Bruno Pezzey
Bruno Pezzey ( born February 3, 1955 in Lauterach, Vorarlberg, † December 31, 1994 in Innsbruck ) was an Austrian football player. He played as a defender all games for Austria in the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and in Spain in 1982 and was Player of the World XI in 1979. The four-time Austrian champion could also celebrate successes in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen. The highlight was the UEFA Cup victory in 1980 with Eintracht Frankfurt.
At the age of 39 years Bruno Pezzey died of sudden cardiac arrest during a hockey game. He is still regarded as one of the best defenders in the Austrian football history of the postwar period.
Career
Rise in Innsbruck and World Cup 1978
Bruno Pezzey laced his first football boots at FC Lauterach, the club of his hometown Vorarlberg. Today, the sports ground of the association bears his name. At the age of 18 he was from FC Vorarlberg in the National League, Bundesliga fetched today, and already came in his debut season on 28 championship stakes. Soon the young footballer was courted by other clubs and finally came in 1974 to the SSW Innsbruck. Already in its second Erstligasaison was Bruno Pezzey with the Innsbruckern first time Austrian champion and was also on June 7, 1975 against Czechoslovakia on his international debut. The victory in the same year in the OFB Cup final against SK Sturm Graz also meant the Double.
After it reached only to number two in Championship Cup as 1976, Bruno Pezzey could succeed again in 1977 with his team in the league. Meanwhile, he had become a mainstay in the defense of the national team together with Robert Sara, who succeeded to qualify for the 1978 World Cup. In Argentina, Austria was surprisingly penetrated as group winners ahead of Brazil, Spain and Sweden and also throw the reigning world champions Germany in the miracle of Cordoba from the competition. Total Bruno Pezzey reached the 7th place with the team. In the same year he also achieved international attention with strong performances in the European Cup of Champions: Only in the quarter-finals, the SSW Innsbruck had unhappy due to the away goals rule Borussia Mönchengladbach bow.
Legionnaire in Germany and returned to Austria
So it came after the 1978 season to change in the German Bundesliga Bruno Pezzeys to Eintracht Frankfurt. In the UEFA Cup 1979/80 the defender with the frankfurters was finally able to celebrate his only international title: This time could Pezzey triumph with his team in the finals on away goals over Borussia Mönchengladbach. The first national title with Frankfurt took Bruno Pezzey in the DFB Cup 1981. Indes managed with the national team to qualify for the World Cup 1982. According to the 7th place in Argentina succeeded this time in Spain the eighth rank. After the World Cup it was for Bruno Pezzey 1983 from Frankfurt to the Weser to Werder Bremen. With the Hanseatic city dwellers the defender scraped twice narrowly on winning the German championship by: 1985 and 1986 he was runner-up with the team, in the second year was ultimately only the worse goal difference the rash.
At the beginning of the season 1987/88 Bruno Pezzey returned to Innsbruck and played his last years at FC Swarovski Tirol. The end of 1988 he founded with the current Hansi Neuner "OUTDOOR Bruno Pezzey & Crazy Eddy" which offers outdoor activities such as rafting, canyoning, rafting trips, climbing and canoeing in Silz / Tirol. Under coach Ernst Happel he still rounded off his career then with the double in 1989 and another league title in 1990 and from then withdrew from active football. Bruno Pezzey however, remained with the football Connected, the OFB him in charge of youth development was passed. He worked out a comprehensive approach, however, died unexpectedly at a Joke Hockey Game on New Year's Eve of 1994 of sudden cardiac death at the age of 39 years.
Honors
On June 25, 1979 Bruno Pezzey was allowed to play for the World Team FIFA, also, he managed to achieve as a player of Europe Choice on August 7, 1982 in a 3-2 victory over the world choosing a goal. From 1979 to 1982 he was nominated four times in the series for the election of the European Footballer of the year, but could not win the title. But this he is a member of the Austrian national team of the 20th century. After his tragic death a prize of the Association of footballers was founded in 1997 for Austria's Footballer of the Year, he received in memory of Bruno Pezzey the name "Bruno".
Achievements
- 4 x Austrian Champion: 1975, 1977, 1989, 1990
- 2 x German Vice Champion: 1985, 1986
- 2 x Austrian Cup Winner: 1975, 1989
- 1 x German Cup: 1981
- Participation World Cup 1978: 7th place
- Participation World Cup 1982: 8th Place
- 84 (85 ) caps and 9 goals for the Austrian national football team from 1975 to 1990