Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Franz Merkhoffer

Franz Merkhoffer
Personal information
Date of birth (1946-11-29) 29 November 1946 (age 78)
Place of birth Dettum, Germany
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1956–1965 MTV Dettum
1965–1968 Hamburger SV
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1968–1984 Eintracht Braunschweig 496 (29)
International career
1969 West Germany U-23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Franz Merkhoffer (born 29 November 1946) is a retired German footballer. He is the record holder for most games played for Eintracht Braunschweig,[1] where he spent his whole professional career.

Career

After playing youth and amateur football for his hometown club MTV Dettum and Hamburger SV II, Merkhoffer joined Bundesliga side Eintracht Braunschweig in 1968. In Braunschweig he played 419 games in the Bundesliga between 1968 and 1983, becoming a mainstay in the club's defense for almost 16 years.[2]

Post-retirement

After retiring from football in 1984, Merkhoffer went into horse breeding.[3]

Personal life

Merkhoffer is father-in-law to American soccer player Jacob Thomas, who married Merkhoffer's daughter during his stay as a player at Eintracht Braunschweig.[4]

References

  1. ^ Bläsig, Horst; Leppert, Alex (2010). Ein Roter Löwe auf der Brust - Die Geschichte von Eintracht Braunschweig (in German). Die Werkstatt. p. 395.
  2. ^ Arnhold, Matthias (21 July 2011). "Franz Merkhoffer – Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Pferde haben den Fußball verdrängt" (in German). Braunschweiger Zeitung. September 2006. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Interview with Franz Merkhoffer" (in German). wirsindeintracht.de. Retrieved 27 December 2012.[permanent dead link]