Heinz Krügel

Heinz Krügel(24 April 1921 – 27 October 2008) was a Germanfootballplayer and manager.

Heinz Krügel

Personal information
Date of birth	(1921-04-24)24 April 1921
Place of birth	Ober-Planitz,Germany
Date of death	27 October 2008(2008-10-27)(aged 87)
Place of death	Magdeburg,Germany
Youth career
1927–1939	SC Planitz
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1946–1948	SG Planitz
1948–1950	BSG Fortschritt
	Pleißengrund Crimmitschau
Managerial career
1951–1953	KVP Vorwärts Leipzig
1953–1956	Einheit Ost/SC Rotation Leipzig
1956–1959	SC Empor Rostock
1959–1961	East Germany
1961–1966	Hallescher FC Chemie
1966–1976	1. FC Magdeburg
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

At age 6, Krügel began his playing career in the youth teams of thenSC Planitz.DuringWorld War II,he served in the 5thSSPanzer Division "Wiking" from 1940 to 1944, was wounded on the Eastern Front, and later transferred to SS Corps Flak Detachment 509 in theBalkans.There he was taken prisoner, from which he returned in 1946. He restarted his career in Planitz until 1948 and had his biggest success as a player there, when he won theChampionship of the Eastern Zonein the same year. In 1950 he suffered a knee injury and his playing career was over, even though he was only 29 years old.

Management career

Soon after this setback, Krügel began his managing career as the youngest Oberliga manager at the army sports clubKVP Vorwärts Leipzig.Later on he managedEinheit Ost/SC Rotation LeipzigandSC Empor Rostock.In 1959, he was made national manager ofEast Germanyand remained in this position until 1961, coaching the team in 8 matches. From 1961 to 1966, he managedHallescher FC Chemie,winning the1962FDGB-Pokal.

His biggest success awaited Krügel at1. FC Magdeburg.When he arrived, the club had just been relegated to the second-tierDDR-Liga,but Krügel rebuilt the squad, winning re-promotion immediately. In the following 8 years, Krügel's 1. FC Magdeburg team captured three East German Championships (1971/72,1973/74,1974/75), came in third four times (1967/68,1968/69,1972/73,1975/76) and won the FDGB-Cup twice (1969,1973). On top of all that, Magdeburg won the1974edition of theUEFA Cup Winners' Cup,beating favorites and holdersA.C. Milan2–0 in Rotterdam. Because of his successes, Krügel had offers from many European clubs, including the likes ofJuventus Turinwho offered four million Marks for Krügel's services, if he also brought young forwardMartin Hoffmann.However, Krügel declined these offers.

He also would not let his work be influenced by the Magdeburg branch of theSED.When Magdeburg playedFC Bayern Munichin theEuropean Champions' Cupin 1974, theStasihad bugged theWest Germans'dressing room, but Krügel declined to make use of these devices.

In 1976, the East German FA banned Krügel from his managerial duties, citing "insufficient development of the Olympic athletes at 1. FC Magdeburg".After theGerman reunificationKrügel was rehabilitated and was given an award by theGerman Football Association.For one year, he was Executive Director (Football) at 1. FC Magdeburg. He later was an honorary member of the club and often watched their matches.

Death

On 27 October 2008 Krügel died in Magdeburg after prolonged sickness.

References

• Volkmar Laube, Roland Uhl: „Heinz Krügel – Der Meistermacher “, MDPrint Mediencenter Magd 2003,ISBN3-9808508-1-1
• Volkmar Laube, Roland Uhl, Andreas Prill: „Magdeburger Triumph im "Kuip" “, MDPrint Mediencenter Magd 2004,ISBN3-9808508-2-X

External links

• Heinz Krügelat WorldFootball.net