Rudolf Noack

Hamburger SV (1931–1942)

In 1931, Noack joined HSV, where his Harburg neighbour Richard Dörfel had also transferred from Viktoria Harburg. He played an outstanding first season in 1931–32, scoring 36 goals in 18 league matches as HSV won the Oberliga Nord title with 34 points from a possible 36, before also claiming the Northern German championship. He was a four-goal scorer in both the 8–2 win over Eimsbütteler TV on 18 October 1931 and the 7–0 victory over FC St. Pauli on 31 January 1932. In May 1932, he played his first two of an eventual 23 German football championship final-round matches (in which he scored 16 goals), appearing against VfL Benrath (3–1) and FC Schalke 04 (2–4). In June 1932, unemployed at the time, he and Richard Dörfel joined Kölner CfR. They returned in November 1932, but the Western German Football Association imposed a ban on both former Cologne players until April 1933. While Dörfel was released early and able to resume playing for HSV from 27 November 1932, Noack remained suspended until November 1933, only receiving an amnesty in time for the start of the 1933–34 season. Playing as an inside-left forward, Noack typically assumed the role of playmaker. He was celebrated for his creativity and refined technique; the Hamburg public regarded him as a virtuoso of the kind they had never previously seen. He also had an unconventional character and was recognisable by his distinctive thick, dark hair, which earned him the nickname "der Schwarze"…

Noack won three caps for the Germany national football team, scoring one goal. He made his debut on 14 January 1934 in Frankfurt, in a 3–1 victory over Hungary, alongside fellow debutant centre-forward Edmund Conen. It was Germany's last match before their World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg on 11 March. He was selected for the 1934 FIFA World Cup in Italy, together with Hans Schwartz of SC Victoria Hamburg as the Hamburg representatives. His sole appearance at the tournament came on 3 June in the semi-final against Czechoslovakia, a match Germany lost 1–3. Noack scored Germany's equaliser, making it 1–1 in the 62nd minute. His final international appearance was on 2 May 1937 in Zürich, a 1–0 victory over Switzerland. The German forward line in Zürich comprised Ernst Lehner, Fritz Szepan, Jakob Eckert, Noack and Adolf Urban. A fortnight later, on 16 May, Germany beat Denmark 8–0 in Breslau, giving rise to the legend of the "Breslau-Elf"; for that match, Noack's place was taken by Rudolf Gellesch and Otto Siffling. Despite his abilities, and a lifestyle that might have endeared him to the national coaches (he was a non-smoker and teetotaller), Noack was considered temperamental and headstrong, and he never became a regular under either Otto Nerz or Sepp Herberger.

Noack grew up on the "Mopsberg" in Harburg, on the then Elisenstraße (today Baererstraße), where he played street football with neighbourhood children, including future HSV teammates Richard Dörfel and Friedo Dörfel. He came from a working-class background; his father was a labourer at the Phoenix rubber works. He began his youth football career at the ATSB club Herta 09 Harburg before moving to Rasensport Harburg and then, in 1931, to SV Harburg. On his debut for SV Harburg, he scored five goals in a 6–4 victory over Victoria in the Northern Championship. This exceptional talent quickly became the talk of the city and a topic of interest at the Rothenbaum (HSV's home ground). For a time, Noack also went to sea as a sailor, during which period he acquired a tattoo on his upper arm. This tattoo was reportedly a factor that counted against his selection for the national team, and he was never permitted to roll up his sleeves far enough to reveal it.

Noack, like his father, worked at the Phoenix rubber works in Harburg. For a period he served in the merchant navy.