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| Jurgen Klinsmann and Oliver Bierhoff |
Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index
Germany All-Time Team
North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria
Germany All-Time Team
North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria
Eastern German regional team (Not only GDR)
German Americans/American Germans
German Turks
German-born Players Capped by Other National Teams
Germany All-Time Team After Beckenbauer
Germany All-Time Team Without Bayern Munich Players
German Americans/American Germans
German Turks
German-born Players Capped by Other National Teams
Germany All-Time Team After Beckenbauer
Germany All-Time Team Without Bayern Munich Players
In 2015, I created all-time teams for North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria respectively. At the time, I did not know enough about German football to create other all-time teams for the rest of Germany. In 2018, I did an All-Time Team for East Germany (GDR/DDR). Finally, in late, 2020, I decided to look into the regions again and I came up with the following projects.
-- Northern Germany/Norddeutschland (Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony and the two city-states Hamburg and Bremen). Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is also covered in Eastern German regional All-Time Team.
-- Western Germany/Westdeutschland without North Rhine-Westphalia (Hesse, the Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate).
-- Eastern Germany (not only GDR players): Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and city of Berlin).
-- I am not creating a team for Central Germany/Mitteldeutschland since the players from Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are well-covered on my Eastern German regional team, and I put Hesse on my Western Germany team. For Southern Germany, I have done an all-time team for Bavaria. And now, this is the all-time team for Baden-Württemberg.
Baden-Württemberg forms the southern sector of Germany's western border with France. It is the German state with the third-largest area, at of 35,751 km2 (13,804 sq mi), and the state with the third-largest population, at 11 million inhabitants. The is also the home of VfB Stuttgart. The largest city in Baden-Württemberg is the state capital of Stuttgart and is followed by Karlsruhe and Mannheim. Other cities are Freiburg im Breisgau, Heidelberg, Heilbronn, Pforzheim, Reutlingen, Tübingen and Ulm.
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| Karl-Heinz and Bernd Forster |
Team
Oliver Kahn is one of the most successful German players in recent history. For Bayern Munich, he won eight Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals, the UEFA Cup in 1996, the UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup, both achieved in 2001. For Germany, his heroic performance helped Germany to finish 2nd at Korea/Japan 2002. He was the Gold Ball winner in that World Cup Finals.
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| Oliver Kahn |
GK: Gerald Ehrmann (Tauberbischofsheim)
Gerald Ehrmann started with FC Koln where he had limited action playing behind Toni Schumacher. He nearly spent his entire career with FC Kaiserslautern between 1984 and 1997. He was their goalkeeper coach starting in 1996, but he returned as a backup keeper in 1998. With them, he won two Bundesliga title in the 1977–78 and 1990–91 season and 4 German Cups.
Gerald Ehrmann started with FC Koln where he had limited action playing behind Toni Schumacher. He nearly spent his entire career with FC Kaiserslautern between 1984 and 1997. He was their goalkeeper coach starting in 1996, but he returned as a backup keeper in 1998. With them, he won two Bundesliga title in the 1977–78 and 1990–91 season and 4 German Cups.
From 2009 to 2011, Leno played for Stuttgart II. In 2011, he joined Bayer Leverkusen. When he played on 13 September 2011, at the age of 19 years and 193 days, against Chelsea in the Champions League group stage he was the youngest goalkeeper to ever to play in a Champions League match.
RB: Joshua Kimmich (Rottweil)
Kimmich played youth football for VfB Stuttgart before joining RB Leipzig in July 2013. Since January of 2015, he played for Bayern Munich. He is considered to be the future of German defence. He made his German debut in 2016. He was a member of their Euro 2016 team. He was was named in UEFA's Team of the Tournament.
RB: Joshua Kimmich (Rottweil)
Kimmich played youth football for VfB Stuttgart before joining RB Leipzig in July 2013. Since January of 2015, he played for Bayern Munich. He is considered to be the future of German defence. He made his German debut in 2016. He was a member of their Euro 2016 team. He was was named in UEFA's Team of the Tournament.
RB: Erich Retter (Plüderhausen)
In 1944, Retter joined VfB Stuttgart from the Swabian amateur club SV Plüderhausen. He played 354 games for VfB Stuttgart from 1947 to 1962, scoring six goals. From 1952 to 1956, he played 14 times for Germany. He played in the World Cup Qualifiers, but a knee injury kept him out of the World Cup team in 1954.
