Famous German Sportspersons
Germany is a sports-crazy nation. And if you don’t believe us, check this. In 2006, about 27.5 million people were members of the more than 91,000 sport clubs in Germany. And the numbers are growing ever since then. Having said that, it is only natural to understand that the country is home to greatest sporting legends, who have been masters of their game! Football, basketball, handball, ice hockey, motor sports, tennis, cycling, chess, boxing - name any and you would have a German in its list of world-class players from across the globe. German sportsperson have made their country stand tall on the world sporting forum with their glorious victories and triumphs. Be it footballer Miroslav Klose and his 71 goals record or Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel’s Formula One Championship trophies, Steffi Graf’s tennis titles or Margit Schumann’s Winter Olympics medals, Emanuel Chasker’s chess champion record or Bernard Langer and Martin Kaymer’s golfing glories, German sports people have dominated every game and made their country proud. They are blessed with mental strength, strong determination and undying passion which help them become masters of any format. With this segment, find out in details about the life and career of famous German sports personalities.
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1
Michael Schumacher(German Formula One Racing Driver and 7-Time World Drivers' Championship Winner)
Birthdate: January 3, 1969
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Hürth, Germany
With seven Formula One championship under his belt, Michael Schumacher is the most successful racer of Formula 1 and one of the greatest motor sports driver in the world. The retired German racer was the face of Ferrari for a decade and with his tremendous on track success also became one of best paid athletes in the sport’s history.
2
Sebastian Vettel(German Racing Driver Who Competed in Formula One from 2007 to 2022)
Birthdate: July 3, 1987
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Heppenheim, Germany
Widely considered one of the greatest drivers in Formula One history, Sebastian Vettel holds a number of records, including most podium finishes and most consecutive race wins. Sebastian has a unique habit of naming his cars as he feels it is important to share a close relationship with the cars that he drives.
3
Dirk Nowitzki(Former German Basketball Player and One of the Greatest Power Forwards of All Time)
Birthdate: June 19, 1978
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Würzburg, Germany
The 7-foot-tall former Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki led his team to 15 NBA play-offs, including their only NBA championship, in 2011. He is the only player to continue with a single NBA team for 21 seasons and first European-born to be the NBA Finals MVP.
4
Alexander Zverev
(German Professional Tennis Player)
Birthdate: April 20, 1997
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
Alexander Zverev is a German tennis player. He won the 2018 ATP Finals, becoming the youngest champion at the year-end championship in 10 years. Zverev won the gold medal in the singles event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Alexander Zverev's backhand play is often regarded as one of the best in the game.
Birthdate: September 11, 1945
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
German former footballer Franz Beckenbauer spent most of his career with Bayern Munich, winning championships such as the European Cup. He won the World Cup for West Germany twice, first as a player in 1974 and then as a manager in 1990. He was also a Sky Germany analyst.
6
Gerd Müller(One of the Greatest Football Goal Scorers of All Time)
Birthdate: November 3, 1945
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Nördlingen, Germany
Died: August 15, 2021
German footballer Gerd Müller, also known as "Bomber der Nation," had a successful stint with Bayern Munich. His score of 85 goals in a single year was broken by Lionel Messi after 4 decades. He scored the winning goal for West Germany in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
7
Steffi Graf(One of the Greatest Tennis Players of All Time)
Birthdate: June 14, 1969
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mannheim, Germany
Known for her footwork and forehand drive, former world number one tennis star Steffi Graf has won 22 Grand Slam titles, the third all-time record. She became the first player to win four Grand Slams and the Olympic gold in a year. She is married to fellow player Andre Agassi.
8
Philipp Lahm
(German Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Full-Back)
Birthdate: November 11, 1983
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
9
Nico Hülkenberg
(German Formula 1 Driver: Holds the Record for the Most Formula One Career Starts Without a Podium Finish)
Birthdate: August 19, 1987
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Emmerich, Germany
Nico Hülkenberg initially worked as a forwarding agent at his father’s shipping company. He had started his racing career with go-karting at age 10 and grew up to race for Formula BMW, Formula Three, and GP2, among others. He scripted history by winning the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race in his first attempt.
10
Manuel Neuer(German Professional Football Player Who Plays as a Goalkeeper)
Birthdate: March 27, 1986
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Considered one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, Manuel Neuer is a German football player. He is the captain of German national team as well as his club Bayern Munich. Described as a sweeper-keeper due to his unique playing style, Neuer was part of the German team that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was adjudged the best goalkeeper of the decade from 2011 to 2020 by IFFHS.
11
Oliver Kahn
(German Football Executive and Former Professional Player Who Played as a Goalkeeper)
Birthdate: June 15, 1969
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Karlsruhe, Germany
Birthdate: June 27, 1985
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Wiesbaden, Germany
The son of former Formula One world champion Keke Rosberg, Nico Rosberg followed in his father's footsteps to win the 2016 Formula One world championship. After announcing his retirement as a racing driver, Nico Rosberg became an eco-entrepreneur, helping with the construction of self-autonomous and electric vehicles. Rosberg has also worked with charities like Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli.
