Felix Magath

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Lore & Background

Born near Aschaffenburg, Magath started his career playing for local club Viktoria Aschaffenburg. From 1974 to 1976, he played for 1. FC Saarbrücken, at that time in the second division, before moving to Hamburger SV in the top flight. He spent the following ten seasons with Hamburg, and from his debut in 1976 to his retirement he scored 46 goals in 306 games in the West German top flight. In 1983, Magath led Hamburg to success in the European Cup, scoring the single goal in the final against Juventus; in 1980–81, he netted a career-best (in the first division) ten goals, helping his side to a runner-up league spot, as Hamburg also won the league in three years during that time. Magath also represented the West Germany national team at many international events, including the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups, helping West Germany finish in second place both times. He was also part of the squad that won the 1980 UEFA European Championship. Magath made his debut on 30 April 1977, in a 2–1 friendly win with Yugoslavia, and went on to amass 43 caps, with three goals.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the stands of the Veltins-Arena, but inside the locker room, the air was thick with tension. Felix Magath stood before his team, his voice low but cutting through the humidity like a blade. He didn't offer platitudes about glory or history; he spoke only of duty, of the physical toll they had endured to reach this final against Bayern Munich. 'They expect us to break,' he said, pacing slowly in front of the startled players. 'We do not break. We endure. Tonight, we show them what it means to be Schalke.' The silence that followed was absolute, a shared understanding that the path ahead would be paved with sweat and sacrifice.

Reader's Guide

A diminutive playmaker, with an eye for goal, Magath normally played either as an attacking or central midfielder, and who possessed technical skills, vision, and stamina, despite his lack of pace and his stocky physique. He was also a good passer and striker of the ball with his left foot, and was known for his work-rate on the pitch, as well as his ability to interpret the game.

Did You Know?

• Magath scored in both the 1977 European Cup Winners' Cup Final and the 1983 European Cup Final for Hamburger SV.
• As a manager, Magath won two consecutive Doubles (Bundesliga and German Cup) with Bayern Munich.
• Magath led VfL Wolfsburg to their first Bundesliga title in 2009.
• He was the first German to manage in the Premier League, taking charge of Fulham in 2014.