Retirement. It was a sad story – Rainer Bonhof had to quit the game prematurely. He did it 1983, but since the season is 1983-84, his retirement belongs here – he started the season for Hertha (West Berlin) and after 6 games and 1 goal had to gave up because of ankle-joint injury. Unfortunately, injuries plagued him and there was no way out. He was 32 at the time.
Thus, after 371 games and 67 goals on club level and 53 games and 9 goals for the West German national team, Bonhof stepped down without fanfare. But what a career, even with the injuries!
Bonhof started with Borussia (Moenchengladbach) quickly becoming a key player of the great team in the 1970s. 4 German titles and 1 Cup. Also 1 UEFA Cup.
Moving to Spanish Valencia paired him with Mario Kempes and new victories – 1 Spanish Cup and 1 Cup Winners Cup.
Then he captained 1.FC Koln and won one more German Cup. But injuries…
And he moved to Hertha in the summer of 1983.
Here was the unfortunate end after 6 games.
Of course, his great talent was noticed quickly and he was invited in the German national team in 1972 and played for it until 1981.
Considering the competition at the time, Bonhof really impressed – of course, his finest moment was the 1974 World Cup, won by West Germany with his great help, but it was not all: he played at 2 World Cup finals and 3 European Championship finals. He became twice European champion (1972 and 1980) and silver medalist in 1976. More than impressive career, peppered by intriguing details. To this day, he is one of the most successful players in the history of the European championships, but… his titles came without him playing even a minute at the finals: he was reserve in both 1972 and 1980. His silver medal, though, was a result of playing in 1976. In 1974 he became the youngest German player to win World Championship and remain so for long, long years. He had one of the hardest kicks in the game at the time, so his long shots and free kicks were more than deadly – Ray Clemence, the great 1970s goalkeeper of Liverpool and England openly feared Bonhof. He was also great passer and tough, but not dirty, defensive midfielder – truly versatile player, a great example of what a total-football player should be. And it was because of him and Stielike the West German Federation lifted its ban for inviting foreign-based players to the national team – both were indispensable. Unfortunately, injuries piled up after 1978 and eventually killed his career.