07/07/2022
Bert Trautmann is one of the greatest goalkeepers to play in the English top flight and is a glaring example to show how ridiculous the statement “ City had no history before the takeover “ really is . But the signing of the man worshiped in the City’s folklore today was once protested by 20,000 fans outside Maine Road even threatening to return their season tickets.
In the late 1930s, Trautmann, who was born in Bremen, Germany in 1923, joined the Hi**er Youth.He enlisted in the military at the beginning of the conflict, twice evading arrest by the enemy. In the latter stages of the conflict, he was once more kidnapped by the British, this time with no hope of escape.He had deserted the cause before to his initial capture and was one of the 90 members of an original 6000 man unit to survive the horror of WWI.
His signing, as indicated before, was met with outrage from his feeding club because of his ties to the N**i movement and his troublesome history. He endured the infamous N**i chant throughout his first season with the Citizens and had insults and threats often delivered to his mailbox.Manchester City even forbade Trautmann from representing his native Germany on the international scene in an effort to quell additional outrage.
Despite the criticism he had during his first season at Maine Road, it soon vanished as a result of his skill on the pitch, where he frequently outperformed his goalie teammates.
Trautmann's career defining moment would occur in the 1956 FA Cup Final.
With 15 minutes left in the game against Birmingham, City was leading 3-1 when the ball was played into Trautmann's area.
He jumped for it as a Birmingham player moved in, and the ensuing contact caused Trautmann to lose consciousness.
When the game was stopped and the trainers came on, it appeared that he would have to quit.
However, there were no substitutions back then, so rather than forcing his team to play with 10 men and a non-keeper in net, Trautmann continued, making two additional saves, one of which effectively put him out once more.
City managed to hold on to the victory, and as Trautmann claimed his medal of victory.
Days later, it was determined that he had broken his neck.
Not only that, but some of the bone fragments had fused together to the point where he could have died from another impact, such as one during his future saves.
Troutmann left City as arguably the greatest goalkeeper in their history and was able to give so much for football during the aftermath of the war . IS his story the greatest redemption arc in football history ????
https://youtu.be/dpshxbR7DtA
Archive footage of the 1956 FA Cup final at Wembley, when German goalkeeper Bert Trautmann breaks his neck -- and plays on. Manchester City eventually beat B...