CB/RB: Bernd Förster (Mosbach)
Förster started with SV Waldhof Mannheim, in Bundesliga 2. In 1975, he switched to FC Bayern Munich, but his stay there was highly unsuccessful. After establishing himself in the top flight with 1. FC Saarbrücken, Förster switched to VfB Stuttgart, where he played with his brother Karlheinz in the back-four. Capped 33 times, he was a key player at the WC finals in 1982, where he partnered his brother Karl-Heinz.CB: Karl-Heinz Forster (Mosbach)
With West Germany, Karl-Heinz Forster earned 81 caps. He won the European Championship in 1980, and came 2nd at the World Cup in both 1982 and 1986. He was regarded one of the best defenders in the 1980's. He played with VFB Stuttgart between 1977 and 1986. and Marseille between 1986 and 1990. With Stuttgart, he won a Bundesliga in the 1983–84 season. He won two league titles in France.
With West Germany, Karl-Heinz Forster earned 81 caps. He won the European Championship in 1980, and came 2nd at the World Cup in both 1982 and 1986. He was regarded one of the best defenders in the 1980's. He played with VFB Stuttgart between 1977 and 1986. and Marseille between 1986 and 1990. With Stuttgart, he won a Bundesliga in the 1983–84 season. He won two league titles in France.
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| Karl-Heinz Forster |
CB: Christian Worns (Mannheim)
Christian Worns started his career with Waldhof Mannheim but played the majority of his career with Bayer Leverkusen (1991-1998) and Borussia Dortmund (1999-2008). He also had a short stint with Paris St Germain(1998-1999). He was capped 66 times between 1992 and 2005. He went to Euro 1992 and 2004, and the 1998 World Cup Finals in France. However, he was bypassed by German manager Jurgen Klinsmann for the 2006 World Cup Finals at home.
SW: Horst Blankenburg (Heidenheim)
Blankenburg played with Nürnberg, Wiener Sportclub and TSV 1860 München before he joined Ajax Amsterdam in 1970. In 5 seasons at Ajax he won the European Cup 3 years in a row, and was known for his partnership with Velibor Vasović. For international football, he was never capped by West Germany largely because playing in the same time as Franz Beckenbauer. Johan Cruijff asked him to play for Holland in the 1974 World Cup but he refused.
Blankenburg played with Nürnberg, Wiener Sportclub and TSV 1860 München before he joined Ajax Amsterdam in 1970. In 5 seasons at Ajax he won the European Cup 3 years in a row, and was known for his partnership with Velibor Vasović. For international football, he was never capped by West Germany largely because playing in the same time as Franz Beckenbauer. Johan Cruijff asked him to play for Holland in the 1974 World Cup but he refused.
CB: Jens Nowotny (Malsch)
Jens Nowotny started with Karlsruher SC. He played in nearly 300 official games with Bayer Leverkusen in one full decade, helping them reach the 2002 Champions League final. He also played for Dinamo Zagreb at the end of his career. He went to Euro 2000 and 2004, but missed the World Cup Finals in 2002. In 2006, he was a part of the World Cup team, playing at home. He was capped 48 times in total.
Jens Nowotny started with Karlsruher SC. He played in nearly 300 official games with Bayer Leverkusen in one full decade, helping them reach the 2002 Champions League final. He also played for Dinamo Zagreb at the end of his career. He went to Euro 2000 and 2004, but missed the World Cup Finals in 2002. In 2006, he was a part of the World Cup team, playing at home. He was capped 48 times in total.
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| Jens Nowotny |
LB: Jakob Streilte (Ulm)
At the age of sixteen Streilte moved to FC Bayern , where he made his debut in the first team in 1935. During the Second World War, he was also a guest player in Düren for a while. He played at SC Borussia 1912 Freialdenhoven. He was a member of the German squad that took part in the FIFA World Cup 1938 in France, where he made his international debut in the round of 16 replay against Switzerland.
CB/SW: Ulrich Stielike (Ketsch)
Ulrich Stielike is one of a small handful of players to have played in all 3 European club finals, the World Cup Final and the European Championship Final. He was part of the Mönchengladbach team that won three Bundesliga titles, the UEFA Cup in 1975 and gained a runner-up medal in the European Cup in 1977. He joined Real Madrid in 1977, where he won the UEFA Cup. He was capped 42 times, winning Euro 1980. He also played in the 1982 World Cup Finals.
