Paul Breitner

Paul Breitner (born 5 September 1951) is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and left-back. He is widely regarded as one of the finest full-backs and midfielders ever, and a standout player of his generation. Breitner earned a spot on the FIFA World Cup All-Time Team and, in 2004, was included in the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living footballers. He earned 48 caps for West Germany and played a key role in their 1974 World Cup victory, scoring in the final. He also found the net in the 1982 World Cup final, joining Pelé, Vavá, Zinedine Zidane, and Kylian Mbappé as one of only five players to score in two different World Cup finals.

Breitner’s playing career spanned 1970 to 1983, primarily with Bayern Munich (1970–74 and 1978–83) and Real Madrid (1974–77), plus a single season at Eintracht Braunschweig. Early on, he roamed as an attacking left-back, equally capable of scoring from the right side of midfield or shutting down attackers in his own box. Later, he shifted to central midfield and became a top performer through the early 1980s. His early peak came at age 21 in 1972, when he helped West Germany win the European Championship.

Two years later, he scored the equalizer from the penalty spot in the 1974 World Cup final against the Netherlands, where he, Franz Beckenbauer, Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck, and Berti Vogts formed a formidable defensive unit. After that tournament, he moved to Real Madrid for over 1 million Deutsche Marks and withdrew from the national team, missing the 1978 World Cup. He returned in 1981 at the urging of coach Jupp Derwall and scored again in the 1982 final against Italy.

At club level, Breitner won seven national championships: five with Bayern Munich (1972, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1981) and two with Real Madrid (1975, 1976). He also lifted the European Cup in 1974, the German Cup in 1971 and 1982, and the Spanish Cup in 1975. At Bayern, his midfield partnership with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was so effective they were nicknamed “Breitnigge.”

Off the pitch, Breitner identified with the 68ers protest movement and often sparked controversy with his radical views and outspokenness on political and social issues, especially during Germany’s divided era. He was once seen bringing Mao Zedong’s “Little Red Book” to training. After 1974, however, he abandoned his leftist leanings and became known for lavish spending on houses and cars, as well as lucrative commercials. Before the 1982 World Cup, he caused an uproar by accepting 150,000 Deutsche Marks from the cosmetics company Pitralon to shave his fluffy beard, use their aftershave, and advertise for them.

His long hair had previously earned him the nickname “Der Afro.” Breitner later said he was mistakenly labeled a Maoist after discussing communism with a journalist, adding, “When the atrocities became known, I had nothing to regret about because I never declared myself as a Maoist.”

A tenacious player, Breitner is considered one of Germany and Bayern Munich’s finest. He began as a forward but excelled as an attacking left-back or wing-back, defending stoutly while making surging runs, delivering crosses, and scoring from distance. In the 1973–74 season, under Bayern coach Udo Lattek’s ultraoffensive 2–5–3 formation, he played as a left winger. At Real Madrid, coach Miljan Miljanić converted him into a central box-to-box midfielder, where he paired effectively with fellow West German Günter Netzer. Since retiring, Breitner has worked as a commentator, pundit, and columnist in Germany, and serves as an advisor to Bayern Munich’s management board.