Helmut Benthaus

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Helmut Benthaus
Personal information
Full name Helmut Benthaus
Date of birth 5 June 1935 (1935-06-05) (age 73)
Place of birth    Germany
Playing position Midfield
Club information
Current club Retired
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1954-1961
1961-1963
1963-1965
1965-1971
Westfalia Herne
1860 Munich
1.FC Cologne
FC Basel
167 (19)
18 (1)
52 (3)
? (?)   
National team2
1958-1960 Germany 8 (0)
Teams managed
1965-1982
1982-1985
1985-1987
FC Basel
VfB Stuttgart
FC Basel

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 4 October 2007.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 18 July 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Helmut Benthaus is a retired football player and former coach. He spent his best playing days at Westfalia Herne and his best coaching days at FC Basel.

[edit] Playing career

Helmut Benthaus started his professional career at Westfalia Herne in 1958. In 1959 he won the Second Division-West title but left just a year later to join 1860 Munich before moving to 1.FC Cologne. He won the Second Division-West again in 1963 with Cologne then the German Masters in 1964. In 1965 he joined Swiss club FC Basel as player-manager. He retired from playing in 1971 aged 36.

He played for the Germany national football team on eight occassions between 1958 and 1960.

[edit] Coaching career

Benthaus coached FC Basel for 17 years between 1965 and 1982. He won the Swiss Masters seven times and the Swiss Cup twice. He coached Basel's legendary team of the 1970's that won the Championship in 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1977 as well as the Cup in 1975. The squad included Karl Odermatt and Ottmar Hitzfeld. After Basel he joined German club VfB Stuttgart in 1982. There he won the German Masters in 1984. He left in 1985 and rejoined Basel. However, this spell was much less successful and he was sacked after the club were relegated to the Nationalliga B in 1987.