Former German football world champion Dieter Herzog has died at the age of 79. His former club Bayer Leverkusen confirmed the death this week. The circumstances of his passing are not publicly known.
Dieter Herzog, born in Oberhausen, was part of the German national team's squad at the 1974 home World Cup, which ended in victory. At the time, he played for Fortuna Düsseldorf and featured in the second-round matches against Yugoslavia (2:0) and Sweden (4:2). His international career consisted of only five caps and ended in the same year. For the World Cup triumph, he received the Silver Laurel Leaf along with his teammates, the highest sports award in the Federal Republic.
In his club career, Herzog celebrated successes with Fortuna Düsseldorf, achieving promotion to the Bundesliga in 1971. In 1979, promotion followed with Bayer Leverkusen, to which he had transferred as a fresh world champion—a move that caused a stir since Leverkusen was still second-division at the time. Herzog retired from professional football in 1983 after a total of 394 appearances for the two clubs.
Bayer Leverkusen mourns in an obituary: "At Bayer 04, he will remain unforgettable as a player, colleague, and special person." Fortuna Düsseldorf honors him as "one of the great players in the club's history," to whom they will "preserve an honorable memory." The club emphasizes: "His sporting achievements, his modesty, and his loyalty to the club remain unforgettable." Herzog significantly shaped both clubs through his performances and personality.