Bernd Bransch (24 September 1944 – 11 June 2022)[1] was a footballer from East Germany who played as a sweeper.

Bernd Bransch
Bransch at the 1974 World Cup
Personal information
Date of birth (1944-09-24)24 September 1944
Place of birth Halle, Halle-Merseburg, Prussia, Germany
Date of death 11 June 2022(2022-06-11) (aged 77)
Position(s) Sweeper
Youth career
1954–1962 Chemie Halle
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1962–1973 Chemie Halle
1973–1974 Carl Zeiss Jena
1974–1977 Chemie Halle
International career
1967–1976 East Germany 64 (3)
Medal record
Men's football
Gold medal – first place 1976 Montreal Team
Bronze medal – third place 1972 Munich Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

edit

Bransch began his sporting career as a youngster at BSG Motor Halle-Süd. The son of a locksmith was then allowed to join sports club SC Chemie Halle in 1954. Bransch played throughout his career for SC Chemie Halle and its successor, Hallescher FC Chemie – except for the 1973/74 season, in which he played for FC Carl Zeiss Jena.[2]

In 1968 and 1974 he was honoured as East German Footballer of the Year.

Bransch participated in the Munich Olympics 1972, in which his East German team secured a bronze medal, and in the gold-medal winning Montreal Olympics 1976 side.[3] He also played in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.[4]

In total Bransch played 317 league games, scoring 43 goals.

 
Bransch (in white) takes a free-kick against the Netherlands at the 1974 World Cup.

References

edit
  1. ^ Bernd Bransch ist tot: Halle verliert seinen erfolgreichsten Fußballer (in German)
  2. ^ Matthias Arnhold (16 March 2012). "Bernd Bransch – Matches and Goals in Oberliga". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Bernd Bransch". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  4. ^ Matthias Arnhold (25 September 2004). "Bernd Bransch – International Appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
edit