13
Max Schmeling
(German Boxer Who Was Heavyweight Champion of the World between 1930 and 1932)
Birthdate: September 28, 1905
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Klein Luckow, Jatznick, Germany
Died: February 2, 2005
14
Ralf Schumacher
(Former German Formula One Racer and Younger Brother of Michael Schumacher)
Birthdate: June 30, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Hürth, Germany
Ralf Schumacher is a German former racing driver who first drove in Formula One with Jordan Grand Prix for the 1997 season. He is the younger brother of former Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher. He began karting at three and took to automobile racing as a young adult. He has since retired from motorsport and now mentors young drivers.
Birthdate: August 27, 1957
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Anhausen (today part of Diedorf municipality), Bavaria, West Germany
Birthdate: June 9, 1978
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Opole, Poland
Born to a footballer father and a handball player mother, Polish-born German striker Miroslav Klose soared to fame with clubs such as Bayern Munich and Lazio. Germany has won all games in which Klose has scored. Germany’s all-time top goal-scorer, Klose scored 5 goals in his first World Cup itself.
Birthdate: March 21, 1961
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Erlangen, Germany
German football coach and former player Lothar Matthäus, one of the world’s greatest midfielders, became the European Footballer of the Year after captaining the side to their 1990 FIFA World Cup win. He also led Germany to win the UEFA Euro 1980. He spent most of his senior career with Bayern Munich.
18
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
(German Football Executive and Former Professional Player)
Birthdate: September 25, 1955
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lippstadt, Germany
19
Mesut Ozil(German Professional Football Player Who Plays as Midfielder)
Birthdate: October 15, 1988
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
German footballer Mesut Özil, who now plays for the Premier League club Arsenal, has won Germany the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He also earned a record five German Player of the Year awards. However, he later retired from the German team, citing discrimination due to his Turkish descent.
Birthdate: April 2, 1977
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Heidelberg, Germany
Michael Fassbender is a critically-acclaimed Irish-German actor best known for playing a sex addict in the psychological erotic drama film Shame. Apart from being an actor, Michael is also a well-known racing driver; he started his auto racing career in 2017 and currently races for Proton Competition in the European Le Mans Series.
21
Bastian Schweinsteiger
(German Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Central Midfielder)
Birthdate: August 1, 1984
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kolbermoor, Germany
Bastian Schweinsteiger is a German former football player. Considered one of the greatest midfielders ever, Schweinsteiger was renowned for his tackling ability. Schweinsteiger represented Germany in three World Cups, playing a major role in his team's victory in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. One of the greatest German footballers of all time, Schweinsteiger is the fourth most-capped player for Germany.
22
Jan Ullrich
(German Former Professional Road Bicycle Racer)
Birthdate: December 2, 1973
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rostock, Germany
23
Jérôme Boateng
(German Football Defender Known for His Association with 'Bayern Munich')
Birthdate: September 3, 1988
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Starting his career with the club Tennis Borussia Berlin, German footballer Jérôme Boateng later had a decade-long association with Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga 9 times and the UEFA Champions League twice with Bayern. The talented center-back was also part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup-winning German squad.
24
Thomas Müller(German Professional Football Player Who Plays as an Attacking Midfielder)
Birthdate: September 13, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Weilheim in Oberbayern, Germany
Thomas Müller, who is a prominent member of the Germany national football team, is a versatile footballer; he can play at various positions, such as centre forward, left wing, and right wing. He played key roles in Germany's performance in the 2010 World Cup, Euro Cup 2012, 2014 World Cup, and 2018 World Cup.
25
Mario Gómez(German Former Professional Football Player Who Played as a Striker)
Birthdate: July 10, 1985
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Riedlingen, Germany
Mario Gómez is a German former footballer who played for the Germany national football team between 2007 and 2018, during which he represented Germany in two FIFA World Cups and three UEFA European Championships. He was also an important member of the popular club Bayern Munich as he helped the team secure several trophies, such as the UEFA Champions League.
26
Eugen Sandow
(German Bodybuilder and Showman)
Birthdate: April 2, 1867
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Königsberg, Kingdom of Prussia
Died: October 14, 1925
27
Toni Kroos(German Professional Football Player Who Played as a Midfielder)
Birthdate: January 4, 1990
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Greifswald, Germany
German midfielder Toni Kroos has won two La Ligas and three UEFA Champions Leagues with his current team Real Madrid. He has previously helped Bayern Munich win three Bundesliga titles and one FIFA Cup World Cup. He also led Germany to a FIFA World Cup win in 2014.
28
Marc-André ter Stegen
(German Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Goalkeeper)
Birthdate: April 30, 1992
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Mönchengladbach, Germany
29
Mats Hummels
(German Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Centre-Back)
Birthdate: December 16, 1988
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
30
Timo Werner(German Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Striker)
Birthdate: March 6, 1996
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Stuttgart, Germany
Timo Werner is a German football player who plays for the German national team and Chelsea Football Club. A prolific goalscorer, Werner was the second-highest goalscorer in the Bundesliga in the 2019–20 season. An intelligent player, Timo Werner is also known for his pace and determination. He represented his national team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
31
Sami Khedira
(German Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Central Midfielder)
Birthdate: April 4, 1987
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Stuttgart, Germany
32
Serge Gnabry(German Professional Football Player Who Plays as a Winger)
Birthdate: July 14, 1995
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Stuttgart, Germany
German footballer Serge Gnabry was scouted by VfB at age 12. Though he also excelled in track and field, too, he later chose football. At the 2016 Olympics, he helped Germany win the silver and was also the joint top-scorer. He is part of the philanthropic initiative Common Goal.
