Detlef Enge
Encyclopedia
Detlef Enge is a former East German football player who played in the DDR-Oberliga
for 1. FC Magdeburg
. He won the Oberliga championship three times, the East German Cup—FDGB-Pokal—once and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1974 with the club. He played in 46 matches for the youth national teams.
Enge began his playing career in the school sports club in his home town of Schwanebeck, north of the Harz
. In November 1967, at age 15, the talented defender won his first cap to the youth national team. He would go on to play for his country in all youth levels, winning the UEFA junior tournament
in 1970.
In 1967, 1. FC Magdeburg signed talented Enge, and after playing in the Juniors' Oberliga, Enge had his debut in the senior team at age 17, when he played in the Cup Winners' Cup match against Académica Coimbra (a 0–2 away loss for Magdeburg) on 26 November 1969. He would have to wait another nine months for his first Oberliga match, until 22 August 1970 when he played in the 1–0 home win against FC Vorwärts Berlin
as a right-back. Playing in 23 of 26 matches of the 1970–71 season Enge quickly established himself as a regular in the team. One year later, he won his first senior title, winning the Oberliga championship, playing in 24 of 26 matches. On 1 May 1973 he won the FDGB-Pokal
when 1. FC Magdeburg beat 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig
3–2.
The 1973–74 season became a season of records for the 22-year-old. On 6 April 1974 Magdeburg won their second championship, beating FC Vorwärts Frankfurt 3–2. Due to a long injury, Enge only played in 14 of 26 matches. In May, Enge finished second with the East Germany Under-23 national team in the UEFA Under-23 championship
, playing in 12 matches for the team. The most important football match of his career would come on 8 May 1974. Enge played in the 1974 European Cup Winners' Cup Final in De Kuip
, Rotterdam
, beating A.C. Milan
2–0.
In the next season, however, the end of Enge's playing career was already on the horizon. Although he could celebrate his third championship with 1. FC Magdeburg, he could only play in five matches due to injuries. After he could not play a single game in the 1975–76 season and only one match in 1976–77 season, Enge ended his Oberliga career at the age of 25. During his eight-year stay with Magdeburg, he played in 125 competitive matches, 91 in the Oberliga, 20 in the FDGB-Pokal and 14 on European level. At the end of his playing career, Enge joined DDR-Liga
side BSG
Chemie Schönebeck until their relegation in 1978.
In an interview, his former teammate Wolfgang Seguin
said that he and his teammates had had no contact with Enge since the late 1970s.
DDR-Oberliga
The DDR-Oberliga was, prior to German reunification in 1990, the elite level of football competition in the DDR , being roughly equivalent to the Oberliga or Bundesliga in West Germany.-Overview:Following World...
for 1. FC Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg is a German association football club playing in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt.-History:Football has been played in Magdeburg since the end of the 19th century. On 15 June 1896 SV Victoria 96 Magdeburg was founded, a club that had its best days before World War II, when it participated...
. He won the Oberliga championship three times, the East German Cup—FDGB-Pokal—once and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1974 with the club. He played in 46 matches for the youth national teams.
Enge began his playing career in the school sports club in his home town of Schwanebeck, north of the Harz
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
. In November 1967, at age 15, the talented defender won his first cap to the youth national team. He would go on to play for his country in all youth levels, winning the UEFA junior tournament
UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
in 1970.
In 1967, 1. FC Magdeburg signed talented Enge, and after playing in the Juniors' Oberliga, Enge had his debut in the senior team at age 17, when he played in the Cup Winners' Cup match against Académica Coimbra (a 0–2 away loss for Magdeburg) on 26 November 1969. He would have to wait another nine months for his first Oberliga match, until 22 August 1970 when he played in the 1–0 home win against FC Vorwärts Berlin
FC Viktoria Frankfurt
Frankfurter FC Viktoria is a German association football club based in Frankfurt , Brandenburg. The club was originally founded in East Germany as the army club SV Vorwärts der HVA Leipzig in 1951 in the city of Leipzig.- History :One of the characteristics of East German football after World War...
