Klaus Fischer

For other people named Klaus Fischer, see Klaus Fischer (disambiguation).

Klaus Fischer

Klaus Fischer in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Klaus Fischer
Date of birth	(1949-12-27) 27 December 1949
Place of birth	Kreuzstraßl, West Germany
Height
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1958–1961	SC Kreuzstraßl
1961–1968	SC Zwiesel
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1968–1970	TSV 1860 München	60	(28)
1970–1981	FC Schalke 04	305	(182)
1981–1984	1. FC Köln	96	(31)
1984–1988	VfL Bochum	84	(27)
Total		545	(268)
International career
1971	West Germany U-23	2	(2)
1977–1982	West Germany	45	(32)
Managerial career
1988–1989	VfL Bochum (assistant)
1989–1992	FC Schalke 04 (assistant)
1990	→ FC Schalke 04 (interim)
1992	→ FC Schalke 04 (interim)
1992–1995	FC Schalke 04 II
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Klaus Fischer (born 27 December 1949) is a German former footballer and coach, noted for his bicycle kicks.

Career

Fischer was born in Kreuzstraßl, near Lindberg (Bayerischer Wald) in the district of Regen.

He moved from SC Zwiesel to TSV 1860 München in 1968 and made 535 Bundesliga appearances for TSV 1860 München, FC Schalke 04, 1. FC Köln and VfL Bochum. With Schalke 04 he won the German Cup in 1972. Schalke 04 were one of the clubs involved in a bribery scandal in season 1970–71 of the Bundesliga. As one of the players involved, Fischer initially received a ban for life, but this punishment was later reduced to a one-year ban.

In 1976 he was top scorer in the Bundesliga. With 268 goals he ranks second to Gerd Müller in the list of all-time top Bundesliga goalscorers. In 1988 Fischer's club side VfL Bochum made it to the German Cup Final, but Fischer did not feature in the final match. Klaus Fischer ended his career in 1988.

His 182 league goals for Schalke 04 remain a club record.

International career

He made 45 appearances for the Germany national football team from 1977 to 1982 and scored 32 goals (eight headers and 24 with his feet including two bicycle kicks). He appeared in two World Cups and was a World Cup runner-up in Spain in 1982.

Fischer was known particularly for his bicycle kicks, often set up for him by Rüdiger Abramczik. His goal from a bicycle kick in a 4–1 win in a 1977 international match against Switzerland was selected as the Goal of the Year by German television viewers, and would later be voted Goal of the Decade and Goal of the Century. He also scored a famous bicycle kick goal in extra time in the 1982 World Cup semi-finals against France.

Coaching career

He currently runs a football training school.

Honours

• DFB-Pokal winner: 1971–72, 1982–83
• Bundesliga runner-up: 1971–72, 1976–77, 1981–82
• Bundesliga: top scorer 1975–76 (29 goals)
• FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1982