Stan Libuda laid in final resting place | OneFootball

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Borussia Dortmund

·15 January 2022

Stan Libuda laid in final resting place

Article image:Stan Libuda laid in final resting place

One of the greatest footballers the Ruhr has produced, he fired Borussia Dortmund to European Cup Winners' Cup success against Liverpool during his three-year spell in Black & Yellow. The rest of his career was mostly spent at FC Schalke 04. This Saturday, Reinhard "Stan" Libuda was laid in his final resting place.

Twenty-five years after his death on 25 August 1996 at the age of 52, the striker's grave in Gelsenkirchen's Ostfriedhof cemetery in the Bismarck district was levelled out. Consequently, the remains of the 1960s idol were reburied at the "Schalke Fan Field" in the presence of Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund's executive committees. BVB were represented by president Dr. Reinhard Rauball as well as the members of the Council of Elders and former team-mates of Libuda, Wolfgang Paul and Siegfried Held. "It was a very classy ceremony," said Rauball, who expressly thanked the "Schalker Markt" foundation for the invitation and emphasised: "Stan Libuda was a man in a class of his own whose reputation extended far beyond the Ruhr region. During his time at Borussia Dortmund, he played alongside Lothar Emmerich and Siggi Held in the strongest attacking trio of the era."


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Article image:Stan Libuda laid in final resting place

Born on 10 October 1943, Libuda had three spells at FC Schalke 04 – from 1961 to 1965, from 1968 to 1972, and from 1973 to 1976 – winning the DFB-Pokal in 1972 and twice finishing as a league runner-up. He became a fan favourite at Schalke, despite wearing the jersey of Borussia Dortmund from 1965 to 1968 (85 appearances, 10 goals). It was also with BVB that he celebrated his greatest sporting success, winning the 1966 European Cup Winners' Cup at Hampden Park in Glasgow. He helped write a chapter of German sporting history with a lob in the 107th minute of the match that sealed a 2-1 victory over Liverpool on 5 May 66. In that same year, he also finished as Germany's runners-up with BVB.

The slogan of the American preacher Billy Graham ("No one can get past God"), who also wanted to convert people in the Ruhr region in the 1960s, was re-worded by one the great player's many fans, who said: "No one can get past God – except Libuda!"

The skillful dribbler, who was born on 10 October 1943 in Wendlingsen near Lemgo and always remained "a son of the Ruhr", captured the hearts of millions of football fans with his inimitable runs down the flanks, mainly as a right-winger. The Germany international's famous solo runs also earned him the nickname "Stan" – after Sir Stanley Matthews, one of England's best footballers at the time. Speaking of the national team: Libuda's goal in the 3-2 victory over Scotland in the decisive qualifying match for the 1970 World Cup in Hamburg paved the way for coach Helmut Schön's team to reach the tournament in Mexico. In the land of the Aztecs, the taciturn and ever reserved Westphalian produced his best display in a 5-2 victory over Bulgaria. Franz Beckenbauer later said of his one goal and three assists: "We have Stan Libuda to thank for this victory." Later made an honorary captain of FC Schalke 04, he died a premature death on 25 August 1996 at the age of 52. (br/flü)

Article image:Stan Libuda laid in final resting place
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