Ludwig Leinberger

Ludwig Leinberger had his prime as a football player with SpVgg Fürth, for which he played beginning in the mid-1920s. In 1926 and 1929, the athletic center-half played on German Championship teams. In his era, he was considered the strongest German center, along with the Nuremburg Hans Kalb.

In 1927, when 24-years-old, Leinberger made his début on the national team. Until 1933, he earned 24 international caps, appearing as captain 11 times. He competed in both games at the 1928 Olympic football tournament in Amsterdam. He contested his last international match on 1 January 1933, in Bologna against Italy.

Leinberger was a merchant, then later a sports teacher. He also acted as a coach from 1933-38 as regional coach of Bavaria, Hessia and Saxony, and from 1938-41 with FC Schweinfurt 05. During World War II he died in a military hospital in 1943 in Bad Pyrmont after surgery for appendicitis.