Willi Landgraf
Willi Landgraf (born 29 August 1968 in Mülheim an der Ruhr) is a retired German footballer, last playing for the amateurs of Schalke 04.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Wilfried Landgraf | ||
Date of birth | 29 August 1968 | ||
Place of birth | Mülheim an der Ruhr, West Germany | ||
Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
Playing position(s) | Defender | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1986–1991 | Rot-Weiss Essen | 119 | (5) |
1991–1994 | FC 08 Homburg | 107 | (4) |
1994–1996 | Rot-Weiss Essen | ||
1996–1999 | FC Gütersloh | 94 | (2) |
1999–2006 | Alemannia Aachen | 188 | (3) |
2006–2009 | FC Schalke 04 II | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Career
He is the record holder[1] of games played in the 2. Bundesliga with 508 games.[2] He notably never played a single game in the Bundesliga. Most of Landgraf's games were for Rot-Weiß Essen and for Alemannia Aachen.
Landgraf was well known for his honest, blue-collar approach to soccer and was regarded as a great fan favourite even of fans who did not follow his teams.
At age 37, he seemed to finally achieve his dream of playing his first Bundesliga match, when his club Alemannia Aachen were promoted. However, Landgraf (who had been benched most of the season because his younger rival outplayed him) declined to hang on as a "mercy player" and went to the amateurs of Schalke 04, and intends to make his trainer's license.
Coaching career
Langraf wanted to work as assistant manager for Alemannia Aachen II but the contract was cancelled and he works with his last club FC Schalke 04.
References
- Arnhold, Matthias (12 July 2017). "Germany - All-Time Most Matches Played in 2. Bundesliga". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- Arnhold, Matthias (12 July 2017). "Wilfried 'Willi' Landgraf - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
External links
- Willi Landgraf at WorldFootball.net
- Willi Landgraf at fussballdaten.de (in German)
- Article on Willi Landgraf (in German) Weltfussball.de