Even at almost 80 years old, coaching legend Eduard Geyer still follows soccer emotionally. He may no longer be so dogged, but he can't suppress his feelings or his anger at some incomprehensible decisions, as he told the German Press Agency ahead of his birthday on October 7. "I can look relaxed, but still get angry about a lot of things," said the last coach of the GDR national team in his familiar firm voice.
It has remained the same, as have his relaxed remarks - including about his health. "Things looked pretty good at the doctor's the other day. I've got a new knee, a new hip, the stock of spare parts never gets any smaller. But it's good that you're not completely crazy and can still remember things to some extent."
Geyer led Dynamo Dresden to championships, cup finals and promotions before the reunification and Energie Cottbus after the reunification. "These are all things that somehow show that you've done a lot of things right," he said. Never at a loss for a light-hearted remark, the Silesian-born player will not be bored on his special day with his family, friends and acquaintances. "We have enough people who are able to present something for the atmosphere," he said.
Geyer, who ended up in Dresden after fleeing, played for three clubs: FC Einheit, FSV Lokomotive and Dynamo. Geyer remained loyal to Dynamo after his active career as a coach until the fall of communism and was even able to replace serial champions BFC Dynamo, which the soon-to-be 80-year-old counts as one of his highlights. He also made history with Energie Cottbus, rising from the then third-tier Regionalliga to the Bundesliga. In the 2000/01 season, Geyer was the first coach ever to call up eleven foreigners for the starting eleven in the home match against VfL Wolfsburg and the German professionals also remained on the bench when substitutions were made.
Copyright 2024, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
