Dieter Herzog was a German footballer who played professionally from 1965 to 1983.
He made 360 appearances and scored 46 goals during his career in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga.
Herzog was part of the Fortuna Düsseldorf team that finished third in the Bundesliga in the 1972–73 and 1973–74 seasons.
Biography
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Dieter Herzog was a German professional footballer born in 1946, who made a significant impact in the world of football as a midfielder. He began his senior career with Sportfreunde Hamborn 07, where he honed his skills before moving to Fortuna Düsseldorf in 1970. Herzog played a crucial role in Düsseldorf's ascent to the Bundesliga, contributing to the team's impressive third-place finishes in the 1972–73 and 1973–74 seasons.
Professional Career
Herzog's professional career spanned several clubs, including a notable stint at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from 1976 to 1983. During his time in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, he made a total of 360 appearances, scoring 46 goals. His versatility as a left-sided winger allowed him to adapt and thrive in various competitive environments, including the Regionalliga and the newly established 2. Bundesliga.
International Representation
In 1974, Herzog was called up to represent the West Germany national team, earning five caps during that year. He participated in the 1974 FIFA World Cup, contributing to the team's success as they claimed the championship on home soil. His international career, though brief, was marked by significant achievements that highlighted his talent on a global stage.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring from professional football, Herzog continued his association with the sport by working for Bayer Leverkusen's sponsor, Bayer, and later as a scout for the club. He passed away in November 2025 at the age of 79, leaving behind a legacy as a dedicated player who contributed to the rich history of German football.
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Career & Clubs
Employed by Bayer Leverkusen sponsor Bayer after the end of his career, Herzog worked as a scout for his old club later on. Herzog died in November 2025, at the age of 79.
In the prime of his game in the years before the 1974 FIFA World Cup, Dieter Herzog was called up by Helmut Schön to represent West Germany five times in 1974. As he also came to action in the games against Yugoslavia and Sweden in the second round of the tournament, he played a part in the host nation winning the World Cup on that occasion. Overall he won five caps – all in 1974.
Herzog started his senior career with Sportfreunde Hamborn 07 in a lower division and joining Düsseldorf a year before the club returned to the Bundesliga in 1971. He was part of the Düsseldorf team that ended third in the Bundesliga in 1972–73 and 1973–74, the season in which he made the biggest impact. In 1976, the left-sided winger joined Bayer Leverkusen when the club was attempting to build a squad that could lead them all the way up to the Bundesliga. In fact, they succeeded and enabled Herzog to play four more seasons in the best German division then. In addition to his 250 appearances in the West German top-flight, he also played in 161 matches in the old Regionalliga and 110 matches in the 1974 introduced 2. Bundesliga.
- Club
- Fortuna Düsseldorf (1970–1976)
- Club
- Germany men's national association football team (1974–1974)
- Club
- Hamborn 07 (1967–1970)
- Club
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1976–1983)
- Club
- Germany national football B team (1972–1974)
- Club
- VfB Bottrop (1965–1967)
- Club
- Germany national under-23 football team (1973–1973)
- League
- Bundesliga
- League
- 2. Bundesliga
- National team
- Germany
Clubs
- VfB Bottrop1965–1967
- Hamborn 071967–1970
- Fortuna Düsseldorf1970–1976
- Germany national football B team1972–1974
- Germany national under-23 football team1973–1973
- Germany men's national association football team1974–1974
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen1976–1983
Played together with
Aaron MokoenaBayer 04 Leverkusen · 1998–1999- Abdullah KeseroğluBayer 04 Leverkusen
- Abiodun ObafemiFortuna Düsseldorf · 1994–1997
Adam BodzekFortuna Düsseldorf · 2011
Adam HložekBayer 04 Leverkusen · 2022–2024- Adam LedwońBayer 04 Leverkusen · 1998–1999
Adam MatuszczykFortuna Düsseldorf · 2012–2012
Adam MatysekBayer 04 Leverkusen · 1998–2001
Admir MehmediBayer 04 Leverkusen · 2015–2018- Adrian StanilewiczBayer 04 Leverkusen
- Adriano GrimaldiFortuna Düsseldorf · 2011–2012
Aggelos CharisteasBayer 04 Leverkusen · 2009–2009
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Dieter Herzog was a German professional footballer who played as a winger. He made 360 appearances scoring 46 goals for Fortuna Düsseldorf and Bayer Leverkusen in his career in Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. Herzog made five appearances for the West Germany national team.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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