as a right-back. Playing in 23 of 26 matches of the 1970–71 season Enge quickly established himself as a regular in the team. One year later, he won his first senior title, winning the Oberliga championship, playing in 24 of 26 matches. On 1 May 1973 he won the FDGB-Pokal
FDGB-Pokal 1972–73
The 1972-73 season was the 22nd competition for the FDGB-Pokal, the national football cup competition of East Germany.As the second-tier DDR-Liga had been enlarged to 58 teams in the previous season, the competition had to be held in a new format...
when 1. FC Magdeburg beat 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig
Lokomotive Leipzig
1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig is a German football club based in the city of Leipzig in Saxony and may be more familiar to many of the country's football fans as the historic side VfB Leipzig, the first national champions of Germany...
3–2.
The 1973–74 season became a season of records for the 22-year-old. On 6 April 1974 Magdeburg won their second championship, beating FC Vorwärts Frankfurt 3–2. Due to a long injury, Enge only played in 14 of 26 matches. In May, Enge finished second with the East Germany Under-23 national team in the UEFA Under-23 championship
UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
, playing in 12 matches for the team. The most important football match of his career would come on 8 May 1974. Enge played in the 1974 European Cup Winners' Cup Final in De Kuip
Feijenoord Stadion
The Feijenoord Stadion, better known by its nickname De Kuip , is a stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands that was completed in 1937. The name is derived from the area "Feijenoord" in Rotterdam, and from the club with the same name .Capacity at completion: 64,000. Maximum capacity: 69,000...
, Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, beating A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
2–0.
In the next season, however, the end of Enge's playing career was already on the horizon. Although he could celebrate his third championship with 1. FC Magdeburg, he could only play in five matches due to injuries. After he could not play a single game in the 1975–76 season and only one match in 1976–77 season, Enge ended his Oberliga career at the age of 25. During his eight-year stay with Magdeburg, he played in 125 competitive matches, 91 in the Oberliga, 20 in the FDGB-Pokal and 14 on European level. At the end of his playing career, Enge joined DDR-Liga
DDR-Liga
The DDR-Liga was, prior to German reunification in 1990, the second level of football competition in the DDR , being roughly equivalent to the Bundesliga in West Germany.-1950-1955:The league was established with two divisions of ten teams each in 1950...
side BSG
Betriebssportgemeinschaft (GDR)
A Betriebssportgemeinschaft was an organizational form of sports clubs in East Germany.After World War II, the Allied Control Commission had dissolved all existing sports structures, including the dissolution of all existing sports clubs on the basis of directive 23, dated 17 December 1945. This...
Chemie Schönebeck until their relegation in 1978.
In an interview, his former teammate Wolfgang Seguin
Wolfgang Seguin
Wolfgang "Paule" Seguin is a retired East German footballer.-Club career:Seguin took up playing football in his hometown of Burg in 1953. He spent ten years with Einheit Burg, playing an attacking role. In 1963 he transferred to SC Aufbau Magdeburg, where he would play 380 Oberliga matches until...
said that he and his teammates had had no contact with Enge since the late 1970s.
Honours
- European Cup Winners' Cup: 1
- Winner 1974
- DDR-OberligaDDR-OberligaThe DDR-Oberliga was, prior to German reunification in 1990, the elite level of football competition in the DDR , being roughly equivalent to the Oberliga or Bundesliga in West Germany.-Overview:Following World...
: 3- Winner 1972, 1974, 1975
- FDGB-Pokal: 1
- Winner 1973FDGB-Pokal 1972–73The 1972-73 season was the 22nd competition for the FDGB-Pokal, the national football cup competition of East Germany.As the second-tier DDR-Liga had been enlarged to 58 teams in the previous season, the competition had to be held in a new format...
- Winner 1973
- UEFA junior tournamentUEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipThe European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
: 1- Winner 1970
- UEFA Under-23 championshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
- Runner-up 1974