Karl-Heinz Granitza

Last updated

Karl-Heinz Granitza
Karl-Heinz Granitza, MISL 1984-85 media guide page 014.tif
Granitza circa 1984
Personal information
Date of birth (1951-11-01) 1 November 1951 (age 72)
Place of birth Lünen, West Germany
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
0000–1959 VfB Lünen
1959–1970 Eintracht Dortmund
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1970–1972 Eintracht Dortmund
1972–1973 Lüner SV 23 (4)
1973–1975 DJK Gütersloh 50 (16)
1975–1976 SV Röchling Völklingen 45 (32)
1976–1979 Hertha BSC 73 (34)
1978–1984 Chicago Sting 199 (128)
1982–1987 Chicago Sting (indoor) 174 (168)
1988–1990 Chicago Power 53 (97)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Karl-Heinz Granitza (born 1 November 1951) is a German former professional footballer who played as a forward. [1] In the United States, he is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. [2]

Granitza was born in Lünen, North Rhine-Westphalia. He played in Germany for VfB Lünen, Eintracht Dortmund, Lüner SV, DJK Gütersloh, SV Röchling Völklingen and Hertha BSC. [3] In 1978 and again for the 1979 season, [4] he transferred to the Chicago Sting of the NASL, leading the team to two league championships. He also excelled at the indoor game. Granitza was known for his powerful and accurate left foot. He was also very effective with direct free kicks, having the ability to strike the ball with top spin over the wall of defenders, and into the upper corners of the goal. He would finish as the NASL's second all-time leading scorer.

In the 1990s Granitza owned "State Street", an American-style sports bar in Berlin.

In 2003, Granitza was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. His #12 shirt has been retired by the Chicago Storm.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Alberto Torres</span> Brazilian footballer and manager (1944–2016)

Carlos Alberto "Capita" Torres, also known as "O Capitão do Tri", was a Brazilian football player and manager who played as an attacking right-sided full-back or wing-back. A technically gifted defender with good ball skills and defensive capabilities, he is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of all time. He also stood out for his leadership, and was an excellent penalty taker. Nicknamed O Capitão, he captained the Brazil national team to victory in the 1970 World Cup, scoring the fourth goal in the final, considered one of the greatest goals in the history of the tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl-Heinz Rummenigge</span> German football executive and former player

Karl-Heinz "Kalle" Rummenigge is a German football executive and former professional player. Considered one of the greatest German footballers ever, he was also the longtime Chairman of Executive Board of FC Bayern München AG, a daughter company of German Bundesliga team Bayern Munich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Sting</span> Former American professional soccer team based in Chicago

The Chicago Sting (1974–1988) was an American professional soccer team representing Chicago. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League in the 1982–83 season and again from 1984 to 1988. They were North American Soccer League champions in 1981 and 1984, one of only two NASL teams to win the championship twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Lenarduzzi</span> Canadian soccer player

Robert Italo Lenarduzzi, OBC is a former North American Soccer League player, Canadian international, and coach of the Canadian national and Olympic soccer teams. He is currently club liaison for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Alan Willey is an English former footballer who spent most of his playing career in the United States. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lünen</span> Town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Lünen is a town with around 86,000 inhabitants in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located north of Dortmund, on both banks of the River Lippe. It is the largest town of the Unna district and part of the Ruhr Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl-Heinz Schnellinger</span> German footballer (1939–2024)

Karl-Heinz Schnellinger was a German footballer who played as a defender. An athletic and hard-tackling player, with a strong physique, he was nicknamed the "Volkswagen" for his continuity of performance, both in quantity and in quality, and for his versatility; indeed, although he was usually deployed as a full-back, he was capable of playing anywhere along the back, and could also play as a centre-back, as a sweeper, or even as a defensive midfielder. He was one of the first successful German footballers abroad. In his prime he was often considered one of the best and most complete left-backs in the world in his era, rivaled only by Giacinto Facchetti, Nílton Santos and Silvio Marzolini.

Ian Christopher Bridge is a soccer coach and former professional who played as a defender. A former player for the Canada national team, he has coached the Canada women's national team among other teams.

Klaus Toppmöller is a German football manager and former professional player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willy Roy</span> American soccer player

Willy Roy is a retired American soccer forward and coach. He played for several teams in the National Professional Soccer League and the North American Soccer League in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the United States national team from 1965 to 1973. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Trost</span> American soccer player and coach

Alan Trost is an American former professional soccer player who played as a midfielder. He played collegiate soccer at Saint Louis University where he won the 1969 and 1970 Hermann Trophy as the player of the year. His professional career includes years in both the North American Soccer League (NASL) and Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He also was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic soccer team. He went on to earn 14 caps with the U.S. national team, scoring one goal. He coached professionally with the St. Louis Steamers of MISL and continues to coach youth soccer. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Edward John Murphy was a soccer player who played as a forward. He played professionally in the National Soccer League of Chicago and the North American Soccer League. Born in Scotland, he earned seventeen caps and scored five goals for the United States national team from 1955 to 1969.

Clive Roy Toye was inducted to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the United States in 2003.

Adolph (Adolf) Bachmeier was a U.S.-Romanian soccer player. He spent most of his playing career with various teams in Chicago. He also earned fifteen caps with the U.S. national team between 1959 and 1969. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2002.

Rudy Getzinger is a retired soccer player who played as a midfielder. He was raised in Austria before coming to the US. He spent most of his career with Chicago-based teams, earned eight caps with the United States and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Paul Child is an English-American former soccer player who played as a forward, spending nine seasons in the North American Soccer League. He led the league in scoring in 1974 and was a two-time first team All-Star. He also earned two caps with the United States national team in 1973. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Derek Spalding is a former soccer player who played as a defender. He played for Hibernian in the Scottish Football League until he emigrated to the United States in 1977. He then played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and at least two in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned one cap with the US national team, in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Nogly</span> German footballer

Peter Nogly is a former German football player and coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinz Wirtz</span> German footballer (born 1953)

Heinz Wirtz is a German former professional footballer who played as a defender. He played professionally in the Bundesliga, the North American Soccer League, the Major Indoor Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League. He also coached in the National Professional Soccer League. He is a member of the Triple Nine Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soccer Bowl Series '84</span> Soccer match

Soccer Bowl Series '84, also known as Soccer Bowl '84, was the championship series of the 1984 NASL season, and the last championship of the original NASL. In a departure from previous years, it was a best-of-three series between the Chicago Sting and the Toronto Blizzard as opposed to a single-game championship. The first game of the series was held on Monday, October 1 at Comiskey Park, in Chicago, Illinois; the Sting won it, 2–1. The second game was played at Varsity Stadium, in Toronto, Ontario on October 3. Chicago won again, this time by a score of 3–2, to sweep the series and claim its second North American championship.

References

  1. "Granitza, Karl-Heinz" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  2. "Karl-Heinz Granitza - 2003 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame". Karl-Heinz Granitza - 2003 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. "Karl-Heinz Granitza" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  4. Matthias Arnhold (5 September 2013). "Karl-Heinz Granitza - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 25 September 2013.