Norbert Nachtweih Explained

Norbert Nachtweih
Birth Date:4 June 1957
Birth Place:Sangerhausen, East Germany
Height:1.74 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1963–1967
Youthclubs1:Motor Sangerhausen
Youthyears2:1967–1969
Youthclubs2:Traktor Polleben
Youthyears3:1969–1971
Youthclubs3:MK Eisleben
Youthyears4:1971–1974
Youthclubs4:Chemie Halle
Years1:1974–1976
Caps1:35
Goals1:2
Years2:1976–1982
Caps2:120
Goals2:26
Years3:1982–1989
Caps3:202
Goals3:20
Years4:1989–1991
Caps4:43
Goals4:2
Years5:1991
Caps5:3
Goals5:0
Years6:1991–1995
Caps6:127
Goals6:11
Years7:1997
Years8:1998–1999

Norbert Nachtweih (born 4 June 1957) is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He played in 325 Bundesliga games over the course of 13 seasons (46 goals), playing for Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern Munich and winning eight major titles combined, including four national championships with the latter.

Career

Born in Sangerhausen, East Germany, Nachtweih moved to West Germany in 1976, signing with Eintracht Frankfurt, for which he appeared as a midfielder over the course of five Bundesliga seasons,[1] scoring 25 goals in his last three years combined and winning the 1979–80 UEFA Cup (11 appearances, one goal) against fellow league side Borussia Mönchengladbach.

In the 1982 summer, Nachtweih joined FC Bayern Munich, contributing with 85 games and ten goals as the Bavarians won three consecutive national championships from 1985 to 1987 (of the four he conquered with the team during his spell), and also being regularly played as a defender. In 1989, the 32-year-old moved to France and signed for AS Cannes, partnering a young Zinedine Zidane in two Ligue 1 seasons,[2] [3] and helping the club qualify to the UEFA Cup in his first.

After a brief spell with Eintracht, Nachtweih signed with second division's SV Waldhof Mannheim in December 1991. He retired from professional football after five seasons at the age of 39, but still competed a few years at the amateur level.

After his active career, Nachtweih managed SV Bernbach and FK Pirmasens (first as a youth coach). Subsequently, he returned to Eintracht Frankfurt, working in the club's football academy.[3]

Defection

In October 1976, following an under-21 international game, Nachtweih fled to West Germany via Turkey alongside Jürgen Pahl, being suspended one year by FIFA. Even though he was one of the best German men's footballers in the 1980s, FIFA formalities forbade a career in the West German national team, as he had previously appeared with East Germany.[2]

Honours

Eintracht Frankfurt

1979–80

1980–81

Bayern Munich

1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89

1983–84, 1985–86; runner-up 1984–85

runner-up 1986–87

1987[4]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mannschaftskader . Teams . Eintracht Frankfurt . German . 26 January 2010.
  2. Web site: Nachtweih: "Ich wollte in die beste Liga der Welt" . Nachtweih: "I wanted to play in the best league in the world" . Spox . German . 4 October 2010 . 13 December 2011.
  3. Web site: Man hat Zidanes Talent schon gesehen . You could see Zidane's talent right away . Spox . German . 26 May 2011 . 13 December 2011.
  4. Web site: Deutscher Supercup, 1987, Finale . dfb.de . 10 November 2020.