German football legend Bernd Hölzenbein, who played a crucial role in West Germany’s victory over the Netherlands in the 1974 World Cup final, has passed away at the age of 78. The news was announced by his former club, Eintracht Frankfurt, on Tuesday.
Hölzenbein was widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play for Eintracht Frankfurt and his most memorable moment came during the 1974 World Cup final. After falling behind to an early penalty from Dutch midfielder Johan Neeskens, Hölzenbein played a pivotal role in getting his team back into the game. His dribble into the crowded Dutch box resulted in a foul from Wim Jansen, which led to a penalty converted by Paul Breitner to level the score at 1-1.
Despite being favored to win, West Germany secured victory thanks to Gerd Müller’s goal just before halftime and some solid defending. Hölzenbein also played in the 1976 European Championship final against Czechoslovakia, scoring a goal to level the score at 2-2 before his team lost on penalties.
During his career, Hölzenbein spent most of his time with Eintracht Frankfurt and he won many accolades while playing for them. He helped them win three German cups and one UEFA cup which are all significant achievements in any footballing career. After retiring from playing he became vice president of Eintracht Frankfurt and worked as a scout for them until his death. He will always be remembered as a true legend of German football history.