33
Michael Ballack
(German Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Midfielder)
Birthdate: September 26, 1976
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Görlitz, Germany
34
Sabine Schmitz
(Racecar driver)
Birthdate: May 14, 1969
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Adenau, Germany
35
Leon Goretzka
(German Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Midfielder)
Birthdate: February 6, 1995
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bochum, Germany
36
Markus Ruhl
(German Professional Bodybuilder)
Birthdate: February 22, 1972
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Darmstadt, Germany
37
İlkay Gündoğan
(German Football Midfielder)
Birthdate: October 24, 1990
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Known as an energetic midfielder, German footballer İlkay Gündoğan began his youth career with teams such as Schalke 04. He has had a successful stint with Borussia Dortmund, winning a Bundesliga with them, and now plays for Manchester City, with which he has won 4 Premier Leagues and 4 EFL Cups.
38
Bernd Leno
(German Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Goalkeeper)
Birthdate: March 4, 1992
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany
39
André Schürrle
(German Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Forward)
Birthdate: November 6, 1990
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Ludwigshafen, Germany
40
Shawn Bradley
(Former German-American Basketball Player)
Birthdate: March 22, 1972
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Landstuhl, West Germany
41
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
(Retired German Formula-1 Racing Driver)
Birthdate: May 18, 1967
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Mönchengladbach, Germany
Former German racing driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen is best known for ending up as the 1997 Formula One World Drivers' Championship runner-up. He is part of the elite club of 7 German drivers who have ever won the country a Grand Prix. He also had a 3-year racing stint at DTM.
42
Patrik Baboumian
(German-Armenian Retired Strongman and Former Bodybuilder)
Birthdate: July 1, 1979
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Abadan, Iran
Known as the world’s strongest vegan, Iranian-born German-Armenian strongman Patrik Baboumian has won many bodybuilding titles, such as that of the Strongest Man of Germany. He is also known for his appearance in the Netflix documentary The Game Changers, which promotes plant-based diets, and has campaigned for PETA.
Birthdate: January 18, 1988
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bremen, Germany
Winning her first Grand Slam at 28, Angelique Kerber is an example of a talented later bloomer in tennis. The former World No. 1 German player is known for her defensive tactics, speed, and footwork. She blamed a 2-week COVID-related quarantine for her loss at the 2021 Australian Open.
Birthdate: February 24, 1874
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Chartiers, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: December 6, 1955
45
Detlef Schrempf(German-American Former Professional Basketball Player Who Played As a Small Forward / Power Forward)
Birthdate: January 21, 1963
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Leverkusen, Germany
Detlef Schrempf is a German-American former basketball player who played for popular NBA teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Seattle SuperSonics, and Portland Trail Blazers. A three-time NBA All-Star, Schrempf helped the SuperSonics reach the NBA Finals in 1996. Also known for his charitable work, Schrempf formed the Detlef Schrempf Foundation to help local charities.
46
Mario Götze(German Professional Football Player Who Plays As Attacking Midfielder / Forward)
Birthdate: June 3, 1992
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Memmingen, Germany
Midfielder Mario Götze led Germany to their World Cup win in 2014, scoring the winning goal. He began his career at 9, with Borussia Dortmund. He was awarded the 2011 Golden Boy Award. His move to Bayern Munich for €37 million made him the second-most expensive German player in history.
47
Boris Becker(Youngest Ever Winner of Singles Title at the Wimbledon)
Birthdate: November 22, 1961
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Leimen, Germany
Boris Becker is a German former tennis player who has three Wimbledons, one US Open, and two Australian Open titles under his belt. He also won an Olympic gold medal in men's doubles in 1992. Becker, who had a successful start to his career, struggled to cope with his early fame and success; he retired at the age of 31.
48
Luz Long
(Olympic long-jumper)
Birthdate: April 27, 1913
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Leipzig, Germany
Died: July 14, 1943
49
Marco Reus(German Professional Football Player Who Plays as an Attacking Midfielder / Forward)
Birthdate: May 31, 1989
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Dortmund, Germany
Marco Reus is a German football player who plays for the Germany national team and the popular Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. Known for his speed, versatility, technical skills, and shooting ability, Reus was named the Footballer of the Year (Germany) in 2012. In 2013, 2014, and 2019, Marco Reus helped Borussia Dortmund win the prestigious DFL-Supercup.
Birthdate: June 24, 1945
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Düsseldorf, Germany
Died: April 5, 1996
Monika Dannemann was a German painter and figure skater whose professional achievements were overshadowed by her relationship with legendary guitar player Jimi Hendrix; she is often referred to as the last girlfriend of Jimi Hendrix. A year before her death, Monika Dannemann published a book titled The Inner World of Jimi Hendrix.