Goalkeeping Museum

Harald ‘Toni’ Schumacher(West Germany)

D.O.B - 06/03/1954. Clubs - 1.FC Koln, Schalke, Fenerbahce, Bayern Munchen, Borussia Dortmund(1973-1996)

A goalkeeper who will ultimately bremembered for one moment of madness instead of many moments of greatness. Born in Duren, not far from Cologne, Schumacher joined his boyhood idols 1.FC after serving his apprenticeship as a boiler maker. Cologne used him infrequently during his first two years at the club due to the dominance of Gerd Welz. When the latter was injured in 1976, Schumacher was forced into the breach; initially, his performances were at times inspired, but predominantly inconsistent, earning him the inglorious nickname of ‘the fidget’.

In 1977 Cologne won the DFB Cup, followed by the league and cup double in 1977/78, during which time Schumacher cemented his place and gained respect from the nation. His first cap for the Nationalmanschaaft followed in early 1979, however, he could not displace the evergreen Sepp Maier. Fate, however took hold during this year, sadly for Sepp Maier, his career was ended in a serious car accident during the pre-season of 1979. Schumacher was still, however, third choice behind the alternating Norbert Nigbur and Dieter Burdenski. A cruel twist denied Schalke’s Nigbur, just two months prior to the European Chamionships to be held in Italy; a torn knee cartilage, incurred during dramatic scenes in a restaurant whilst Nigbur dined with his Fiancee.

Toni Schumacher stepped into the limelight and helped West Germany to victory in the European championship, two years later in Seville, he would encounter fame of a different kind.

The Battison Incident

Toni Schumacher is perhaps best known for this incident:

During the semi-final of the 1982 World Cup, Schumacher collided with Patrick Battison of France, his teammate Michel Platini thought that Battison was dead, as he “had no pulse.”

He was not dead, however, he did suffer damaged vertebrae and lost two teeth in the collision, after which Schumacher was voted the most hated man in France, with Adolf Hitler in second place!

Many have commented on this tackle, though goalkeepers the world over will agree that it is this single-mindedness and desire to stop the ball at all costs that places Schumacher amongst the world’s best. Germany went on to win the game on penalties.

In the wake of the incident Schumacher was vilified and in his own words was ‘regarded as some kind of wild animal’, he received death threats, even from anonymous Germans, and was almost forced to leave 1.FC Koln. Schumacher did however make his peace with Patrick Battiston and they became good friends.

Mexico ‘86

Toni Schumacher was awarded the German player of the year in 1984 on the back of some inspired performances for koln, he was again given this award in 1986 and went into the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexcio full of confidence.

During the early rounds Schumacher was in exceptional form, producing some great saves against, most notably Scotland. Schumacher’s back up, Uli Stein, from Hamburg, was sent home after the group games, due to his ‘disruptive influence’ on the squad. Most of his verbal attacks were aimed at Shumacher and Coach Franz Beckenbauer. Schumacher relaxed after the departure of Stein and went on to be West Germany’s best performer at the Finals, giving great performances against France and Mexico. The final was, however a different story as Schumacher missed a centre to allow Jose luis Brown to score the opener. West Germany never recovered and went on to lose 3-2.

After the finals Schumacher’s nerves had taken a pounding and his confidence was low, his first few games in the Bundelisga producing erratic performances. He returned to form suddenly, however against 1.FC Nurnberg in November and recaptured his former greatness.

‘Anpiff’

February 1987 saw Toni Schumacher’s last game for Koln against Bochum, after having just released a controversial autobiography, ‘Anpiff’('Blowing the Whistle’). In an emotional press conference at Koln’s training ground, president Peter Weiand suspended Schumacher from the Koln side. The DFB(German Football Association) would soon follow suite and Schumacher was left in the wildnerness, training to keep fit, but no matches to play. Schumacher’s place went to nineteen year-old Bodo Illgner who performed so well he was elevated to the German team by September 1987.

Later Years

Toni Schumacher transferred to Schalke in summer 1987 and endured a bad season as Schalke were relegated, Schumacher then went to Turkey to play for Fenerbahce where he earned hero status and won more medals than he had managed at 1.FC Koln. He returned to Germany in 1991 to serve as back up to injury hit Bayern Munchen keeper Raimond Aumann who was suffering from a long standing knee complaint.