Trautmann: The Biography

by Alan Rowlands

In April 1945 a group of bedraggled, weary German prisoners of war landed at Tilbury after being captured during the last days of the war. They were dispersed to prison camps throughout England, and one of their number, a confused 22-year-old veteran of some of the harshest conditions and hardest battles experienced by the German forces, found himself in south-east Lancashire. His name was Bernhard Carl Trautmann, later to become famous as Bert. This book is the complete story, from his early life in Bremen where he was born and raised in the seething political climate of the 1920s, his involvement with the Hitler Youth movement and extraordinary war experiences, to his often hilarious internment at prisoner of war Camp 50, until his signing by Manchester City in 1949 amid a barrage of controversy and prejudice. Trautmann ran the gauntlet of racial hatred to become, without doubt, one of the greatest goalkeepers ever seen. He played in two successive FA Cup Finals, 1955 and 1956, the latter year bringing him into world focus when he sustained a broken neck. Yet he continued in the game. Within weeks of that Cup Final he suffered further appalling personal tragedy, amid turmoil in his home life, as he fought to regain his fitness. The book has been updated to include details of the Trautmann Foundation and Trautmann’s OBE.

Genres: Biography, Soccer

Paperback

First published October 20, 1990

Reviews

[Iris E DJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good - very interesting, because Trautmann's life was very interesting. As opposed to the Catrine Clay biography, this focused more on his life after the war, playing in the POW camp, before moving on to St Helens and Manchester City. There was much less about his personal life than the Clay book, but his professional career was so brilliant that it wasn't any less interesting

[Jorge Castillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rowlands makes a terrific job portraying the life of Bernhard Trautman, one of the best goalkeepers on the history of soccer. As the book unfolds, we can appreciate the background that made this player the superb athlete he was and all the struggles he had to deal with during the second world war and the following years.
Without any doubt, this was a really interesting book even though, in my opinion, it contains too much information about almost every single season Trautman played as a profesional football player in Manchester City.
Overall, I would totally recommend this book if you are a soccer fan and even more if you are a Manchester City supporter.

[Joe Stamber · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a work colleague who has no interest in football whatsoever asked me what I was reading (at break time obviously!) and I told him it was Bert Trautmann's biography, he asked who he was. I told him it was the goalkeeper who broke his neck in a cup final and carried on playing - he said he had heard of the incident. We were both born in the 1960s, by the way. It just shows how far the Trautmann legend has travelled.

I soon learned that there was a lot more to Trautmann than breaking his neck. From growing up in tough times in Germany, getting caught up in the Second World War and "taken prisoner" (read the book), before ending up in England and realising that the British weren't so bad after all. The book says a lot about English and German attitudes as well as seeing things from a more personal perspective.

Bert led a life that was often complicated and traumatic, but there is no doubt that some of his misfortunes were down to himself. The reader follows Bert through his playing career, his life after hanging up his gloves and his adventures until his retirement. At the end of the book are quotes from admirers and statistics.

Alan Rowlands is firmly in the Bert Trautmann camp and no doubt other authors might have chosen to make more of some of the big man's shortcomings which are mentioned here, but only briefly. However, Trautmann's status as a Manchester City, goalkeeping, and folklore legend is warranted and secure. His story is fascinating and brought to life by Rowlands in this readable biography.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction of the first German to play in English football after WW2.

The tells of his capture as a POW by the British and his journey through football. How an ex German Paratrooper became one of the legends of not only Manchester City FC but of English and European football.

The book tells of his life at City and as manager of Stockport County, the death of his child. A very interesting journey in the man's life.

[Захарченко Віктор · Rating 5 out of 5]

Надзвичайна історія. Кіношна... Не дивно, що по ній зняли фільм. Історія німецукого солдата, володаря "Залізного хреста", що в британському полоні зміг проявити себе як футбольний воротар і став справжньою легендою "Манчестер Сіті". Обійдемось без спойлерів, але вже коли берт стояв у воротах "містян" - на його долю випало чимало непрстих випробувань. У фільмі, який я теж подивився, надто вже рафінована його постать мученика, що весь час розкаюється про свій військовий досвід. Чи було так насправді? Бозна. А от чого у кіно точно не ма - так те, що Траутманн був тричі одружений - ідилії не вийшло.

[A R Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic account of an amazing life

A must read for all football fans and lovers of the beautiful game. Certainly a slightly different story than the way Bert was portrayed in The Keeper - well worth the read and it was heartwarming to hear how he was rewarded with an OBE in his twilight years

[Reza Amiri Praramadhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bernd, or Bert Trautmann, is perhaps the only footballing legend from Manchester City I can recognize. From serving in Wehrmacht as a paratrooper in Eastern Front, he was captured by the British in Western Front and brought back to England, where he decided to play football. Fighting against anti-German prejudices which was (or still) prevalent in English society, Trautmann ended up as one of the most famous football player ever played in England. His goalkeeping skill was legendary, he entered the football folklore as he played in 1956 FA Cup with his neck broken. Adored as much abused by Manchester City, he retired broke and had a turbulent relationship with her first wife. Trying his hand on coaching career in England and Germany without much success, he accepted West Germany’s government offer to coach numerous national football teams around the world, having successes with the Burmese. This book is quite insightful in describing the condition of footballing world in which Trautmann made his mark.

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting life and well researched, but not written in a way which gives any real insight into his character. A bit disappointing.