Norbert Schmitz (soccer player)

Norbert "Nobbi" Christian Schmitz (born December 27, 1958 in Düren , † April 6, 1998 ) was a German football player .

Norbert Schmitz began playing football at the age of 12 in his home village at JVC Columbia 1903 Drove . The talented midfielder switched to Schwarz-Weiß Düren in the B-youth and was discovered there as a district selection player by 1. FC Köln. As an A-youth he advanced to the Middle Rhine selection player in Cologne and received a professional contract in 1977. His coach at the time was the legendary Hennes Weisweiler . Norbert Schmitz was known as the "world training champion", but he said he was too nervous and impatient in games. So there was no Bundesliga appearance in the 1977/78 season.

After the season he was loaned to the second division tennis Borussia Berlin at his own request and sold there in 1979. Before the 1980/81 season he moved back to the Rhine in the second division for SC Fortuna Köln . There he played until the 1983/84 season. After this season, he was reamateurised so that he could devote more time to his family.

He played in 1984/85 for SG Düren 99, which was then in the highest amateur league, the Oberliga . Until the 1986/87 season he was active for SC Jülich 1910 (also Oberliga). In the period that followed, he had serious back problems and ended his active career at FC 08 Düren-Niederau after another year.

He died in 1998 after suffering from cancer.

Club overview

• JVC Columbia 1903 Drove (1971-1975)
• Black and White Düren (1975–1976)
• 1. FC Cologne (1976–1978)
• Tennis Borussia Berlin (1978–1980)
• SC Fortuna Cologne (1980–1984)
• SG Düren 99 (1984–1985)
• SC Jülich 1910 (1985–1987)
• FC Düren-Niederau (1987–1988)

successes

• German champion 1978 (1. FC Köln, without season use)
• DFB Cup Winner 1978 (1. FC Köln, without commitment)

Web links

• Norbert Schmitz in the database of fussballdaten.de