Unforgettable Moments
“I was just in the right place at
“I was just in the right place at the right time … basically anyone else could have scored that goal,” Jürgen Schult says with a laugh and a shrug.
the right time … basically anyone else could have scored that goal,” Jürgen Schult says with a laugh and a shrug. Even at 80, the memory of the most important goal of his life seems almost too calm in his voice.
Back in August 1966, he was the man
Back in August 1966, he was the man who scored against reigning European Cup winners Borussia Dortmund.
who scored against reigning European Cup winners Borussia Dortmund. As if that were not special enough, it was also Fortuna Düsseldorf’s first Bundesliga goal. “It was my birthday.
It was our first Bundesliga match after promotion. It was simply my day.” Schult, who had played in his youth for DSC 99, returned to Düsseldorf in 1964 after two failed promotion attempts with Viktoria Köln.
“I was studying at the German Sport University
“I was studying at the German Sport University in Cologne and training under Hennes Weisweiler.
in Cologne and training under Hennes Weisweiler. I was becoming more and more of a Cologne man, so I was relieved when my hometown club came asking,” Schult recalls with a wink. Cologne made Schult, but Düsseldorf made him immortal.
The path to the Bundesliga had been anything
The path to the Bundesliga had been anything but easy for Fortuna.
but easy for Fortuna. A fixture in the top class of the West German Football Association since the 1920s, the club first reached the longed-for German championship finals in 1927. A defeat to Hamburger SV denied them the title at the last moment.
F95 — Financial Stability Score
Fortuna Düsseldorf — Detaildaten werden aus dem DFL 2.BL-Report nachgepflegt. Aufstiegskandidat mit Großstadt-Potenzial.
Dramatic Turning Points
“I wasn’t even born when Düsseldorf celebrated their
“I wasn’t even born when Düsseldorf celebrated their first great success,” Schult says, referring to 11 June 1933, when Düsseldorf beat Schalke 3–0 and brought the German title to the Lower Rhine.
first great success,” Schult says, referring to 11 June 1933, when Düsseldorf beat Schalke 3–0 and brought the German title to the Lower Rhine. Historic and, to this day, unique.
After the Bundesliga was introduced in 1963, promotion
After the Bundesliga was introduced in 1963, promotion initially eluded Fortuna.
initially eluded Fortuna. Despite good performances, third place in each of the first two seasons was not enough. But Fortuna were already among the leaders of the Regionalliga West, and Jürgen Schult, watching from 50 kilometres further south, had noticed.
“Even while I was under contract in Cologne, I never lost sight of what was happening in Düsseldorf,” he says.
His feet were in Cologne, but his heart was in Düsseldorf.
When Schult first pulled on the F95 shirt
When Schult first pulled on the F95 shirt in the summer of 1965, it felt like home immediately. “In Düsseldorf I found everything I had been looking for,” and more.
in the summer of 1965, it felt like home immediately. “In Düsseldorf I found everything I had been looking for,” and more. Good things come in threes, they say, and in December 1965 Fortuna, in the third season after the Bundesliga had been founded, became autumn champions and, with their new striker, set in motion one of the most successful campaigns in club history.
With just two defeats all season and comfortably
With just two defeats all season and comfortably top, Düsseldorf entered promotion group 1 against Hertha BSC, FK Pirmasens and Kickers Offenbach. “I still remember the 2–0 home win against Pirmasens that left us level on points with them before the final day,” Schult says, grinning.
top, Düsseldorf entered promotion group 1 against Hertha BSC, FK Pirmasens and Kickers Offenbach. “I still remember the 2–0 home win against Pirmasens that left us level on points with them before the final day,” Schult says, grinning. The memory of 26 June 1966 still brings him joy.
“There were 15,000 Fortuna fans at the Bieberer Berg when we ran out in Offenbach. The stadium only held 20,000.” He laughs and shakes his head at the thought of Düsseldorf’s dominance on that historic day.
“We could hardly lose,” he says. Although Pirmasens
“We could hardly lose,” he says.
beat Hertha 2–1 that same day, Düsseldorf produced a sensation in Hesse. The feared Bieberer Berg was in Fortuna hands.
They led 3–0 at half-time. “Peter Meyer and Waldi Gerhardt had put us well clear early on, and then in the second half I got my chance too.” Jürgen Schult and Werner Biskup made it 5–0 under deafening chants.
Offenbach got one back, and then the place exploded at full-time.
“Fifteen thousand Fortunen stormed the pitch. I couldn’t
“Fifteen thousand Fortunen stormed the pitch.
believe what was happening.” Schult looks down for a second. “Unfortunately, our clear win also gave critics ammunition.” Voices claimed the victory in Offenbach had been bought for 35,000 deutschmarks.
Proof? None.
Rumours?
Plenty. “The club smothered the accusations with an injunction, but they never disappeared entirely.” Schult knows nothing of bribery. He simply played good football that day.
By then the crowd favourite had long been
By then the crowd favourite had long been indispensable to Düsseldorf.
indispensable to Düsseldorf. But it was 20 August 1966 that turned the birthday boy into a legend. “We played in a sold-out Rote Erde in Dortmund,” Schult begins, now clearly reliving his favourite story. “That our first Bundesliga match happened to fall on my 27th birthday was the best gift I could have imagined.”
On that Saturday in August, promoted Düsseldorf travelled
On that Saturday in August, promoted Düsseldorf travelled to European Cup winners Borussia Dortmund.
to European Cup winners Borussia Dortmund. After a goalless first half, the ball broke for Jürgen Schult in the 65th minute. “I didn’t think.
I just did my job,” and he did it well. “Their goalkeeper Bernhard Wessel was celebrating his birthday too – but his was nowhere near as lucky as mine.” His grin can no longer hide the pride in his voice.
Düsseldorf won 2–1. Only after the final whistle
Düsseldorf won 2–1.
did Schult realise what the goal really meant. It was Fortuna Düsseldorf’s first Bundesliga goal – a moment for eternity. “Those three years at Fortuna, my dream club as a born Düsseldorfer, were my greatest pride,” Schult says, smiling, replaying the defining moment of his sporting life one more time.