Ulrich Stielike is one of a small handful of players to have played in all 3 European club finals, the World Cup Final and the European Championship Final. He was part of the Mönchengladbach team that won three Bundesliga titles, the UEFA Cup in 1975 and gained a runner-up medal in the European Cup in 1977. He joined Real Madrid in 1977, where he won the UEFA Cup. He was capped 42 times, winning Euro 1980. He also played in the 1982 World Cup Finals.
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| Ulrich Stielike |
CH: Max Breunig (Karlsruhe)
Max Breunig started his career at Karlsruher FV in 1908. In 1913 he signed for 1. FC Pforzheim but his football career ended when the First World War began. He captained the German national team in all nine games he played for them and was a member of the German 1912 Olympic squad. He played one game at the Olympics.
CM: Karl Allgöwer (Geislingen an der Steige)
Karl Allgöwer started with 2. Bundesliga team Stuttgarter Kickers from 1977 to 1980 as striker. He moved to local rival VfB Stuttgart in 1980. In 1989 the powerful free-kick specialist was part of the team that got defeated by Diego Maradona's SSC Napoli in the UEFA Cup final. He was capped 10 times. He was non-playing member at Mexico 1986.
Karl Allgöwer started with 2. Bundesliga team Stuttgarter Kickers from 1977 to 1980 as striker. He moved to local rival VfB Stuttgart in 1980. In 1989 the powerful free-kick specialist was part of the team that got defeated by Diego Maradona's SSC Napoli in the UEFA Cup final. He was capped 10 times. He was non-playing member at Mexico 1986.
CM/DM: Sami Khedira (Stuttgart)
Khedira began his career at VfB Stuttgart, winning the Bundesliga in 2007, before moving to Real Madrid in 2010. In his five seasons in Spain, he won seven domestic and international trophies, including the UEFA Champions League in 2014. In 2015, he moved to Italian side Juventus on a free transfer, and immediately won the Serie A title in his first season with the club. Earned over 70 caps. He was a key player for Germany since 2009, winning the World Cup in 2014.
Khedira began his career at VfB Stuttgart, winning the Bundesliga in 2007, before moving to Real Madrid in 2010. In his five seasons in Spain, he won seven domestic and international trophies, including the UEFA Champions League in 2014. In 2015, he moved to Italian side Juventus on a free transfer, and immediately won the Serie A title in his first season with the club. Earned over 70 caps. He was a key player for Germany since 2009, winning the World Cup in 2014.
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| Sami Khedira |
AM/CM: Hansi Müller (Stuttgart)
Playing for his hometown side VfB Stuttgart, he took part in Euro 1980 with West Germany after a brief taste of action at the 1978 World Cup Finals, where he started all four games. The tournament would prove to be Müller's international peak as they emerged victorious. He had a disappointing 1982 World Cup, and despite returning to Italy to play for F.C. Inter Milan, he made his 42nd and last appearance for Die Mannschaft the following year.
Playing for his hometown side VfB Stuttgart, he took part in Euro 1980 with West Germany after a brief taste of action at the 1978 World Cup Finals, where he started all four games. The tournament would prove to be Müller's international peak as they emerged victorious. He had a disappointing 1982 World Cup, and despite returning to Italy to play for F.C. Inter Milan, he made his 42nd and last appearance for Die Mannschaft the following year.
RW: Sebestian Deisler (Lörrach)
Deisler once hailed as the future of German football at the turn of the millennium, but injuries and depression prevented him for fulfilling his promises. He started with Borussia Mönchengladbach and moved to Hertha Berlin in 1999. In 2002, he joined Bayern Munich, but his career was derailed by injuries. He retired in 2007. At the international level, he played 35 times for Germany. he played all three matches at Euro 2000.
Deisler once hailed as the future of German football at the turn of the millennium, but injuries and depression prevented him for fulfilling his promises. He started with Borussia Mönchengladbach and moved to Hertha Berlin in 1999. In 2002, he joined Bayern Munich, but his career was derailed by injuries. He retired in 2007. At the international level, he played 35 times for Germany. he played all three matches at Euro 2000.
AM: Mehmet Scholl (Karlsruhe)
Mehmet Scholl was born in Germany of Turkish hertiage. He started with Karlsruher, but spent almost hs entire career with Bayern Munich. He won the Bundesliga title 8 times and the Champions' league n 2001. Injuries has limited his career with the national team. He played at Euro 2000, but he never played in any of the World Cup Finals.
