Germany mourns death of Derwall
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Article summary
Germany are mourning Josef "Jupp" Derwall, who coached the side to UEFA European Championship glory in 1980 and has passed away at the age of 80.
Article body
Six years in charge
Derwall took over from Helmut Schön as West Germany coach in the aftermath of the 1978 FIFA World Cup and remained in charge for six years, during which time his side went unbeaten for 23 matches, a German record that still stands today. West Germany won 45 of his 67 matches in charge, losing only eleven.
EURO triumph
Derwall's greatest triumph came two years after taking charge when he led West Germany to success in the 1980 UEFA European Championship. Horst Hrubesch scored twice in the 2-1 final win against Belgium to clinch a second European title for West Germany, who also reached the World Cup final in Spain two years later only to lose to Italy.
Stepping down
After his team's failure to reach the second round of the 1984 UEFA European Championship in France, Derwall stepped down to take over as coach of Galatasaray SK, with whom he clinched the Turkish league title in 1987 before retiring two years later. "Jupp Derwall was vital to German football's successes in the 1970s and 1980s thanks to his optimistic approach to life which won him many friends," said German Football Association president Theo Zwanziger. "The German FA and German football have lost a great coach who had a high international reputation."
