Helmut Haller

Helmut Haller (born 21 July 1939 in Augsburg, Germany) is a former footballer who represented West Germany at three World Cups.

A playmaker and striker who made his international debut at age 19 in 1958, he played at the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile, the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England and the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, earning a total of 33 caps and scoring 13 goals.

West Germany reached the final of the 1966 competition and Haller scored the opening goal of the game which Germany lost 2–4 to England. Along with his second place medal, Haller also got the match ball, though more than 30 years later he returned to England to present it to Geoff Hurst, who had scored a hat-trick in the contest and was therefore by tradition considered to be entitled to the ball.

In his club career, Haller played for Augsburg (1948–1962), before moving to Italy to join Bologna F.C. (1962–1968) and then Juventus (1968–1973). In 1973, he returned to his hometown club and retired in 1979.

While playing in Italy, Haller won the Scudetto three times (1964, 1972 and 1973). Haller was noted for his exceptional technique and finesse, yet also for his weight problems, which troubled him throughout his career. Bitter, Jürgen. Deutschlands Fußball Nationalspieler, Sportverlag, 1997, p. 163.

The day after Christmas Day 2006 Haller suffered a serious heart attack and was reported to be recovering well after treatment.

He is...
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