Hans-Hubert ‘Berti’ Vogts

During their most successful period in the 1970s, the Borussia Mönchengladbach team were simply known as the ‘Fohlen-Elf’. One of their best and most reliable players, however, was a ‘Terrier’. Hans-Hubert ‘Berti’ Vogts earned this additional nickname through his work ethic, his diligence and his knack for ‘sinking his teeth’ into his opponent. He embodied conscientiousness in a team full of carefree free spirits. 

As a counterpoint to many of his team-mates, who were focused on attacking spectacle, Vogts took charge of defensive stability. In the early years of his outstanding career, he was almost entirely on his own in this regard. The inspiring, perpetually forward-thinking ‘Fohlen’ style of football threatened to wither away into a futile pursuit by the late 1960s, as title ambitions could not be built on major defensive gaps. However, thanks to his tireless and tenacious nature, Vogts earned more and more respect. The more influence his voice gained within the team and the club, the more a healthy, success-oriented balance emerged in Gladbach’s style of play. It was no coincidence that Berti Vogts was voted Germany’s ‘Footballer of the Year’ in 1971, after Borussia had won their second consecutive league title. He was awarded the honour a second time at the end of his career in 1979. 

By then, he had long since become the most important constant in the relatively small world of Mönchengladbach. Whilst the Netzers, Stielikes and Bonhofs took their careers abroad, Vogts remained loyal to his home region and kept his club on the road to success. He led his Borussia side – for many years also as captain – to a total of five German league titles, one DFB Cup victory and two UEFA Cup wins. His career with the national team was no less impressive. Following the European Championship and World Cup victories and the Beckenbauer era, he also rose to the role of captain there. He played a total of 96 international matches as an indispensable first-team regular. 

Berti Vogts, who was orphaned at a young age, is regarded as the epitome of the footballer who had to work extremely hard to achieve success. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming a world-class player continues to serve as a shining example to many youth coaches today, helping to instil in talented youngsters the realisation that they must show more commitment than others to realise their career dreams. Ideally, with the carefree spirit of a foal and the tenacity of a terrier.