Bruno Pezzey
Bruno Edmund Pezzey (3 February 1955 – 31 December 1994) was an Austrian professional footballer. He played as a defender and is regarded one of Austria's best defenders of all times.
 Pezzey in 1978 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bruno Edmund Pezzey | ||
| Date of birth | 3 February 1955 | ||
| Place of birth | Lauterach, Austria | ||
| Date of death | 31 December 1994 (aged 39) | ||
| Place of death | Innsbruck, Austria | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1965–1973 | FC Lauterach | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1973–1974 | FC Vorarlberg | 28 | (3) |
| 1974–1978 | Wacker Innsbruck | 129 | (19) |
| 1978–1983 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 141 | (27) |
| 1983–1987 | Werder Bremen | 114 | (18) |
| 1987–1990 | Swarovski Tirol | 86 | (6) |
| Total | 498 | (73) | |
| National team | |||
| 1975–1990 | Austria | 84 | (9) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1991–1993 | Austria U-21 (assistant) | ||
| 1993–1994 | Austria U-21 | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Club career
Pezzey began in the youth of FC Lauterach in Vorarlberg. His professional career started at FC Vorarlberg. Then he moved to FC Wacker Innsbruck With Innsbruck he won two league titles and a cup. In 1978 he went to the Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt[1] In this time he won the UEFA Cup and a DFB-Pokal. Then he spent four seasons with Werder Bremen. He returned to Innsbruck in 1987 and won two league titles and a domestic cup.
International career
Pezzey made his debut for Austria in June 1975 against Czechoslovakia and played at the 1978 FIFA World Cup and 1982 FIFA World Cup.[2] In the 1982 World Cup he scored Austria's first goal in the 2–2 draw with Northern Ireland in Madrid. He played 84 matches and shot nine goals.[3] His last match was an August 1990 friendly match against Switzerland.
Managing career
He was assistance coach for the Austrian U21 national team from 1991 till 1993. The next season he was headcoach of the team.
Death and legacy
Pezzey died of heart failure in a hospital on New Year's Eve 1994 after playing in a game of ice hockey short before his 40th birthday.[4] He left behind his wife and two daughters. His youth club, FC Lauterach, named its ground in his honour.[5]Also the Award of the VdF (Vereinigung der Fußballspieler- Union of Football Players) is named after him.
Honours
Wacker Innsbruck
- Austrian Bundesliga: 1975, 1977
- Austrian Cup: 1975
Eintracht Frankfurt
Swarovski Tirol
- Austrian Bundesliga: 1989, 1990
- Austrian Cup: 1989
References
- ↑ Arnhold, Matthias (9 June 2016). "Bruno Pezzey - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ↑ Bruno Pezzey – FIFA competition record
- ↑ Stokkermans, Karel (9 June 2016). "Bruno Pezzey - International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ↑ Hübner, Peter (2 January 1995). "Trauer um Österreicher Pezzey" (in Deutsch). Berliner Zeitung. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ↑ "Sportanlage Bruno Pezzey" (in Deutsch). FC Lauterach. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
Other Websites
- Bruno Pezzey at fussballdaten.de (German)
- Bruno Pezzey at WorldFootball.net
- Bruno Pezzey at National-Football-Teams.com
- Bruno Pezzey at Eintracht Archiv