Who has won UEFA Euro both as coach & player?

Berti Vogts is the only player in history to achieve this miraculous feat.

Imagine representing your nation in the biggest competition in European football, giving every drop of your blood, sweat, and tears to propel your team to become UEFA Euro Champions. Ten to twelve years later, destiny picks you up to recreate this incredible moment for your country and lead them to triumph again, but this time as a coach.

This sounds miraculous indeed, but no one has been able to accomplish this miraculous dream other than the only German legend, Berti Vogts. He was part of the Germany squad that won the 1972 Euros and, 24 years later, etched his name forever in the history of football after guiding the German team to become champions of Europe in 1996.

In this story, we take you on a rollercoaster ride through some of the iconic moments of Berti Vogts’ career, from his days as a player to his tenure as a coach. Tighten your seatbelt, as this will be an interesting and awe-inspiring ride for the ages.

Nicknamed “Der Terrier,” Vogts had his share of ups and downs. During a match against Austria in the 1978 FIFA World Cup, he scored an own goal that led to Germany’s exit from the tournament. This match is famously known as “The Miracle of Cordoba” in Austria. Despite this setback, Vogts redeemed himself by guiding Germany to victory in the 1996 Euros.

Early career and rise with Borussia Mönchengladbach

Vogts joined his local sports club, VFR Büttgen, at the tender age of seven before moving on to Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1965. He made a record-breaking 419 appearances for the club over fourteen years, becoming a symbol of loyalty for Gladbach fans. Vogts led Die Fohlen to five Bundesliga titles, two UEFA Cups, and the DFB-Pokal trophy in the 1972-73 season.

International glory and the infamous own goal

Vogts made 96 appearances for the German national team, captaining Die Mannschaft on 20 occasions. He famously subdued Dutch legend Johan Cruyff in the finals of the 1974 World Cup, where West Germany edged out Holland 2-1 to clinch the title. Germany also won the UEFA Euros in 1972, with Vogts playing a crucial role in their 3-0 victory over the Soviet Union in the finals.

Despite his contributions, Vogts retired from playing in 1979 after the infamous own goal against Austria. However, his story was far from over.

From player to manager: The road to redemption

Nobody predicted Vogts would become one of the greatest managers of his generation. He began by coaching the Germany under-21 team and became the assistant manager for the senior team in 1986. In 1990, he succeeded Franz Beckenbauer as the manager of the German national side.

In his first major tournament as a coach, Vogts came close to making history by almost winning the Euros in 1992. However, Germany was defeated by Denmark in the finals. Determined to turn his silver medal into gold, Vogts led Germany to victory in the 1996 Euros. Germany did not concede a single goal in the group stage, defeated Croatia in the quarter-finals, and eliminated England in the semi-finals. They then triumphed over the Czech Republic in the finals, bouncing back from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1.

A legacy unmatched

So far, many players have come close to achieving the feat of winning the Euros as both a player and a coach, but none have succeeded. Didier Deschamps of France had a golden chance in the 2016 Euros on home soil, but his dreams were shattered by a late strike from Eder.

Berti Vogts remains the only individual to have won the European Championship as both a player and a coach, a testament to his enduring legacy in the world of football.

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