Cup winner despite a broken neck
German goalkeeper legend receives his own stamp
September 28, 2023, 6:33 p.m
Bernd Trautmann, who came to England as a prisoner of war and later became a professional footballer, became famous after suffering a serious injury in the closing stages of the 1956 English Cup final. He is considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time and is now receiving a special honor posthumously.
On the occasion of his 100th birthday, the goalkeeping legend Bert Trautmann will be honored with a stamp. The postage stamp worth 1.95 euros will be sold from October 5th. The goalkeeper is considered one of the best goalkeepers in football history. The footballer, born on October 22, 1923 in Bremen, was best known for his time at Manchester City. He came to England as a prisoner of war and after his release decided to stay in England. From 1949 to 1964 he was in goal for the Citizens.
When the club signed him, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the unloved German. Of all people, the then Rabbi of Manchester took the side of the German, who was insulted by many as “Traut, the Kraut”.
Trautmann became a legend when he was seriously injured in a collision in the 1956 FA Cup final against Birmingham City (3-1). He continued playing and secured his team’s victory. After the game he was diagnosed with a broken neck. In the same year he was voted England’s Footballer of the Year. He never played for the German national team. After his active career, Trautmann became a coach.
He received numerous honors. Among other things, he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 1997, and in 2004 Queen Elizabeth II appointed him “Officer of the British Empire” and recognized his services to relations between Germany and Great Britain. Trautmann died of a heart attack in his adopted Spanish home in 2013 at the age of 89.