Wolfram Wuttke

Wolfram Wuttke, one of the greatest German football talents, was at times brilliant but at times very difficult to manage. He was especially known for his refined shooting and passing with the sidefoot. Between 1979 and 1990 he played as a striker and midfielder in 299 games in the German Bundesliga for six different clubs, mostly for 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hamburger SV, with whom he was Bundesliga runner-up in 1984. Wuttke scored 66 goals in his career. After an intermediate stopover in Spain at Espanyol Barcelona, he finished his career at 1. FC Saarbrücken.

Wuttke’s sporting highlight was winning an Olympic bronze medal in 1988 at Seoul. He also played four times for the German national football team. He was considered a difficult player and during his professional career had problems with almost all of his coaches. Well known especially were his disputes with Ernst Happel. Wuttke later himself coached several amateur league clubs

After his career Wuttke suffered from various diseases, including breast cancer, which he survived. He owned a sports shop, but eventually was forced to declare bankruptcy. He died due to multiple organ failure at only 53-years-old.