Classic Moment: Georg ‘Katsche’ Schwarzenbeck’s late Equaliser against Atlético Madrid

By: Jan | April 3rd, 2008

It was the European Champions Cup (as in: Champions League) final in Brussel back in 1974. Bayern had reached the final for the first time. The match ended in a scoreless draw after 90 minutes and was forced into extra time. Then, current Spain coach Luis Aragones converted a free kick to give Madrid the lead and put them firmly on their way to the title. Until the last minute of extra time that is/was.

Georg Schwarzenbeck is a humble person, who isn’t seeking nor enjoying too much attention. He was Beckenbauer’s water boy. Not the most creative or technically gifted of players, but one who got his job done as a centre back, and who allowed Beckenbauer to link up with Bayern’s attack. As such he had orders to remain in Bayern’s half of the pitch and let the superstars run the show. But it was late in the game and all of Bayern’s players were pressing forward, and so was Katsche Schwarzenbeck, when he received the ball and - without putting too much thought into it - unleashed a shot from 25m to level the score and force a rematch of the final. Penalty shootouts had yet to be invented.

Bayern made no mistake the second time around and beat Madrid 4-0 with Uli Hoeneß and Gerd Müller both bagging a brace. It was the first of three consecutive Champions League wins for Bayern. At the end of his career Schwarzenbeck had won about everything a footballer could win including the Euros in 1972 and the World Cup in 1974.

Schwarzenbeck opted for a quiet life after his football career and never showed much interest in working as a coach or manager. Instead he opened a newspaper shop in Munich, which he is still operating. This newspaper shop is also Bayern Munich’s official supplier of office materials.

Katsche Schwarzenbeck celebrated his 60th birthday today.