| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gerhardt Neef | ||
| Date of birth | 30 October 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Hausham, Germany | ||
| Date of death | 23 February 2010 (aged 63) | ||
| Place of death | Nuremberg, Germany | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| SV Hamborn 90 | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| –1968 | VfvB Ruhrort/Laar[1] | ||
| 1968–1973 | Rangers | 33 | (0) |
| 1973–1975 | 1. FC Nuremberg | 43 | (0) |
| 1975– | FC Herzogenaurach | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Gerhard "Gerry" Neef, often known as Gerhardt Neef (30 October 1946 – 23 February 2010) was a German professional football player.[2] [3]
Contents |
Although he was taken to Scotland initially by Eddie Turnbull, manager of Aberdeen, Neef was best known for his spell at Scottish side Rangers, whom he signed for in spring 1968. A former German policeman, he was seen as the answer to the clubs problematic goalkeeping position. The manager Davie White had been struggling to find a replacement to Billy Ritchie since his departure in 1967, using Erik Sorensen and Norrie Martin but not settling on either.
He made his debut on 19 April 1969 in a league match against Greenock Morton, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 home win. The following season he became first choice at the club playing 39 games and winning the 1970 League Cup, after keeping out Celtic F.C. in the final.
The 1970–71 season saw him lose his place to new signing Peter McCloy. His appearances were sporadic thereafter. He was part of the European Cup Winners' Cup 1971–72 squad, but never played. Neef left Rangers to return to West Germany in 1973, having made 48 appearances in total for the club.
Neef died from throat cancer at his home in Nuremberg on 23 February 2010[4][5] . A one-minute silence was held in respect for Neef before the Old Firm derby at Ibrox Stadium on February 28, 2010. The silence was disrupted by Celtic supporters, with the disruption reacted to by angered Rangers fans – a situation described by The Times as "perverse."[6]
Melanie Neef, Neef's daughter, was an athlete for Great Britain.[7]