Harald Nickel

Nickel spent four seasons in the Bundesliga, first one with Arminia Bielefeld. He then moved to Belgium and played for several clubs. Returning to Germany, he played one season with Eintracht Braunschweig and two for Borussia Mönchengladbach. He is especially remembered for his goal in the 1979–80 UEFA Cup, second round return match in San Siro on 7 February 1979. Inter Milan played as favorites against Nickel's Borussia Mönchengladbach and were leading 1–0. Gladbach's keeper Wolfgang Kneib's goal-kick landed in the opponent's half. Harald Nickel took the ball on in the air, pulled away in the turn and slammed the ball directly under the crossbar from 40 meters. It was the goal to the result, a 1-1 draw (Borussia won after extra time) and this goal was later voted Goal of the Year 1979. To end his career Nickel moved to Switzerland. He joined FC Basel's first team for their 1981–82 season under head coach Helmut Benthaus. Nickel played his debut for his new club in the Cup of the Alps game in Porrentruy on 4 July 1981 as Basel were defeated 3–0 by French team FC Girondins de Bordeaux. He scored his first goal for his new team in the next Cup of the Alps match, one week later in Delémont, on 11 July. In fact he scored a brace as Basel won 4–1 against Bastia. Basel advanced to the final, on 29 September, against Sochaux, which ended with a two goal each draw after extra time. In the penalty shoot-out Nickel converted the decisive spot-kick and Basel lifted the trophy. He…

Nickel was also capped three times for West Germany.

Born in Espelkamp, West Germany, Nickel played his youth football with local club 1. FC Lübbecke. At the age of just 66, the former international player Harald Nickel succumbed to serious cancer on the 4 August 2019.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

UEFA Cup runner-up: 1979–80 Basel

Cup of the Alps: 1981 Individual

German Goal of the Year award: 1979 UEFA Cup top scorer: 1979–80 Belgian First Division top scorer: 1977–78