Horst Hrubesch is a celebrated German football player and manager, known for his exceptional heading skills.
Hrubesch was a key player in the West Germany team that won the 1980 European Championship and reached the 1982 World Cup final.
During his time at Hamburger SV, Hrubesch won three West German championships and the European Cup in 1983.
Biography
Early Life and Background
Horst Hrubesch, born in Germany, is a renowned former professional football player and manager, celebrated for his remarkable contributions to the sport. Known for his exceptional heading ability, he earned the nickname "Das Kopfball-Ungeheuer" (The Header Monster). Hrubesch began his football journey at small clubs, including Germania Hamm and Hammer SpVg, before making a significant leap to Rot-Weiss Essen at the age of 24.
Career Highlights
Hrubesch's career took off when he joined Hamburger SV in 1978, where he became one of the Bundesliga's most prolific forwards. During his time at HSV, he won three West German championships and the prestigious European Cup in 1983, leading his team to a 1-0 victory over Juventus in the final. He was also a key player for the West Germany national team, contributing to their triumph in the 1980 European Championship and reaching the final of the 1982 World Cup. Over his international career, he scored six goals in 21 appearances, including a memorable performance in the Euro 1980 final against Belgium, where he scored two goals.
Coaching Career and Legacy
After retiring as a player, Hrubesch transitioned into coaching, starting with Rot-Weiss Essen and later managing various clubs, including VfL Wolfsburg and Austria Wien. He also had a stint as the head coach of the Germany women's national team. Hrubesch's legacy in football is cemented not only by his achievements on the field but also by his contributions to the development of the game in Germany, earning him several prestigious awards, including the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt and induction into the German Football Hall of Fame.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
Club
International
Scores and results list West Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hrubesch goal.
Hrubesch played in small clubs until the age of 24 when he was signed by Rot-Weiss Essen. There, he played well enough that in 1978 Hamburger SV (HSV) bought him. At Hamburg he blossomed into one of the most productive forwards of the Bundesliga and was soon called up for the West German national team. Hrubesch formed an attacking partnership with fellow HSV player Manfred Kaltz, a right wingback whose crosses Hrubesch often headed in, or headed to teammates to provide them with scoring chances. Hrubesch won the West German championship three times with Hamburg, in 1979, 1982 and 1983; and his team finished second in the league standings twice, in 1980 and 1981. In all, he scored 96 goals in 159 matches for the club. Hrubesch won the European Cup in 1983, captaining the team to a 1–0 win against favourites Juventus in the final in Athens. Three years earlier he had been on the team that lost the 1980 European Cup Final against Nottingham Forest, however he was injured shortly before the game and could only feature as a half time substitute. Hamburg reached one other major European final while Hrubesch was on the team, losing the 1982 UEFA Cup final against IFK Göteborg. Hrubesch left Hamburg after the 1983 season to play for Belgian club Standard Liège. After two years he returned to the Bundesliga to play for Borussia Dortmund, appearing in about half the club's games during his one season there. Over the course of his entire career he scored 136 goals in 224 games in the…
West Germany's match-winning hero in the UEFA Euro 1980 final in Rome against Belgium, Hrubesch scored two goals, the second a trademark bullet header, in the 89th minute. It was a day of redemption for the big Hamburger SV centre forward who a few weeks earlier had hobbled around the field with an ankle injury as his club lost the European Cup final to Nottingham Forest. A latecomer to the international scene, Hrubesch had only been called into the West Germany squad after Klaus Fischer broke his leg, and the game against Belgium was only his fifth international appearance. He would play for West Germany 21 times, scoring six goals, his last match being the losing 1982 FIFA World Cup final against Italy. Hrubesch is also famous for having scored the only goal in the Disgrace of Gijón victory against Austria, and the winning penalty which defeated France in the 1982 FIFA World Cup semi-final, after an epic game which was tied 3–3 after extra-time. Minutes earlier, in the second extra-time period with France leading 3–2, it was Hrubesch who headed a cross from the left wing to Fischer, enabling his spectacular overhead kick equalizer. Irish television commentator Jimmy Magee during the shoot-out coined the nickname that made Hrubesch best known in the English-speaking world: "The man they call 'The Monster'."
