Gerhardt Neef
Gerhard " Gerry " Neef (born 30 December 1946 in Hausham, † February 23, 2010 in Nuremberg ) was a German football player.
Football career
Neef played from 1968 to 1973 the Scottish club Glasgow Rangers, with whom he 1972 European Cup Winners Cup Winners' Cup was. He is one of the most successful players who ever wore the jerseys of clubs SV Duisburg Hamborn 90 and VfvB Ruhrort / Laar. The goalkeeper went through the youth ranks of Hamborner before joining with coach Hermann Arndt for VfvB Ruhrort - Laar, with whom he played in the highest German amateur class.
About a curious way Neef came from the "Ruhr 's " at the legendary club from Scotland. Even Neef himself did not know how Scottish clubs were actually aware of him. Two possibilities exist: first, he played with a Duisburg city selection at a friendly match in Duisburg Partner English city of Portsmouth. Secondly, he parried as police cadets in Moenchengladbach the balls in the Military League Army of the Rhine in the Rhine Dahlen. In addition, was his ex-wife Marcia Scottish and 2nd Lieutenant in the British Army.
First, he was invited in 1967 by Aberdeen FC, but then still recruited during the negotiations of the Glasgow Rangers. After another season at VfvB Ruhrort / Laar, but already paid by the Rangers, Neef finally moved to Glasgow. First, he made a single game and was one of six goalkeepers the club.
1970 saw the arrival of Gerry Neef: In a catch-up game he was used, played without conceding a goal, while the regulars were rested for the League Cup final. Surprisingly Neef was also used in this finale, as the goalkeeper Norrie Martin was injured before the game. After the 4-0 victory in the final Neef was the number one in the Rangers. In the same year the Rangers fans voted him the best player of the year. Neef became famous also because he played without gloves. When the Rangers won the European Cup in 1972, but was Peter McCloy in goal because Neef had been injured in the quarterfinals.
The worst moment experienced Neef on January 2, 1971 at the Ibrox Disaster. 66 people died at that time just before the end of the Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic, when it came to a stampede on a staircase.
After his time with the Rangers Gerry Neef transferred to 1 FC Nuremberg, for whom he played 43 games in the Regionalliga Süd and in the 2nd Bundesliga Süd. After that he went to FC Herzogenaurach.
The more life
His daughter from his first marriage, Melanie Neef, was in Scotland successful athlete and European champion over 400 meters.