Bernd Förster

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Bernhard "Bernd" Georg Josef Förster (born May 3, 1956 in Mosbach) is a former German football (soccer) player.

Defender Förster joined Bundesliga's Bayern München from lower league outfit Waldhof Mannheim in the 1974-1975 season to switch to fellow Bundesliga side 1. FC Saarbrücken ahead of the 1976-1977 campaign. A further two years later, and 1. FC Saarbrücken's relegation, he started to wear the colours of VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga to join up with his younger brother Karlheinz, also a defender, who had already been playing for that club. Until his retirement, Bernd Förster scored 25 goals in altogether 291 Bundesliga matches. Winning the Bundesliga title with Stuttgart in 1984, Bayern München won the European Cup twice (1975, 1976) in his spell with them.

Winning his first cap for Germany in 1979 he was part of the German squad that clinched the Euro 1980 trophy against Belgium (2-1) on June 22, 1980 in Rome, Italy. He remained a loyal member of Germany those years, taking part also part in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. His participation was notable, since his younger brother Karlheinz was also part of the German squad. In addition, both Försters were starters for Germany in that competition since the second round fixture against England at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, on June 29. Their defending skills helped to reach the final. On July 11, 1982, when the West German team played Italy in the World Cup Final, Bernd was also playing alongside his brother Karlheinz in the German defence, they became the first brothers in German football history to take part in a World Cup final since Ottmar and Fritz Walter's appearances in the victorious 1954 World Cup final. However, Italy won the match (3-1), the Försters were the first brothers in German football history to end defeated on such an occasion.

Bernd Förster's final of, altogether, thirty-three caps for his country took place during the 1984 UEFA European Football Championship in France, a second major tournament he shared as reputation with his brother. On June 20, 1984, West Germany was eliminated from the competition by Spain through a last minute goal scored by Antonio Maceda. In this, his final appearance for Germany in his career, he was still accompanied in action by his brother Karlheinz, who joined French club Olympique de Marseille from VfB Stuttgart just when Bernd retired in 1986.

v • d • e West Germany squad - UEFA Euro 1980 Winners (2nd title) 1 Schumacher • 2 Briegel • 3 Cullmann • 4 K. Förster • 5 Dietz • 6 Schuster • 7 B. Förster • 8 Rumenigge • 9 Hrubesch • 10 Müller • 11 Allofs • 12 Memering • 13 Bonhof • 14 Magath • 15 Stielike • 16 Zimmermann • 17 Del'Haye • 18 Matthäus • 19 Votava • 20 Kaltz • 21 Junghans • 22 Immel • Coach: Derwall

v • d • e West Germany squad - 1982 FIFA World Cup Runners-up 1 Schumacher • 2 Briegel • 3 Breitner • 4 K. Förster • 5 B. Förster • 6 Dremmler • 7 Littbarski • 8 Fischer • 9 Hrubesch • 10 Müller • 11 Rummenigge • 12 Hannes • 13 Reinders • 14 Magath • 15 Stielike • 16 Allofs • 17 Engels • 18 Matthäus • 19 Hieronymus • 20 Kaltz • 21 Franke • 22 Immel • Coach: Derwall

v • d • e West Germany squad - UEFA Euro 1984 1 Schumacher • 2 Briegel • 3 Strack • 4 K. Förster • 5 B. Förster • 6 Rolff • 7 Brehme • 8 Allofs • 9 Völler • 10 Meier • 11 Rummenigge • 12 Burdenski • 13 Matthäus • 14 Falkenmayer • 15 Stielike • 16 Bruns • 17 Littbarski • 18 Buchwald • 19 Bommer • 20 Roleder • Coach: Derwall