Mehmet Scholl was born in Germany of Turkish hertiage. He started with Karlsruher, but spent almost hs entire career with Bayern Munich. He won the Bundesliga title 8 times and the Champions' league n 2001. Injuries has limited his career with the national team. He played at Euro 2000, but he never played in any of the World Cup Finals.
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| Mehmet Scholl |
AM: Uwe Rahn (Mannheim)
Uwe Rahn played 318 Bundesliga matches in his professional career, scoring the majority of his 107 Bundesliga goals in his eight years at Borussia Mönchengladbach from 1980 to 1988. He was the Bundesliga top scorer in the 1986–87 season. He capped 14 times for West Germany. He went to the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico, but he did not play a game there. He was the German Footballer of the Year award in 1987.
Uwe Rahn played 318 Bundesliga matches in his professional career, scoring the majority of his 107 Bundesliga goals in his eight years at Borussia Mönchengladbach from 1980 to 1988. He was the Bundesliga top scorer in the 1986–87 season. He capped 14 times for West Germany. He went to the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico, but he did not play a game there. He was the German Footballer of the Year award in 1987.
FW: Uli Hoeness (Ulm)
Uli Hoeness was a part of the generation that won the 1974 World Cup, the 1972 European Championship and three straight European Cups with Bayern Munich. He was remembered as the star player at the 1974 European Cup Final against Atletico Madrid, scoring a double in that game. With an exception of loan move, he played his entire career with Bayern Munich. After retirement, he worked for Bayern Munich.
Uli Hoeness was a part of the generation that won the 1974 World Cup, the 1972 European Championship and three straight European Cups with Bayern Munich. He was remembered as the star player at the 1974 European Cup Final against Atletico Madrid, scoring a double in that game. With an exception of loan move, he played his entire career with Bayern Munich. After retirement, he worked for Bayern Munich.
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| Uli Hoeness |
FW: Otto Siffling (Mannheim)
For his club career, Siffling played for SV Waldhof Mannheim. He was better known for his international career. From 1934 to 1938, he played 31 times for Germany, scoring 17 goals. He was a participant in the 1934 FIFA World Cup, where he scored a goal. He was the centre forward of the Breslau Eleven that beat Denmark 8–0 in 1937 and went on to win 10 out 11 games played during that year.
ST: Oliver Bierhoff (Karlsruhe)
Biefhoff scored the first golden goal in the history of major international football, for Germany in the Euro 96 final. The goal defined his career. He played 70 times for Germany between 1996 and 2002. He also played in Euro 2000, and both the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He was a later bloomer. He was playing in Austria and Italy's Serie B until at the age 27 when he joined Udinese. He would later star for AC Milan.
Biefhoff scored the first golden goal in the history of major international football, for Germany in the Euro 96 final. The goal defined his career. He played 70 times for Germany between 1996 and 2002. He also played in Euro 2000, and both the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He was a later bloomer. He was playing in Austria and Italy's Serie B until at the age 27 when he joined Udinese. He would later star for AC Milan.
ST: Jurgen Klinsmann (Göppingen)
Klinsmann won the World Cup in 1990 and then, captained the 1996 European Championship winning team. He played in all major international tournaments from 1988 until his retirement in 1998. He had successful club spells with Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspurs. He was a popular player while in England, despite a lot of negative press at the time of his signing. He won both the FWA Footballer of the Year and PFA Player of the Year in 1995.
Klinsmann won the World Cup in 1990 and then, captained the 1996 European Championship winning team. He played in all major international tournaments from 1988 until his retirement in 1998. He had successful club spells with Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspurs. He was a popular player while in England, despite a lot of negative press at the time of his signing. He won both the FWA Footballer of the Year and PFA Player of the Year in 1995.
Jurgen Klinsmann
Honorable Mention
Dennis Aogo, Heiko Herrlich, Dieter Hoeness, Rudi Hoffmann, Robert Schlienz, Erwin Waldner, Serdar Tasci, Eugen Kipp, Günther Schäfer, Karl Heinz "Charly" Körbel, Andreas Hinkel, Karl Wegele, Wolfgang Fahrian, Hermann Ohlicher, Kurt Niedermayer, Paul Steiner, Eugen Kipp, Sebastian Rudy, Mario Gomez, Serge Gnabry.
