Interviews
Our World Cup winners: Interview with Wolfgang Overath
Friday, May 12, 2006
1954 - 1974 - 1990: Magical numbers in German football. How do the previous World Cup heroes rate the chances of their young successors of today? Continuing our series of conversations with the World Cup winners of yesteryear, the famous sports journalist Wolfgang Golz interviews Wolfgang Overath, winner of the 1974 World Cup in Munich. An interview with Rudi Völler will complete the series.
Wolfgang Overath, 62, is a 1974 World Cup winner. He still moves at the same, slightly hurried, pace; he is still a footballer at heart. These days he is in exceptional demand. Overath is the honorary President of 1. FC Köln. “I really enjoy it”, he says as if he needs to be convincing. “I don't get paid for it. If I did then I would feel the pressure.” Which would make it less enjoyable. From the President's chair in his office he has a clear view of the training ground. The green of the turf is supposed to have a relaxing effect. His secretary is not on hand so he pours the coffee out himself. He has hardly sat down when he calls out, “What do you want to know?”
The first question in this series of interviews is always: Why will Germany win the World Cup in a few weeks time?
Wolfgang Overath: It's incredibly difficult to predict who will win the World Cup.
That's not the question: Why will Germany win the World Cup?
A better question would be: Why do we have a chance of winning the World Cup? Because we're playing at home and because we will see an emotionally-charged World Cup in Germany. I hope the fans will, indeed they must, become the extra man on the pitch and inspire the team with their enthusiastic support. Brazil, Argentina, France, Italy and England are the favourites. But we can beat Brazil on a good day as well. We can't do it three times in succession but we can do it once. And if that were to happen in a semi-final or the Final...
What springs to mind when you think back to the 2-1 World Cup Final win against Holland?
The run-up to the World Cup finals didn't look too good for Overath.
I was already 30 and had just had a difficult season. And after his sensational performance in the 1972 European Championships it was clear that Günter Netzer would take my place in the team. I often reached the point where I thought to myself, give it up Wolfgang. Then things suddenly clicked into place at the training camp in Malente. And with every game I became more and more determined to reach that great target: to be a World Cup winner.
And what happened when you actually did it?
When the referee – I think he was called Taylor – blew the final whistle I was filled with a feeling of immense happiness: I'd reached the peak of achievement. It didn't bother me that the players' wives weren't allowed to attend the World Cup banquet. At that moment of indescribable happiness I made a completely rational decision: Wolfgang, retire from the national side while you're at the top.
World Cup winners are immortal
What makes winning the World Cup so special?
The main difference is that if you finish as runners-up or in third place people forget you very quickly. Who can still name the line-up from the 1966 Final? But if you win the Final you become immortal. You can make your living out of it and you get a lot of benefits outside the game as well.
What's your advice for the World Cup for today's players?
They've got to go into the tournament full of determination and excitement so that they can get the fans behind them. And fight to the end. Then football will be a winner and the players too. There is no greater achievement than winning the World Cup.
After the “Miracle of Bern” in 1954, could Germany do with a “Miracle of Berlin” now?
Germany benefited incredibly back then from winning the World Cup. Things weren't the same then as they are now. We were the complete outsiders compared with the superior Hungary team – and yet, we managed to win. That gave people an incredible sense of identity and purpose in rebuilding Germany after the war. Football moved from being a sideshow to centre-stage.
Leaving money out of it – would Overath have preferred playing football in the 60s and 70s or now?
Money – I did earn a lot for those times. And I wouldn't want to miss a single day from that time. I really wish I could have played then and now: I'd have liked to have stayed young. Football today has become so powerful and huge. You just have to look at all the stadiums. Yes, I would like to be twenty again. But I do thank the Lord that he gave me this talent and granted me the good things in life: in a personal, sporting and business sense. I grew up in modest circumstances as the youngest of eight children and early on I recognised that football offered me a chance to avoid having to struggle like my parents. I was so damned lucky.
What does a former superstar and current Club President think about a young footballer of moderate ability demanding a million signing-on fee?
It's difficult if you grew up in a time when there was a different attitude to money. I'll give you an example: 1. FC Köln has a very good credit rating with the bank. We could get 30 million from the bank to invest in a player but that wouldn't necessarily guarantee success. That's not my cup of tea. I wouldn't have the heart to do that sort of thing. It must be difficult for people with that mentality.
Athletic and fast: Football today
If you compare 1974 with now, how much has football changed?
In 1974 we thought the media were driving us round the bend. But that's nothing compared with today. Football is king and for the last two months everything here has revolved around the World Cup.
And in terms of tactics or technique?
I remember the time when there used to be sweeper in midfield. He became the spare man at the back. The libero was replaced by the back four. Today's game is more varied and less structured than it used to be. The game has got much quicker and strength plays a great part in it. There's no time for technique. If you're a bit slower you don't stand a chance these days.
And players like Netzer or Beckenbauer?
Given the training regime then, they wouldn't be able to play the dominant role that they used to. But with today's training methods they would be as outstanding as ever thanks to their technical skills on the football pitch. A lot has changed. Teams lack the great stars of the 1970s like Pele, Riva, Rivera, Bobby Charlton, Franz Beckenbauer – every team had its outstanding personalities. They were good for football. Today's game is all about strength, athleticism and excitement.
Under the national coach Sepp Herberger the 1954 team members were all friends. In 1974 Günter Netzer and Wolfgang Overath were fighting for the position of playmaker – that was more a case of being enemies, wasn't it?
No, we were able to separate rivalry on the pitch from life off it. We always got on very well with each other and that's still the case today. The philosophy of the 1954 team is still possible nowadays. It just looks different. You are in a position to build a real team if you are prepared to give your all for your team-mates. That would achieve the same result as in 1954.
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