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Dream Team

Bernd "Bert" Trautmann


The Trautmann legend is partly based on an injury he received.

In the 1956 FA Cup final he broke his neck whilst playing in goal for Manchester City yet still carried on playing until the end of the game. That year he became the first foreigner to be voted Player of the Year in England.

Trautmann was part of a generation that was shaped by World War II. He joined the German Luftwaffe at the age of 17 and after being released as a POW elected to stay in England. A 12-month spell at non-league outfit St Helens was enough for Manchester City to sign him in 1949, despite public protests on account of his nationality. Of all people it was the Rabbi of Manchester, Dr Altmann, himself a refugee of the Nazi regime, who was instrumental in bringing about a change of opinion that saw Trautmann become accepted: "Everyone should be judged by their inner values", he said. Thus 'Bert', as he was known, wore the No. 1 shirt for Manchester City until 1964. He owed his popularity to his performances on the pitch, but also because of his integrity and fairness – something he had taken on board in England.

Though without doubt one of the best goalkeepers of his time, he never stood between the posts for the German national team. Apparently the risk of calling up a 'foreign-based player' was too great for coach Sepp Herberger.

Trautmann is a migrant several times over. At the end of his career in England he worked as a coach in Germany, Burma und Tanzania, amongst other places. He now lives in Spain.