Capped by Foreign national teams (ineligible)
Robert Prosinečki (Croatia), Ümit Davala (Turkey), Cédric Soares (Portugal)
Squad Explanation
-- Oliver Kahn, Jurgen Klinsmann and Karl-Heinz Förster are on my All-Time Germany team. Oliver Bierhoff and Uli Hoeneß are also automatic selections.
-- Both Joachim Löw and Ottmar Hitzfeld were born in Baden-Württemberg. When Jurgen Klinsmann was the manager of the German national team, Joachim Löw and Oliver Bierhoff were his assistants.
-- Germany won four World Cups, but Uli Hoeneß and Sami Khedira are the only World Cup winners from this state.
-- In 1980, West Germany won the European Championship. The team featured Karl-Heinz Förster, Bernd Förster, Hansi Muller and Uli Stielike.
-- Jürgen Klinsmann captained the Euro 1996 winning team. Oliver Bierhoff scored the winning goal in the Final. Mehmet Scholl and Oliver Kahn were also on the team.
-- Cédric Soares played for Portugal as they won the Euro 2016.
-- For goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn was the obvious choice. Wolfgang Fahrian was the starting goalkeeper at the 1962 World Cup Finals, but he was playing in the lower division at the time of his first call-up and he was not expected to start for West Germany at the time. His career afterward never took off. So I took the uncapped Gerald Ehrmann, who was a Bundesliga legend. Then, I took Bernd Leno as my third goalkeeper. At the time of writing, he already has a long career in Leverkusen. Loris Karius was also born here, but he is known for the wrong reason.
-- I have many centerbacks. Karl-Heinz Förster is among the greatest German centerbacks ever played the game. Then, I took his brother Bernd who was a club legend with Stuttgart. Jens Nowotny, Christian Wörns and Horst Blankenburg were top defenders at their times. I also selected Uli Stielike as a defensive midfielder so that I could select more centerbacks.
-- Horst Blankenburg was uncapped, but his career with Ajax spoke for itself.
-- Karl Heinz "Charly" Körbel holds the record for the most appearances in the Bundesliga with 602 games. I just have too many centerbacks. So he only made honorable mention.
-- On rightback, I took Erich Retter, a prewar great. Initially, I thought Joshua Kimmich is too young to be considered. However, he was already a starter in an European Championship and a World Cup Finals for Germany. Andreas Hinkel the alternative started his career well with the "young and wild" team of Stuttgart, but injuries prevented him from becoming an all-time great with Germany. Meanwhile, Ümit Davala decided to play for Turkey, which made him ineligible.
-- I only selected a single leftback, Jakob Streilte. CB/LB: Günther Schäfer was a popular player with VfB Stuttgart. He could have been my backup leftback. I also thought of Dennis Aogo.
-- The team lacked a deep central midfielder with creativity. Mehmet Scholl and Uwe Rahn were better in a more advanced position while Uli Stielike and Sami Khedira were defensive. Hansi Muller was the only player of note who fitted the role, but his career was largely unfulfilled due to injuries. So I drafted in Karl Allgöwer who was a club all-timer with Stuttgart. I often rewarded players playing for local clubs in a regional team. The inclusion of Baden-Württemberg-born Robert Prosinečki would have significantly strengthened the position, but he was cap-tied to Croatia. I was tempted to take him. In the end, I kept the team "German" and selected Max Breunig over Robert Prosinečki. Breuning was the most reowned German centra-half in the pre-War era.
-- The team also lacked players who can play on the wide. So I took Sebastian Deisler. When he was healthy, he could be the best German player of his generation. Unfortunately, his career was limited by his injuries. Uli Hoeneß can also play as a left forward.
-- Fredi Bobic was born in Yugoslavia, but he grew up in Baden-Württemberg. Even if he was born here, he probably won't make the team due to Jürgen Klinsmann, Oliver Bierhoff and Uli Hoeneß. I also have Mario Gomez ahead of him. Dieter Hoeneß also made honorable mention.
-- Thanks to an alert by a reader. I added Max Breunig and Otto Siffling to the team. I took Sebastian Rudy and Mario Gomez out.
-- Otto Siffling was the centre forward of the Breslau Eleven that beat Denmark 8–0 in 1937 and he scored 5 goals in that game. I took him over Mario Gomez. Mario Gomez was the German Player of the Year in 2007, the season that Stuttgart won the Bundesliga. He was also the European Championship Top Scorer in 2012. He might have earn all kinds of titles, but he was never the best striker in Europe while Siffling was probably one of the best striker in continental Europe in his peak.
Formation
