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| Ottmar Walter obituary | Ottmar Walter obituary |
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| Though less celebrated than his brother Fritz, the captain of the West Germany football team that unexpectedly won the 1954 World Cup, Ottmar Walter, at centre-forward, was the ideal foil to his sibling. Of the cup's six matches, Ottmar, who has died aged 89, missed only the second in Basel: it was one that the manager, Sepp Herberger, reckoned that West Germany could afford to lose to the favourites, Hungary. Fritz took his brother's place at centre-forward, rather than figuring in his usual role of inside-left. | Though less celebrated than his brother Fritz, the captain of the West Germany football team that unexpectedly won the 1954 World Cup, Ottmar Walter, at centre-forward, was the ideal foil to his sibling. Of the cup's six matches, Ottmar, who has died aged 89, missed only the second in Basel: it was one that the manager, Sepp Herberger, reckoned that West Germany could afford to lose to the favourites, Hungary. Fritz took his brother's place at centre-forward, rather than figuring in his usual role of inside-left. |
| Altogether in the tournament Walter scored three goals: one in the play-off against Turkey (thrashed 7-2), and a couple in the 6-1 defeat of the Austrians in the semi-final in Basel. Both those goals were headed in the second half – the first from Fritz's corner, the second from a right-wing cross by Hans Schäfer. The 3-2 victory over Hungary in the final – the "miracle of Bern" – marked a key moment in West Germany's emergence as a significant force in international football. | Altogether in the tournament Walter scored three goals: one in the play-off against Turkey (thrashed 7-2), and a couple in the 6-1 defeat of the Austrians in the semi-final in Basel. Both those goals were headed in the second half – the first from Fritz's corner, the second from a right-wing cross by Hans Schäfer. The 3-2 victory over Hungary in the final – the "miracle of Bern" – marked a key moment in West Germany's emergence as a significant force in international football. |
| Ottmar won 21 international caps and scored 10 goals in a six-year career. There would have been many more appearances but for a long spell when he was injured. | Ottmar won 21 international caps and scored 10 goals in a six-year career. There would have been many more appearances but for a long spell when he was injured. |
| Born in Kaiserslautern, in the south-west of the country, he was three years younger than Fritz; another brother, Ludwig, also became a footballer, and all three played for FC Kaiserslautern. Standing 5ft 10in (1.77m) and weighing just over 12 stone (77 kilos), Ottmar was not only dangerous in the air, but famed for the power of his shot. This was despite the three pieces of shrapnel lodged in his knees – a legacy of his second world war years in the German navy. He made his first-team debut for Kaiserslautern in 1942, but was then posted to Kiel, where in 1943 he played for the Holstein Kiel club. After the war, he resumed playing for his hometown team in 1947. | Born in Kaiserslautern, in the south-west of the country, he was three years younger than Fritz; another brother, Ludwig, also became a footballer, and all three played for FC Kaiserslautern. Standing 5ft 10in (1.77m) and weighing just over 12 stone (77 kilos), Ottmar was not only dangerous in the air, but famed for the power of his shot. This was despite the three pieces of shrapnel lodged in his knees – a legacy of his second world war years in the German navy. He made his first-team debut for Kaiserslautern in 1942, but was then posted to Kiel, where in 1943 he played for the Holstein Kiel club. After the war, he resumed playing for his hometown team in 1947. |
| He won the first of his international caps in November 1950 in Stuttgart, where Switzerland were beaten 1-0, a match that Fritz missed. They lined up alongside each other in Zurich the following April, when each scored a goal in the 3-2 defeat of Switzerland. A knee injury then put Ottmar out of contention. Not until May 1952, in Cologne, did he return to lead West Germany's international attack. This was another match that Fritz missed, but Ottmar scored in a 3-0 defeat of Ireland. | He won the first of his international caps in November 1950 in Stuttgart, where Switzerland were beaten 1-0, a match that Fritz missed. They lined up alongside each other in Zurich the following April, when each scored a goal in the 3-2 defeat of Switzerland. A knee injury then put Ottmar out of contention. Not until May 1952, in Cologne, did he return to lead West Germany's international attack. This was another match that Fritz missed, but Ottmar scored in a 3-0 defeat of Ireland. |
| Now his place in the West German attack was secure. Before the 1954 World Cup, he scored in matches against France, Switzerland, Spain and Norway. | Now his place in the West German attack was secure. Before the 1954 World Cup, he scored in matches against France, Switzerland, Spain and Norway. |
| After the World Cup victory, he played the next two friendly internationals, versus Belgium and France, in a West German team laid waste by jaundice, the causes of which were never satisfactorily explained. He then dropped out of the team until September 1955, a 3-1 defeat in Yugoslavia, not to reappear until another 3-1 loss, to England, in Berlin, in May 1956. This would be his last international game, and his club career came to a close two years later. In 321 games he scored 336 goals for Kaiserslautern, which won the league title in 1951 and 1953. | After the World Cup victory, he played the next two friendly internationals, versus Belgium and France, in a West German team laid waste by jaundice, the causes of which were never satisfactorily explained. He then dropped out of the team until September 1955, a 3-1 defeat in Yugoslavia, not to reappear until another 3-1 loss, to England, in Berlin, in May 1956. This would be his last international game, and his club career came to a close two years later. In 321 games he scored 336 goals for Kaiserslautern, which won the league title in 1951 and 1953. |
| When his garage business collapsed, Walter tried to take his own life, something he later described as the stupidest thing he had ever done. He then worked as a local government employee in Kaiserslautern until his retirement in 1984, and for a while he also ran a lottery stall. | When his garage business collapsed, Walter tried to take his own life, something he later described as the stupidest thing he had ever done. He then worked as a local government employee in Kaiserslautern until his retirement in 1984, and for a while he also ran a lottery stall. |
| He and his wife Anneliese had a son, Ottmar. | |
| • Ottmar Kurt Herrmann Walter, footballer, born 6 March 1924; died 16 June 2013 | • Ottmar Kurt Herrmann Walter, footballer, born 6 March 1924; died 16 June 2013 |
| • This article was amended on 19 June 2013. An editing error had Kaiserslautern winning the Bundesliga. Though the club won national titles in 1951 and 1953, the Bundesliga was not formed till 1963. The article was further amended on 20 June 2013, with the correction of Walter's wife's name. |