Karl-Heinz Granitza

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Karl-Heinz Granitza
Granitza circa 1984
Personal information
Date of birth (1951-11-01) 1 November 1951 (age 72)
Place of birth Lünen, West Germany
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
0000–1959 VfB Lünen
1959–1970 Eintracht Dortmund
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1972 Eintracht Dortmund
1972–1973 Lüner SV 23 (4)
1973–1975 DJK Gütersloh 50 (16)
1975–1976 SV Röchling Völklingen 45 (32)
1976–1979 Hertha BSC 73 (34)
1978–1984 Chicago Sting 199 (128)
1982–1987 Chicago Sting (indoor) 174 (168)
1988–1990 Chicago Power 53 (97)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Karl-Heinz Granitza (born 1 November 1951) is a German former professional footballer who played as a forward.[1] In the United States, he is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.[2]

Granitza was born in Lünen, North Rhine-Westphalia. He played in Germany for VfB Lünen, Eintracht Dortmund, Lüner SV, DJK Gütersloh, SV Röchling Völklingen and Hertha BSC.[3] In 1978 and again for the 1979 season,[4] he transferred to the Chicago Sting of the NASL, leading the team to two league championships. He also excelled at the indoor game. Granitza was known for his powerful and accurate left foot. He was also very effective with direct free kicks, having the ability to strike the ball with top spin over the wall of defenders, and into the upper corners of the goal. He would finish as the NASL's second all-time leading scorer.

In the 1990s Granitza owned "State Street", an American-style sports bar in Berlin.

In 2003, Granitza was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. His #12 shirt has been retired by the Chicago Storm.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Granitza, Karl-Heinz" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Karl-Heinz Granitza - 2003 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame". Karl-Heinz Granitza - 2003 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Karl-Heinz Granitza" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  4. ^ Matthias Arnhold (5 September 2013). "Karl-Heinz Granitza - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 25 September 2013.

External links[edit]