-
imago sports photo service
![Andy Egli was the first Swiss to play at Borussia Dortmund in 1984.]()
—
1/5
Andy Egli was the first Swiss to play at Borussia Dortmund in 1984.
—-
Look
![Despite a two-year contract, the Swiss returned to GC after one season.]()
—
2/5
Despite a two-year contract, the Swiss returned to GC after one season.
—-
Gaze sport
![GC earned more in the mid-1980s than BVB.]()
—
3/5
GC earned more in the mid-1980s than BVB.
—-
Look
![In 1994 he also won the championship title with Servette.]()
—
4/5
In 1994 he also won the championship title with Servette.
—-
Gaze sport
![Egli is pleased that football is rolling again in the Bundesliga - and does not see black in ghost games.]()
—
5/5
Egli is pleased that football is rolling again in the Bundesliga – and does not see black in ghost games.
—-
—-
VIEW: Andy Egli, you were the first Swiss ever to play for Borussia Dortmund in the 1984/1984 season. Although you actually signed a two-year contract, you returned to GC after just one year. Why?Andy Egli: These were exclusively economic reasons.
–
As a footballer in the mid-80s, did you earn more at GC than at BVB?
Yes. But back then it wasn’t just about my wages. The prospects at GC, where I was able to sign a five-year contract, were also better. BVB had big financial problems at the time, we should all have waived part of our wages for the new season. In addition, it turned out that BVB had not even paid my transfer of one million marks to GC.–
Would you have liked to stay in the Bundesliga from a sporting perspective?
Yes of course. Although I have won four cups and four championships with GC and again won the championship with Servette, I had my most impressive year as a footballer in Dortmund. Football in Germany, especially in the Ruhr area, means everything to people. It is cult, religion, nothing can go beyond that. It is no coincidence that the Bundesliga is the first major sports league in the world to resume operations after the corona lockdown. Clubs, leagues and fans have done everything possible.–
Do you think it’s good that the game is played again?
It’s just awesome.–
Even if it’s just ghost games?
I’m not talking about ghost games, I’m talking about football without spectators. As in the past on the break or after school on the street. We all loved to play – we didn’t need viewers for that.–
Not afraid that the parts on TV will appear anemic, empty and emotionless?
No. In the beginning, it may take some time to adapt to the new circumstances. But I’m sure that television will sell the Bundesliga attractively even without fans in the stadium. They’ll come up with something.–
On Saturday it’s going to start with Schalke Dortmund against Schalke. What memories come up when you think back to your games against Schalke?
A 4-1 win in the championship at home and a defeat away. We also played 1-1 in the cup and had to play a replay, which we then lost.–
They are a walking encyclopedia.
I would not say that. At my age, long-term memory works better than short-term memory (laughs). The Revier Derby is the non-plus-ultra for the people in the Ruhr area. It was always the big topic days before the meeting. Everyone was looking forward to the match day.–
In Germany, Dortmund vs. Schalke as the mother of all derbies. You have also completed countless Zurich derbies …
… there are worlds in between. The Ruhrpott is all about this game. There you are either blue or black-yellow, nothing else. Zurich, on the other hand, is a cosmopolitan city with operas and theaters. FCZ vs. GC never has the same meaning for the population, it cannot. In the south curve, the FCZ fan curve, I can feel a similar fan attitude to that in the Ruhrpott.–
Did you have any contact with the fans at the time?
Yes of course. I actually took the train to training every day. I was addressed every day. Then a little later in the day in the restaurants or bars. But everyone was totally polite, treated us with respect. It was just a great time.–
Have you been out regularly?
You can say that.–
And did you really take the train for training?
Yes. We lived in Ergste, about ten kilometers outside of Dortmund. The train connection to the training area was ideal.–
And how was your time at BVB from a sporting perspective?
We wanted to play for the European places and managed to get the league in the last game. This season we had three coaches with Timo Konietzka, Reinhard Saftig and the later German national coach Erich Ribbeck. From a sporting point of view, it was not exhilarating.–
After all, you scored six goals as a defender.
As a defender, I think it was only one. In the second half of the season Ribbeck converted me into a striker.–
Why?
I think the pressure from the press has become too great after a 0: 6 against Werder Bremen. I had the order to remove Werder striker Rudi Völler from the game. But the Rudi has scored four goals. Nobody was interested in the fact that he scored three goals after standing balls and that I wasn’t responsible for him at all. I got the grade 6 from BILD. Which means as much as useless. By the way, Völler was not the only opponent I had to cover who scored four goals.–
Who else?
Cologne striker Klaus Allofs. He was rather small, light-weight, brutally quick to start and also left-footed. It was horror for me. Allofs was the most uncomfortable player I had to play against.–
What was it like when you were pilloried by BILD?
That was very hard. You have to know: I was an undisputed regular player. In addition to the Romanian Marcel Raducanu the only foreigner. In retrospect, however, I think that this experience was positive. It made me mentally stronger.–
Are you actually watching the district derby in front of the TV?
What shall this question be for? For sure. I’ve had to go without football for a long time now.–
Personal: Andy EgliAndy Egli (May 8, 1958) was a 4-time cup winner and four-time champion with GC – also one champion with Servette. He ran a total of 80 times for the Nati and took part in the 1994 World Cup in America. After retiring as a player, he was a coach for many years, including at FC Thun, Aarau, Lucerne, Dortmund and Busan I’Park in South Korea. He has been a football expert on Swiss television for years. Andy and his wife Silvana have four children – Ramon (36), Riana (35), Rebecca (32) and Roxana (29) – and already seven grandchildren.
—-
Related
—
—
—
—
—
