Franz Gerber

Gerber was born in Munich. He spent most of his teenage years playing in the youth ranks at Bayern Munich, until finally making the senior squad in 1971–72, aged just 17. He made his debut on 15 April 1972 as a substitute in a 3–1 victory over Hannover 96 during the club's championship winning campaign. Despite this breakthrough, this would be Gerber's sole appearance for the legendary team as he moved onto FC St. Pauli of the (then) second flight Regionalliga North during the summer. Here, he began the first of three different spells at the club, making an immediate impact as the team finished as winners of the division in his first season. However, Gerber was denied a rapid return to the top flight as FC St. Pauli narrowly missed promotion after losing out in the playoff group to Fortuna Köln. The following season Gerber again helped fire the club to this stage, but once more they came unstuck in the final group phase. Although the club hadn't progressed, Gerber certainly had as he staked his claim as one of the best young goalscorers in Germany with his astonishing haul of 51 goals in 55 games. This was enough to tempt Bundesliga club Wuppertaler SV to sign him in Summer 1974. Gerber settled well and was easily the club's top goalscorer with 12 goals in his debut season there. However, this was insufficient to retain the club's top flight status and they dropped down to the recently formed 2. Bundesliga North. Gerber again proved himself the club's leading marksman with…

Since his playing retirement, Gerber has remained in the game in many capacities. In 1989, he began as manager of TuS Celle of the Verbandsliga Niedersachsen. Gerber immediately tasted success, as the club won this division and climbed into the Oberliga North. During this time he was also coach of the youth ranks. In 1996, he was appointed club manager of Hannover 96. This post lasted until August 1997, as he was fired by new club president Utz Claassen, but reinstated just weeks later after angry fan demonstrations. He remained in this role until 1999, when he became coach of the side after the firing of Reinhold Fanz in the winter break. Gerber lifted the team up the 2. Bundesliga table into genuine promotion challengers, but they fell just short, one point off third. Gerber left the club after this near-miss, ending up at BV Cloppenburg in January 2000 as club manager. He lasted 12 months in this position before taking up an advisory role with VfB Oldenburg in January 2001. This left this in the summer to return to Hannover 96 as sporting director but had left by Christmas. In April 2002, he returned to his advisory role at VfB Oldenburg. However, he would stay long as the lure of the club manager's role at his old club FC St. Pauli proved too strong in July 2002. After the firing of coach Joachim Philipkowski in December 2002, Gerber moved into the coach's role. The club were mired in the relegation zone of 2. Bundesliga at the halfway stage, and despite adding some wins…

Gerber is the father of Fabian Gerber, a longtime 2. Bundesliga player.