From Günter Netzer to Mesut Özil: Real Madrid’s German Players

Hola de España!

For decades, players from Germany have contributed to the fortunes of Los Blancos on the pitch. Antonio Rüdiger and Toni Kroos are two current German national team players who will also be on the pitch for Real Madrid on Tuesday.

But which Germans have played in the Spanish capital? We took a look.

Günter Netzer (1973 – 1976)

In 1973, a player from the country of poets and thinkers moved to the Madristas for the first time. At the end of his active career, after ten years at Borussia Mönchengladbach, Günter Netzer once again sought a challenge in Spain and won the championship and the Spanish Cup twice with “Los Blancos”. By the way, one of his nicknames in the starting eleven was the “Blonde Angel with Big Feet”.
Position: Central Midfield
Appearances: 100
Goals: 13
Good to know: Günter Netzer did not end his career at Real, but moved to Grasshoppers Zurich for another year.

Paul Breitner (1974 – 1977)

A year later, Paul Breitner, the second German legionnaire, also played for Los Merengues. Unusuall for the time, he went abroad at the age of 22. “Maybe I was too young back then,” Breitner later said in an interview. “If I had gone there two, three or even four years later, I might be president of Madrid today.”
Position: Left back
Appearances: 100
Goals: 10
Good to know: Paul Breitner was the first foreign defender signed in Real Madrid’s history.

Uli Stielike (1977 – 1985)

The man from Ketsch still enjoys an impeccable reputation in Madrid today. Stielike was celebrated for his physical playing style and excellent positioning. After eight years at Real, he left with seven titles under his belt and was named the best foreign player in the league four times.
Position: Defensives Midfield
Appearances: 308
Goals: 47
Good to know: With 308 games, Uli Stielike was the German with the most appearances for Real Madrid, before Toni Kroos set a new record in March 2021. The latter currently has 447 appearances.

Bernd Schuster (1988 – 1990)

Barcelona, Real, Atletico – Bernd Schuster became the first foreigner to be under contract with all three major Spanish clubs. Before “Don Bernardo” joined the Madridistas, he sat in the stands in Barcelona for a year because he publicly called the Catalans’ club president a “liar”. When he arrived at his former rivals in Madrid, he immediately became champion twice. He later returned to the Spanish capital as a coach for one and a half years.
Position: Central Midfield
Appearances: 84
Goals: 16
Good to know: Bernd Schuster ended his career in Mexico with UNAM Pumas in 1997 at the age of 37.

Bodo Illgner (1996 – 2001)

He looked after the Madrid goal for five years, took part in the big squad change around the 2000s and experienced that things can sometimes go haywire at a top club: Bodo Illgner. The man from Koblenz was the first and so far only German goalkeeper to wear a Real Madrid jersey, and he won the Champions League title twice. A little anecdote: In the mid-nineties the club was so bankrupt that Illgner received his first two months’ salary in plastic bags.
Position: Goalkeeper
Appearances: 119
Good to know: Until his retirement, Bodo Illgner shared the goal with a young Iker Casillas and was considered a mentor to the Spanish goalkeeping legend.

Christoph Metzelder (2007 – 2010)

After an outstanding World Cup in 2006, Real coach Bernd Schuster introduced Christoph Metzelder as the new central defender for the “Galacticos” shortly after taking office. However, the defensive giant did not progress beyond the role of a squad player – primarily due to injuries.
Position: Central defender
Appearances: 31
Goals: –
Good to know: Christoph Metzelder’s preferred playing partner in central defense was Portuguese stalwart, Pepe.

Mesut Özil (2010 – 2013)

In his three seasons at Real, he was always one of the best assisters in Spain’s La Liga. He was duly adored by both the media and fans in Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo once said of him: “He was the one who knew my movements in front of goal best.” In total, the 2014 world champion provided an incredible 81 assists and won one Spanish championship with “Los Blancos”.
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Appearances: 159
Goals: 27
Good to know: In his career, Mesut Özil has assisted 222 goals in all competitions and leagues.

Sami Khedira (2010 – 2015)

After a long transfer saga, Sami Khedira moved to Real Madrid in 2010. The then 23-year-old said goodbye to Stuttgart and received a five-year contract with the Spanish giants. Khedira won the Champions League, the Spanish Cup and was La Liga champion twice. When he wasn’t injured, he was a regular starter.
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Appearances: 161
Goals: 9
Good to know: Sami Khedira is one of the few Germans to score in a Clásico against FC Barcelona – in 2012 he netted for a 1-0 lead at the Nou Camp. The game ended 2-1 for Real.