot in the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament for 1980.

Hrubesch also participated in the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. He famously scored the only goal in West Germany's controversial 1-0 victory over Austria, an incident known as the "Disgrace of Gijón". Although he ceded his starting position to Klaus Fischer in the later stages of the tournament, Hrubesch made a crucial impact in the epic semi-final against France. Substituted on in the 73rd minute, he played a key role in the equalizer that took the game to penalties. In the 108th minute, with France leading 3-2 in extra time, Hrubesch headed a cross to Fischer, who scored with a spectacular overhead kick. Hrubesch then calmly converted West Germany's fifth and decisive penalty in the shootout, securing their place in the final. During the penalty shootout, Irish television commentator Jimmy Magee famously referred to him as "The man they call 'The Monster'", a nickname that became widely known in the English-speaking world. His teammate Uli Stielike, who had missed his own penalty, reportedly wept after Hrubesch's decisive goal. His last international match was the 1982 FIFA World Cup final, which West Germany lost to Italy. In total, he played 21 times for West Germany, scoring six goals.

2.3. Playing style and characteristics

Horst Hrubesch was renowned for his distinctive playing style, primarily characterized by his extraordinary heading ability. This skill earned him the famous nickname Das Kopfball-Ungeheuer (Das Kopfball-Ungeheuer_{the Header Beast}^German), or "the Header Monster." His powerful and accurate headers made him a constant threat in the opponent's penalty area.

He also formed an effective and memorable partnership with Manfred Kaltz, the right wingback at Hamburger SV. Kaltz was known for his precise crosses, which Hrubesch would often meet with his head to score goals or flick on to provide scoring opportunities for his teammates. This collaboration was a significant factor in Hamburg's domestic and European successes during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

3.1. Club coaching

Hrubesch began his coaching career at Rot-Weiss Essen from July 1986 to September 1987, guiding them to a 10th-place finish in the 1986-87 season. During his tenure, he won 16 of his 47 league matches. He then took on a player-manager role at SC Westtünnen for the 1987-88 season.

Subsequently, Hrubesch managed VfL Wolfsburg for the 1988-89 season. He also had a brief stint as interim manager for FC Swarovski Tirol in 1991, returning to manage them fully in 1992. In 1993, he took charge of F.C. Hansa Rostock, but was unable to prevent the team's relegation to the 2. Bundesliga. From November 1994 to March 1995, he managed Dynamo Dresden, a period that coincided with the club facing bankruptcy. During this time, he failed to win any of his five matches. Hrubesch also coached Austria Wien for the 1995-96 season, securing 16 wins, 9 draws, and 16 losses in 41 matches. He later managed Samsunspor in Turkey during the 1997-98 season, where the team finished second in their UEFA Intertoto Cup group and had a record of 14 wins, 7 draws, and 13 losses in 34 league matches. His early club coaching career, especially outside of Germany, did not yield significant success.

In May 2021, Hrubesch returned to Hamburger SV as interim manager for the final three matches of the 2020-21 2. Bundesliga season, following the dismissal of Daniel Thioune. Despite a victory in the final match against Eintracht Braunschweig, the team lost 2-3 to VfL Osnabrück in the penultimate match, which cost them the chance to qualify for the promotion playoffs, and they finished the season in fourth place. Prior to this, in July 2020, Hrubesch had rejoined HSV as the director of the youth academy under sports director Jonas Boldt.

3.2. National youth teams coaching

In 1999, Horst Hrubesch joined the coaching staff of the German Football Association (DFB). He served as the head coach of Germany's B team from March 1999. His most notable achievements in national youth coaching came with the U-19 and U-21 teams.

In 2008, Hrubesch guided the Germany U-19 team to victory in the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. In January 2009, he was appointed interim coach of the Germany U-21 team. Under his leadership, the U-21 squad, which included future stars such as Mesut Özil, Mats Hummels, and Manuel Neuer, won the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, defeating England U-21 by a dominant 4-0 margin in the final.

