Willy Tröger
Encyclopedia
Willy Tröger was a German
footballer who played as a striker
, spending his entire career with Wismut Aue, and making 15 appearances for the East Germany national team
.
before converting to football, where he initially played as a goalkeeper
. Both of these activities were cut short in 1945, however, when he lost his hand
while fighting in World War II
: having been drafted into the Wehrmacht
as the war drew to a close, he was injured by a grenade
in Berlin
. He continued in the game, however, and converted to the position of striker
, playing for a succession of local clubs in Zwickau
before joining Wismut Aue of the DDR-Oberliga
in 1951, following coach Walter Fritzsch
. He remained with the club, who were renamed Wismut Karl-Marx-Stadt in 1954, until 1962, scoring 114 goals in 237 games. During this time the club won three league titles (1956, 1957 and 1959) and one cup in 1955, and Tröger was the league's top scorer in the 1954–55 season, with 22 goals. His 105 goals at the highest level of East German football are a club record.
Tröger made 15 appearances for the East Germany national team
, scoring 11 goals between 1954 and 1959, including 2 goals in the national team's first victory, a 3–2 win against Romania
in Bucharest
in 1955.
on March 30, 2004 in Pirna-Copitz
, having been unsuccessfully operated on twice. A song was written in tribute by local artist Stefan Gerlach, and the stadium in Pirna
was renamed the Willy-Tröger-Stadion in his honour.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
footballer who played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, spending his entire career with Wismut Aue, and making 15 appearances for the East Germany national team
East Germany national football team
The East Germany national football team was from 1952 to 1990 the football team of East Germany, playing as one of three post-war German teams, along with Saarland and West Germany....
.
Career
In his youth, Tröger played handballTeam handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
before converting to football, where he initially played as a goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
. Both of these activities were cut short in 1945, however, when he lost his hand
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...
while fighting in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: having been drafted into the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
as the war drew to a close, he was injured by a grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. He continued in the game, however, and converted to the position of striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, playing for a succession of local clubs in Zwickau
Zwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
before joining Wismut Aue of the DDR-Oberliga
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...
in 1951, following coach Walter Fritzsch
Walter Fritzsch
Walter Fritzsch was a German football player and trainer.- Beginning :He began his career as a player in 1927 with SC Planitz. In 1940 he transferred to VfL Leisnig and played there until 1943 after which he played for several other clubs including BC Hartha, SC Döbeln and Zwickau-Oberhohndorf...
. He remained with the club, who were renamed Wismut Karl-Marx-Stadt in 1954, until 1962, scoring 114 goals in 237 games. During this time the club won three league titles (1956, 1957 and 1959) and one cup in 1955, and Tröger was the league's top scorer in the 1954–55 season, with 22 goals. His 105 goals at the highest level of East German football are a club record.
Tröger made 15 appearances for the East Germany national team
East Germany national football team
The East Germany national football team was from 1952 to 1990 the football team of East Germany, playing as one of three post-war German teams, along with Saarland and West Germany....
, scoring 11 goals between 1954 and 1959, including 2 goals in the national team's first victory, a 3–2 win against Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
in 1955.
Death
Tröger died of stomach cancerStomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
on March 30, 2004 in Pirna-Copitz
Pirna
Pirna is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, capital of the administrative district Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge. The town's population is over 40,000. Pirna is located near Dresden and is an important district town as well as a Große Kreisstadt...
, having been unsuccessfully operated on twice. A song was written in tribute by local artist Stefan Gerlach, and the stadium in Pirna
Pirna
Pirna is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, capital of the administrative district Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge. The town's population is over 40,000. Pirna is located near Dresden and is an important district town as well as a Große Kreisstadt...
was renamed the Willy-Tröger-Stadion in his honour.