1954 World Cup Star : Fritz Walter

1954 World Cup Star : Fritz Walter

                                                                                                                                

When Fritz Walter died at the age of 81 at his house at Alsenborn-Enkenbach on June 17, 2002, the whole of Germany mourned him. Fritz Walter was one of his nation’s greatest sports personalities.

His name stood alongside what is often described as one of the most important sporting successes ever achieved by Germany. Fritz Walter – his name will always symbolise the German 1954 FIFA World Cup™ triumph. The pleasant man of the Palatinate, who was cherished by millions of his fellow countrymen, led the German national team to their first FIFA World Cup™ title.

Playmaker and goal-scorer Fritz Walter was Sepp Herberger’s – the German head coach – most important player in Germany’s first World Cup win in 1954. KUNZ/Augenklick

In Germany, the 4th of July, 1954, stands for the “Miracle of Berne”. It was the day the chroniclers heaped praise on the fairytale story of German football. It was the day of the 3-2 final victory by the Germans over the Hungarians, who until then had been undefeated for four years and were considered the “overpowering team” of their time. The great triumph in pouring rain at Wankdorf Stadium must be linked also with other heroes: Sepp Herberger, the national coach, who also became a legend in Germany; Toni Turek, the devilish goalkeeper, who made the Hungarians sigh in desperation and joined the ranks of the famous with Helmut Rahn, “The Boss”, who sealed the route to Germany’s first FIFA World Cup™ title by scoring the winning goal, for the 3-2 lead, in the 84th minute. But July 4, 1954, was foremost the day of Fritz Walter. As the team captain he received the “Golden Goddess”, FIFA’s first FIFA World Cup™, from the hands of 82-year-old French FIFA President, Jules Rimet. Winning the 1954 FIFA World Cup™ triggered great euphoria in Germany. After World War II the country had been banned from such major sporting events as the 1948 Olympic Games in London and the 1950 Football FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil. The Germans were allowed to compete in world competitions again in 1954. The Germans gave their team a slender chance of success. But in the team quarters on LakeThun, at the foot of the Alpine Massif of Eiger, Monk and Virgin, the “Spirit of Spiez” was created, a notion still known by German football fans today. Herberger was the architect of the winning performances; Fritz Walter, his most important player, implemented his coach’s ideas and led the team. The story of Fritz Walter is the story of a man who, other than for his outstanding football qualities, was loved and admired because he was permanently rooted to his native soil, an optimist and always friendly. Fritz Walter was born in Kaiserslautern on October 31, 1920, the eldest son of five children (Ludwig, Ottmar, Sonja, Gisela). His father Ludwig and his mother Dorothea ran the club restaurant at 1. FC Kaiserlautern. It became the starting point for a career embracing superlatives. In 1928, at the age of seven, little Fritz put on the shirt of the “Red Devils” for the first time. As a 17-year-old, in 1937, he played his first match in the first division team with a special permit. In 1940, Fritz Walter made his international debut as a half-back under Sepp Herberger, and scored three goals against Romaniaduring a 9-3 victory. In 1951 he made his comeback in the national team against Switzerland and won his first national title with 1. FC Kaiserslautern. In 1953 he led his club to the second national championship. Altogether, he played in five national championship finals. But 1954 turned into a Walter year. Together with his younger brother Ottmar, Fritz gained the FIFA World Cup™ title in Switzerland. For the first time in the history of world football, two brothers played in the final and won.

In spite of the “Miracle of Bern”, Fritz Walter always remained down to earth. No airs and graces for him. The captain is seen here with the old “Golden Goddess” World Cup trophy. Kunz/Augenklick

At the age of 37, Fritz Walter said farewell to the international stage at his second FIFA World Cup™, in Sweden in 1958. He had earned 61 caps, scored 33 goals and led the national team as captain in 30 matches. The Honorary Citizen of his home town retired from his career with a match against Racing Paris on June 20, 1959. He scored 306 goals in 379 matches for 1. FC Kaiserslautern. A career without any scandal had come to an end. As a footballer, Fritz Walter made many headlines. But Fritz Walter, who married Italia Bortoluzzi in 1948, lived a private life as exemplary as his sporting one. When he received the FIFA Order for his life’s merits at Wankdorf Stadium in Bern in 1995, the famous German radio reporter Rudi Michel called him “a World Champion of Modesty”. Franz Beckenbauer, who admired Fritz Walter as a young boy, considers the 1954 captain the “most important German football player”.
Ulfert Schroeder, a renowned German football writer, described Fritz Walter’s capabilities thus: “Let’s take the calmness and grasp of the game of Franz Beckenbauer, the talent, stirring ideas and grand gestures of Guenther Netzer, the feeling for the ball and danger in front of goal of Wolfgang Overath, the fighting spirit and courage of Uwe Seeler, finally the patriotic devotion and loyalty of Berti Vogts”. Fritz Walter was loved and cherished by all Germans, but his heart always beat red -- the colour of 1. FC Kaiserslautern, the city with a large US military base (“K-Town“).
Despite substantial financial offers from Milan, Madrid and Nancy, Fritz Walter never followed the call of money. Even his much-loved wife Italia, a native Italian, preferred to remain in the Palatinate, near to the legendary Betzenberg where the Kaiserslautern Stadium is located. At the end of his playing career, the honorary captain of the national team remained in football. He became first a consultant with SV Alsenborn, then facing promotion to the Bundesliga, then later a representative of the Sepp Herberger Foundation, and of a sports equipment manufacturer. On behalf of the Herberger Foundation, Fritz Walter advocated the re-socialisation of prisoners, and regularly visited prisons.
On October 31, 1985, Kaiserslautern renamed their stadium at Betzenberg “Fritz Walter Stadium”, which Fritz Walter, with his typical modesty, did not approve. The arena would remain the “Betze”, he said, after which a street, a school, a railway carriage, a sparkling wine, and, naturally, a football tournament had been named. As an ambassador with the Organising Committee of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, Fritz Walter played a key role in getting the FIFA World Cup™ to Germany, and Kaiserslautern chosen as a site. Fritz Walter, who had received many awards and orders and had a particularly good contact with the former Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl, made his last big public appearance on December 5, 2001. On that day, Kaiserslautern submitted their application to the FIFA World Cup™ Organising Committee in Frankfurt/Main.
Fritz Walter’s great wish: “It would be the greatest thing for me if I were allowed to watch the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ matches together with my brother Ottmar and Horst Eckel in the stands of our stadium. I would be grateful to God for that favour.” His wish was not to be fulfilled. The great Fritz died during the 2002 FIFA World Cup™. The German national team dedicated their quarter-final victory against the USA in Korea to their great idol. The memorial service to Fritz Walter took place where he had always felt at home, on the football pitch in his stadium, the Fritz Walter Stadium. In the stands were his mourning brother Ottmar and Horst Eckel for the FIFA World Cup™ champion team, which in 1954 included five players from Kaiserslautern. But the genial Fritz Walter contributed the most in the “Miracle of Berne”, as all his fellow-players have always emphasised.