After a period as the U-19 coach, Hrubesch returned to manage the Germany U-21 team in June 2013, succeeding Rainer Adrion. He led the team to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time since the 1988 Seoul Olympics. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, Hrubesch coached the German Olympic team. Despite facing challenges in assembling a full-strength squad due to club commitments, he guided the team to the final, where they earned a silver medal after losing to host nation Brazil in a penalty shootout. Following the Olympics, Hrubesch announced his retirement from his U-21 role. In January 2017, he was appointed as the DFB's sports director, succeeding Hansi Flick.

3.3. Senior national teams coaching

Horst Hrubesch also held roles with Germany's senior national teams. He served as an assistant coach for the Germany men's national football team from May 2000.

In March 2018, Hrubesch was appointed interim head coach for the Germany women's national team after the departure of Steffi Jones. He successfully guided the team through the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers, leading them to the tournament before stepping down on November 30, 2018. He was reappointed as interim coach for the Germany women's national team in October 2023, due to the illness of Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, who was eventually sacked. Under his interim leadership, the team secured third place in the 2023-24 UEFA Women's Nations League and earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

4.1. Club statistics

4.2. International statistics

Scores and results list West Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hrubesch goal.

West Germany national team appearances and goals:

4.3. Managerial statistics

5.1. As a player

Hamburger SV

• Bundesliga: 1978-79, 1981-82, 1982-83
• European Cup: 1982-83
  • Runner-up: 1979-80
• UEFA Cup:
  • Runner-up: 1981-82

  West Germany

  • UEFA European Championship: 1980
  • FIFA World Cup:
    • Runner-up: 1982

    Individual

    • Sport Ideal European XI: 1980
    • UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1980
    • Onze de Bronze: 1980
    • Onze Mondial: 1980, 1983
    • Bundesliga Torschützenkönig (Top Scorer): 1981-82
    • Walther-Bensemann-Preis: 2018

5.2. As a coach

Germany U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2008

Germany U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2009

Germany U23

• Summer Olympics silver medal: 2016

Germany Women

• UEFA Women's Nations League third place: 2023-24
• Summer Olympics bronze medal: 2024

6.1. Positive reception

Hrubesch's most iconic contribution as a player was his exceptional heading ability, which earned him the revered nickname Das Kopfball-Ungeheuer (the Header Beast). This characteristic made him a unique and highly effective center forward. His crucial goals, particularly the two goals in the UEFA Euro 1980 final and the decisive penalty in the 1982 FIFA World Cup semi-final against France, cemented his status as a national hero and clutch player. His partnership with Manfred Kaltz at Hamburger SV is often cited as a prime example of effective teamwork, leading to numerous titles, including three Bundesliga championships and the European Cup.

As a coach, Hrubesch is highly praised for his work with the German youth national teams. He successfully nurtured and developed a generation of talented players, including future World Cup winners like Mesut Özil, Mats Hummels, and Manuel Neuer, leading them to European Championship titles at the U-19 and U-21 levels. His ability to build strong, cohesive teams and guide them to major tournament successes, culminating in an Olympic silver medal in 2016 and an Olympic bronze medal with the women's national team in 2024, highlights his leadership and tactical acumen.

6.2. Criticism and controversies

Despite his many successes, Horst Hrubesch's career is not without its controversial moments. He was involved in the infamous "Disgrace of Gijón" incident during the 1982 FIFA World Cup. In the final group stage match against Austria, Hrubesch scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory. This result, achieved after an apparent mutual agreement between the two teams to play out the match in a way that guaranteed both would qualify for the next round, led to widespread accusations of match-fixing and tarnished the image of both teams.

Additionally, Hrubesch's early club coaching career was marked by a lack of consistent success. He experienced several less fruitful tenures at various clubs, including a period with F.C. Hansa Rostock where he could not prevent relegation, and a challenging stint with Dynamo Dresden during the club's financial difficulties, where he failed to secure any wins in his five matches. His struggles in these initial club management roles contrast sharply with his later, highly successful period as a national youth and women's team coach.