Jupp Heynckes
The fourth-highest goalscorer in Bundesliga history and Borussia Mönchengladbach's all-time top scorer in the competition.
Josef 'Jupp' Heynckes (born 9 May 1945) is a German retired professional footballer and manager. For the majority of his playing career he was a striker for Borussia Mönchengladbach in its golden era of the 1960s and '70s, when they won many national championships and the DFB-Pokal, as well as the UEFA Cup. He is the fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Bundesliga, with 220 goals. He was a member of the West Germany national team that won the UEFA Euro 1972 and the 1974 FIFA World Cup titles.
- role
- Striker / Forward
- tenure
- 1973–1983
- major_honours
- Bundesliga (x3), DFB-Pokal, Cup Winners' Cup
- individual_award
- Bundesliga Top Scorer (Torjägerkanone)
- legacy_status
- Club Legend
Lore & Background
Heynckes started his professional career in 1964 with his hometown club Borussia Mönchengladbach, who were then in the second division. He helped the club achieve promotion to the Bundesliga in 1965. He scored 27 Bundesliga goals in two seasons for Borussia before joining Hannover 96, where he spent three years. He returned to Mönchengladbach in 1970. He won four Bundesliga titles, one DFB-Pokal, and one UEFA Cup with the club. He is Borussia Mönchengladbach's top goalscorer in the Bundesliga with 195 goals.
In Their Own Story
Rain slicked the turf at Bökelbergstadion as the clock ticked past eighty minutes. The score was level, tension thick in the cold air. A cross floated from the right wing, spinning through the mist. Heynckes rose above the defenders, a giant among men. He met the ball with his forehead, sending it crashing into the net before the goalkeeper could react. The roar of the crowd shook the stands as he landed, chest heaving, arms raised to the faithful.
Reader's Guide
Heynckes played 369 matches in the German Bundesliga, scoring 220 goals. His tally is the fourth highest in this league, after Gerd Müller's 365 goals, Robert Lewandowski's 312, and Klaus Fischer's 268. He was joint top goalscorer in the Bundesliga in 1973–74 alongside Gerd Müller with 30 goals, and outright top goalscorer in 1974–75 with 27 goals. He scored 23 goals in 21 games in the UEFA Cup, making him the ninth-highest goalscorer in the history of the competition. He scored 51 goals in 64 matches in European club competitions.
Did You Know?
- Heynckes scored a hat-trick in the 1975 UEFA Cup final second leg against Twente, helping Borussia Mönchengladbach win 5–1 away and become the first German winners of the UEFA Cup.
- He was top scorer of the 1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup with eight goals, though Borussia Mönchengladbach were knocked out in the semi-finals by Milan.
- Heynckes scored five goals in Borussia Mönchengladbach's record 12–0 win against Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the 1977–78 Bundesliga season.
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