Horst Eckel


Horst Eckel is a former German footballer who was part of the West German team that won the 1954 FIFA World Cup. Since the death of Hans Schäfer in 2017, Eckel is the only player still alive from the team.

National Team

Eckel was part of the West German team that won the 1954 FIFA World Cup and achieved the "Miracle of Bern". During the 1954 FIFA World Cup Eckel became an important pillar of the successful West German team. The strength of the right side of Sepp Herberger's team was made possible due to Eckel's high defensive workrate and his passes, from which outside right Helmut Rahn and inside right Max Morlock benefitted enormously.
He also participated in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. In total he earned 32 caps.

Club career

Eckel debuted in Kaiserslautern's first team in 1947 at the age of 15. He won the German football championship with Kaiserslautern in 1951 and 1953. Eckel was playing as a right half back. As a player, Eckel was assiduous and adroit. Because of his rapid way of playing, he got the nickname Windhund.
During his club career he played for 1. FC Kaiserslautern and SV Röchling Völklingen.

Later life

After his career, he retrained from toolmaker to teacher, a profession he practised until his retirement in 1997.
He was an advisor for The Miracle of Bern, Sönke Wortmann's movie about the 1954 FIFA World Cup.