Retirement. Paul Breitner stopped playing in 1983. One of the most colourful players of the 1970s, controversial from start to end, but one who influenced the sport greatly.
Born in 1951, Breitner debuted in 1970 as part of highly talented, but strange group of talented home-grown juniors of Bayern (Munich). A new wave of players – cocky, opinionated, not following hierarchy. At the time, Franz Beckenbauer said that he even does not understand them, they spoke different, intellectual German. Only Breitner and Uli Hoeness of the group truly established themselves, quickly becoming world class stars – both became members of the West German national team before been old enough for a professional contract.
Breitner’s career is well known, so there is no need for detailed story. However, he is closely associated with the major change in football – he was major force of the new total football. Breitner started as a left-back, but covered the whole field. It was exciting to watch him scoring goals from the right wing or giving deadly passes from the center, or suddenly appearing as the last man clearing the ball in front of Sepp Maier, but his free roaming was not undisciplined and hazardous – somehow, he always managed to be at his original post and perform the duties of left-back. No other left – or right – back played like him: they kept on their side, doubling as wingers, but hardly ever ventured at other parts of the pitch and never appeared as playmakers. Breitner was the typical total football revolutionary – wild looking, very creative, imaginative, perfectly fit, fearless, skilful.
In 1972 Breitner was essential part of the great West German team, just winning the European championship and he became a world class star.
In 1974 Breitner was world champion and controversies surrounded him entirely – forget about his cigar, which was to be seen in the years to come: he openly criticized the German Football Federation and left the national team for good. People did not like that and particularly Bayern fans did not like at all his transfer to Real (Madrid). At this moment, Breitner already won more than many great players ever did: a World champion, an European champion, a winner of European Champions Cup, 3 West German titles and 1 German Cup.
Going to Spain looked like major political clash – wild looking and politically vocal German hippie not only went to conservative heavy-handed club like Real, but Spain was still ruled by Caudillo Franco.
And here was a Maoist in Madrid… to be coached by Miljan Miljanic, who in his youth was Communist partizan fighting Nazis in his native Yugoslavia. Quite and explosive mix… which resulted in permanent move from left-back to playmaker’s position in midfield, 2 Spanish titles and 1 Spanish Cup.
In 1977 Breitner returned to West Germany, joining Eintracht (Braunschweig) – it looked like that Breitner was at the end of his great days, for he went to small club more often to be seen relegated than among the leaders.
May be that was to be the end – Breitner more likely to watch than to play and writing newspaper articles. But forget his cigarette again – he had another strong season and spurred by him, his new team. The next year he went back to Bayern and stayed with his original club to the end of his playing days.
Back in Bayern, he formed formidable partnership with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – a duo so powerful and effective, that it was called ‘Breitnigge’ – and moved Bayern out of the dire straits the club plunged into after 1975. Then he returned to the national team as well.
His cigar nobody dared to criticize, but his beard was another matter – the rebel Maoist literally sold out in 1982, when he was paid 150 000 Deutsche Marks to shave the beard and advertise cosmetic products. He took the money and led West Germany to the 1982 World Cup final. The uninspired, to say the least, German team was much bigger offense to sensibilities than shaving a beard and Breitner was perhaps the biggest offender, for he formulated the whole disgusting approach to football in the 1980s: he said that football is war, only winning matters, and every mean is justifiable in achieving victory. It was particularly disturbing statement coming for it came from creative and elegant player. It was also disturbing for Breitner was seemingly at odds with his own concept – he was surrounded by dull robots clearly unable to read and follow his artistic directions. Breitner was not exactly liked by his new teammates, who he subjected to scorn and rather ugly pranks – they were not his equals, he was frustrated with them, and he quickly became rather cruel to them. On the field, Breitner appeared to be alone – his game was entirely different from the kind of football his teammates was capable of playing. May be this led to his somewhat surprising retirement – surprising, for he appeared fit and did not show any sign of fatigue or aging. Good for five more years, he looked.
Yet, he stepped down. And may be he was right – he quit at the top, not as some tired pale shadow of his former self, as many other players did. Very likely he saw not that much the inevitable damage of aging, but the fact he was at odds with younger players and current direction of football. He did not belong to the new kind of football, even if he himself formulated it. The exciting, creative, and pleasing total football was gone, stripped down to constant running and stomping the opponent. Breitner never played such kind of game, it was not his – after all, his own Bayern was no longer a collective of great players, but stripped down to Breitnigge. With his exit a whole era was closed.
The rest is cold numbers: 369 official games in which he scored 103 goals for Bayern, Real Madrid, and Entracht Braunschweig. 48 matches and 10 goals for the West German national team. World champion in 1974 and vice-champion in 1982. European champion in 1972. Winner of the European Champions Cup in 1974 and finalist in 1982. Five West German titles – 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980, and 1981. Two Spanish titles – 1975 and 1976. Two West German Cups – 1971 and 1982. One Spanish Cup – 1975. German player of the year – 1981. One of the only four players scoring goals in two World Cup finals – along with Pele, Vava, and Zidane – but the only one, who was not a striker. One of the true big stars in the sport. It was sorry moment to see him stepping down, but the memories remain.