Horst Bertram

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Lore & Background

Borussia Mönchengladbach went into the match as reigning Bundesliga champions. Having only won two of their first seven league games in the autumn of 1977, they had managed to reach second place after 22 games. With the final round of games, the league championship went down to the wire with both Mönchengladbach and 1. FC Köln equal on points, but Köln having a far superior goal difference of +10. Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, were struggling in their second consecutive season after promotion in 1976. Three games previously, they had secured their Bundesliga status with a 2–0 away win over FC Schalke 04. Horst Bertram, Dortmund's number one goalkeeper, had just recovered from injury, but Dortmund's coach Otto Rehhagel decided to start with second-choice goalie Peter Endrulat. Endrulat was told the morning before the game that his contract would not be extended close-season. The two teams had drawn 3–3 at Dortmund's Westfalenstadion in December 1977.

In Their Own Story

The scene at the Rheinstadion was chaotic as Mönchengladbach raced to a 12–0 victory. As the scoreline climbed past nine goals, Dortmund players on the bench asked how many more they needed to beat Cologne for the title. Rehhagel's response of 'have you gone crazy?' highlighted the futility of the situation. While Endrulat played through the match despite his contract expiring that summer, Bertram remained a spectator to one of football's most surreal scorelines. The final whistle brought relief for Dortmund players like Ewald Lienen and Christian Kulik who scored for Mönchengladbach, but for Bertram, it was a day where he could only watch as his team suffered a historic humiliation.

Reader's Guide

The match was played at the Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf since Mönchengladbach's usual home ground, the Bökelbergstadion, was being renovated. 38,000 fans attended. The referee was Ferdinand Biwersi. Jupp Heynckes gave the home side the lead after one minute and completed a hat-trick by the 32nd minute, making it 5–0. At half-time the score was 6–0. Otto Rehhagel gave a brief talk, calling upon his players to play for their honour. No substitutes were made; Rehhagel asked Endrulat if he would like to be substituted, but the goalkeeper said he had no problem playing on. In the second half, Heynckes and Carsten Nielsen made it 8–0 by the hour mark. Rehhagel asked Sigfried Held to warm up, but Held declined. Karl Del'Haye made it 9–0. Further goals from Heynckes, substitute Ewald Lienen and Christian Kulik made the final score 12–0. Since there were no ball boys, the referee had to fetch balls shot past Dortmund's goal.

Did You Know?

• The 12–0 win is tied with four other matches for the biggest win in Bundesliga history.
• The match was played at the Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf because Mönchengladbach's Bökelbergstadion was being renovated.
• Dortmund goalkeeper Peter Endrulat was told the morning before the game that his contract would not be extended.
• After the match, Dortmund coach Otto Rehhagel was fired the next day.
• The German FA made enquiries and interviewed Dortmund players but chose not to press charges for match-fixing.