Herbert Zimmermann (footballer)

Herbert Zimmermann

Personal information
Full name	Herbert Zimmermann
Date of birth	(1954-07-01) 1 July 1954
Place of birth	Engers, West Germany
Height
Position(s)	Striker, Centre back
Youth career
1960–1972	FV Engers 07
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1972–1974	FC Bayern Munich	2	(0)
1974–1984	1. FC Köln	202	(22)
Total		204	(22)
International career
1977–1980	West Germany B	6	(0)
1976–1979	West Germany	14	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

For the German radio commentator, see Herbert Zimmermann (football commentator). For other uses of "Zimmermann", see Zimmermann (disambiguation).

Herbert Zimmermann (born 1 July 1954) is a former German football player.

A successful striker, Zimmermann was signed by FC Bayern Munich and also appeared as central defender for 1. FC Köln, the club he joined after he did not get enough games at Bayern. Injury worries of his new club made him appear as defender and doing well on that adopted position prevented him from giving up his new role. After being just part of the squad of FC Bayern Munich that won the Bundesliga in 1973 and 1974, and the European Cup in 1974, Zimmermann was a vital figure for Köln in Köln's DFB-Pokal wins in 1977 and 1983. In 1978 he and his club even won the DFB-Pokal and the Bundesliga title (a double), his greatest achievement as a regular on club level. Hampered by injuries in his final years in the game, Zimmermann played in 204 Bundesliga matches (22 goals).

As defender he debuted for West Germany in a friendly at Wales in October 1976. His career for his country was in best prime in 1978 and 1979, years where he won the vast majority of his altogether 14 caps. In 1979 he even found the net, scoring vital goals in 1980 UEFA European Championship qualifiers against Wales and Turkey. These goals brought him a call-up to the 1980 UEFA European Championship winning squad of his nation, not knowing that the mentioned qualifying fixture against Turkey would remain his final cap. In 1978 he had been with West Germany at the FIFA World Cup in Argentina, taking part against Poland and dropping out injured in the second-half of the goalless draw against Italy at Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti in Buenos Aires.