For other people named Klaus Fischer, see Klaus Fischer (disambiguation).
Klaus Fischer
Birth date27 December 1949 (age 76)
Birth placeKreuzstraßl, West Germany
Height1.78 m
PositionForward
Youthyears 11958–1961
Youthclubs 1SC Kreuzstraßl
Youthyears 21961–1968
Youthclubs 2SC Zwiesel
Years 11968–1970
Clubs 11860 Munich
Caps 160
Goals 128
Years 21970–1981
Clubs 2Schalke 04
Caps 2295
Goals 2182
Years 31981–1984
Clubs 31. FC Köln
Caps 396
Goals 331
Years 41984–1988
Clubs 4VfL Bochum
Caps 484
Goals 427
Totalcaps535
Totalgoals268
Nationalyears 11971
Nationalteam 1West Germany U-23
Nationalcaps 12
Nationalgoals 12
Nationalyears 21977–1982
Nationalteam 2West Germany
Nationalcaps 245
Nationalgoals 232
Manageryears 11988–1989
Managerclubs 1VfL Bochum (assistant)
Manageryears 21989–1992
Managerclubs 2Schalke 04 (assistant)
Manageryears 31990
Managerclubs 3→ Schalke 04 (interim)
Manageryears 41992
Managerclubs 4→ Schalke 04 (interim)
Manageryears 51992–1995
Managerclubs 5Schalke 04 II

Klaus Fischer (born 27 December 1949) is a German former professional footballer and coach. He was a key player on the West Germany national team that lost the 1982 World Cup final to Italy. As a forward, he was noted for his bicycle kicks, and scored a spectacular overhead kick equalizer in extra-time of a 1982 World Cup semi-final against France.

Club career

Fischer was born in Kreuzstraßl, near Lindberg (Bayerischer Wald) in the district of Regen.

He moved from SC Zwiesel to TSV 1860 Munich in 1968 and made 535 Bundesliga appearances for 1860 Munich, FC Schalke 04, 1. FC Köln and VfL Bochum. With Schalke 04 he won the German Cup in 1972. Schalke 04 were one of the clubs involved in a bribery scandal in season 1970–71 of the Bundesliga. As one of the players involved, Fischer initially received a ban for life, but this punishment was later reduced to a one-year league ban and a five-year ban from national team eligibility.

In 1976, he was top scorer in the Bundesliga. With 268 goals he ranks third to Gerd Müller and Robert Lewandowski on the list of all-time top Bundesliga goalscorers. In 1988 Fischer's club side VfL Bochum made it to the German Cup final, but Fischer did not feature in the final match. He ended his career in 1988.[1]

His 182 league goals for Schalke 04 remain a club record.[2]

International career

Fischer made 45 appearances for the West Germany national team from 1977 to 1982, scoring 32 goals (eight headers and 24 with his feet, including two bicycle kicks). He appeared in two World Cups and was a World Cup runner-up in Spain in 1982.[3]

Fischer was known particularly for his bicycle kicks, often set up for him by Rüdiger Abramczik. His goal from a bicycle kick in a 4–1 win in a 1977 international match against Switzerland was selected as the Goal of the Year by German television viewers. It was later voted Goal of the Decade and Goal of the Century. He also scored a famous bicycle kick equalizer in extra time in a 1982 World Cup semi-final against France, which West Germany went on to win on penalties.

Coaching career

Fischer runs a football training school.[4]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[5]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeLeague CupTotal
LeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1860 Munich1968–69Bundesliga2691020—299
1969–7034190022—3621
Total60281042—6530
Schalke 041969–70Bundesliga0020——20
1970–71341551——3916
1971–72292297——3829
1972–730000116374
1973–74252111——2622
1974–75331733——3620
1975–76342933——3732
1976–7731243456—3934
1977–7832206730—4127
1978–79342134——3725
1979–8026744——3011
1980–8117600——176
Total29518239349763349226
1. FC Köln1981–82Bundesliga31710——327
1982–8332126553—4320
1983–8433123542—4019
Total9631101095—11546
VfL Bochum1984–85Bundesliga341630——3716
1985–8627840——318
1986–8711300——113
1987–8812032——152
Total8427102——9429
Career total5352686046221463623331

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[6]
National teamYearAppsGoals
West Germany1977911
1978111
197965
198012
198189
1982104
Total4532

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.27 April 1977Müngersdorfer Stadion, Cologne, West GermanyNorthern Ireland2–05–0Friendly
2.4–0
3.5 June 1977La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaArgentina1–03–1
4.2–0
5.12 June 1977Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBrazil1–01–1
6.14 June 1977Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, MexicoMexico1–22–2
7.2–2
8.7 September 1977Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, FinlandFinland1–01–0
9.16 November 1977Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, West GermanySwitzerland3–04–1
10.4–1
11.14 December 1977Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, West GermanyWales1–01–1
12.20 December 1978Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf, West GermanyNetherlands2–03–1
13.2 May 1979Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, WalesWales2–02–0UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying
14.17 October 1979Müngersdorfer Stadion, Cologne, West GermanyWales1–05–1
15.3–0
16.21 November 1979Lenin Stadium, Tbilisi, GeorgiaSoviet Union3–03–1Friendly
17.22 December 1979Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, West GermanyTurkey1–02–0UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying
18.27 February 1980Weserstadion, Bremen, West GermanyMalta3–08–0
19.8–0
20.29 April 1981Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, West GermanyAustria2–02–01982 FIFA World Cup qualification
21.19 May 1981Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, West GermanyBrazil1–01–2Friendly
22.24 May 1981Keskusurheilukenttä, Lahti, FinlandFinland2–04–01982 FIFA World Cup qualification
23.4–0
24.2 September 1981Stadion Śląski, Chorzów, PolandPoland1–02–0Friendly
25.23 September 1981Ruhrstadion, Bochum, West GermanyFinland1–07–11982 FIFA World Cup qualification
26.18 November 1981Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, West GermanyAlbania3–08–0
27.8–0
28.22 November 1981Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf, West GermanyBulgaria1–04–0
29.17 February 1982Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, West GermanyPortugal1–03–1Friendly
30.3–1
31.2 July 1982Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, SpainSpain2–12–11982 FIFA World Cup
32.8 July 1982Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, Seville, SpainFrance3–33–3

Honours

Schalke 04

1. FC Köln

West Germany

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Klaus Fischer: "Mr. Fallrückzieher" wird 60" [Klaus Fischer: "Mr. Bicycle Kick" is 60] (in German). reviersport.de. 26 December 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  2. ^ "Klaus Fischer turns 70 – "Mr. Bicycle Kick still knows where the goal is"". Schalke 04. 27 December 2019.
  3. ^
  4. ^ "Fußball: Klaus Fischer und kleine Kicker-Träume" (in German). derwesten.de.de. 25 December 2009. Archived from the original on 31 March 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  5. ^ "Klaus Fischer » Club matches". WorldFootball.
  6. ^ "Klaus Fischer - Goals in International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  7. ^ "November 1977 - Fischer" (in German). Sportschau. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Sport 1977". Mundo Deportivo. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Bundesliga Historie 1984/85" (in German). kicker. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012.