Bernd Stange

Born in Gnaschwitz, Doberschau-Gaußig, a Sorbian town of Saxony, Stange started playing at an early age and was called into the East German youth team. He continued to play for Chemie Gnaschwitz in the lower divisions until 1965 followed by a year at Vorwärts Bautzen. In 1966 he joined HSG DHfK Leipzig, playing until retiring in 1970, while also studying at the DHfK Leipzig (de) to become a sports teacher.

1970–91: Carl Zeiss Jena and East Germany national team

Upon completing his sports teacher degree, Stange went into coaching with Carl Zeiss Jena in 1970, winning the GDR Cup in 1973 and 1974 as assistant coach of Hans Meyer. He was head coach East Germany Olympic Team from 1982 to 1984. They were undefeated in qualifying for the 1984 Olympic games. In late 1983, he was appointed head coach of East Germany after years working as assistant coach and head coach of the Under 21s. After a mediocre five-year spell with the national team without qualifying for a World Cup or European Championship final tournament, Stange returned, now as head coach in the GDR league, to FC Carl Zeiss Jena, in the autumn of 1989.

1991–94: Hertha BSC and VfB Leipzig; Stasi informer

Stange moved to coach Hertha BSC where his old ties as an informant for the East German police, the Stasi, surfaced. He was an 'Inoffizieller Mitarbeiter', which translates as 'unofficial employee'. His code name was 'IM Kurt Wegner'. His tasks included informing the Stasi about his players' views of the government and whether any of them were breaking the law by making contact with West Germans. He was sacked after these allegations surfaced.

1995–2001: Coaching abroad and third stint at Jena

After losing his job at VfB Leipzig, in 1995 he joined FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. In 1996 Stange briefly joined CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv, but had to leave before the start of the season due to a scheme organized…