Club football
Hrubesch started his coaching career with Rot-Weiss Essen He was there between 1 July 1986 and 14 September 1987. His first match was a 2–0 loss against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen on 25 July 1986. He had won two of nine league matches and a first round exit from the cup before leaving the club. His final match was a 3–1 loss to Rot-Weiß Oberhausen on 13 September 1987. He won 16 of his 47 league matches. Hrubesch then took over VfL Wolfsburg for the 1988–89 season. In the cup, he had a draw and a loss. This includes a 1–1 draw and a 6–1 loss against to Eintracht Frankfurt. Hrubesch then took over Swarovski Tirol from 1 January 1992 to 30 June 1992. His first match was a 2–0 win against Austria Salzburg. Hrubesch took over at Hansa Rostock between 4 January 1993 and 26 June 1993. His first match was a 3–0 loss to Waldhof Mannheim on 6 February 1993. Hrubesch took over as head coach of Dynamo Dresden on 22 November 1994 and was there until 1 March 1995. He failed to win any of his five matches. His first match was a 1–1 draw against Karlsruher SC on 26 November 1994. Dynamo Dresden also lost a 2–1 to Bayern Munich, 1–1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen, 1–0 loss to Werder Bremen, and a 2–0 loss to VfL Bochum. Hrubesch was head coach of Austria Wien for the 1995–96 season. His first match was a 4–0 win against Vorwärts Steyr on 2 August 1995. Hrubesch was head coach of Samsunspor for the 1997–98 season. Samsunspor finished second in Group 6 of the UEFA Intertoto Cup,…
- Club
- Germany men's national association football team (1980–1982)
- Club
- Germania Hamm (1971–1971)
- Club
- Hamburger SV (1978–1983)
- Club
- Hammer SpVg (1971–1972)
- Club
- Borussia Dortmund (1985–1986)
- Club
- Rot-Weiss Essen (1975–1978)
- Club
- Standard Liège (1983–1985)
- League
- Bundesliga
- League
- 2. Bundesliga
- National team
- Germany
Trophies & Awards
- Award
- Silbernes Lorbeerblatt
- Award
- Walther Bensemann award
- Award
- Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia
- Award
- Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Award
- German Football Hall of Fame
Clubs
- Germania Hamm1971–1971
- Hammer SpVg1971–1972
- Rot-Weiss Essen1975–1978
- Hamburger SV1978–1983
- Germany men's national association football team1980–1982
- Standard Liège1983–1985
- Borussia Dortmund1985–1986
Played together with
Aaron HuntHamburger SV · 2015
Abdou DialloBorussia Dortmund · 2018–2019
Abdoul TapsobaStandard Liège · 2020
Achraf HakimiBorussia Dortmund · 2018–2020Adnan JanuzajBorussia Dortmund · 2015–2016
Adrian CristeaStandard Liège · 2013–2013
Adrian FeinHamburger SV · 2019Adrián RamosBorussia Dortmund · 2014–2017
Albert Sambi LokongaHamburger SV · 2025
Albin EkdalHamburger SV · 2015–2018- Aleksandar BoljevićStandard Liège · 2019
Alen HalilovićHamburger SV · 2016–2018
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Horst Hrubesch is a German professional football manager and former player who last managed the Germany women's national team. As a player, Hrubesch won three West German championships with his club side, Hamburger SV, as well as the European Cup title in 1983. He was a key member of the West Germany team that won the 1980 European Championship and made it to the final of the 1982 World Cup, losing to Italy. His nickname was Das Kopfball-Ungeheuer for his heading skills as a centre forward.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
…






