For modern football fans, Jupp Heynckes would be familiar for his 2 magnificent stints as Bayern Munich manager. The first one in particular was a historic run that saw them win the treble. Heynckes' is regarded by many to be one of the finest managers the game has seen, with his European triumphs with Real Madrid, Bayern, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Schalke being a testament to that.
This article will be looking at a whole other side of that persona, as we look back at Heynckes the player. Let us rewind back the years and go through his playing years.
Early years
A young Jupp Heynckes joined amateur side Grün-Weiß Holt to begin his football journey, and eventually jumped ship to his hometown club Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1964. This was a time when the club were playing in Germany's Second Division, but they managed to achieve promotion just a year later in 1965.
He went on to have two successful seasons with the club, during which the former German forward scored 27 goals. This heroics saw him seal a move to Hannover 96, where he spent the next 3 years of his career.
A glorious homecoming
Heynckes returned back to Mönchengladbach in 1970, with the club being in an entirely different place at this time. They were coming from a legendary season that saw them win their first League title in history.
The German was expected to help them to continue this success, and his 19 goals in the succeeding season helped Mönchengladbach to become the first club to retain the Bundesliga title in 1971.
They were, however, knocked out early in the European Cup. The German side initially recorded an astonishing 7-1 against Inter, with Heynckes scoring twice as well. The match was however required due to an off-field incident and Mönchengladbach lost the replay 4-2 on aggregate.
Borussia Mönchengladbach were closer to European greatness the following year, as they reached the 1973 UEFA Cup final. Heynckes and his men lost the first-leg of the final 3-0, and that clearly sealed their fate. Heynckes scored a brace in the second-leg, but Liverpool managed to prevail 3-2 on aggregate. Heynckes still had a fine tournament, as his 12 goals made him joint top scorer with Twente's Jan Jeuring.
Gladbach was still able to end the season with silverware, as they beat 1. FC Köln in the DFB-Pokal final.
The 1973–74 season saw the very best of Heynckes, who finished the campaign as joint top-scorer in the Bundesliga and top scorer of the 1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup. Despite his best efforts, Mönchengladbach finished that season without any silverware.
The dream season, and final year
The 1974–75 campaign was an unforgettable one for both Heynckes and Gladbach. Mönchengladbach finished that season as both Bundesliga and UEFA Cup champions. Heynckes was instrumental for those historical feats, and finished as top scorer in both the competitions.
Borussia Mönchengladbach went on to win 2 consecutive Bundesliga titles (1975–76, 1976–77) following this, in what was a golden period for the club. However, they went on to suffer heartbreak yet again in the European stage. Gladbach managed to reach the 1976–77 European Cup, only to suffer yet another Cup final loss against Liverpool.
Heynckes continued his goalscoring exploits in the following 1977–78 Bundesliga season as well, but Gladbach finished that campaign empty handed. That was also the end of his playing days in football, as he announced his retirement.
In addition to his heroics at club level, Heynckes had also won the 1972 UEFA European Championship and 1974 FIFA World Cup with Germany.
The player in him will always have a legendary status in football, just like the legendary manager he went on to become.
