Ulrich Rothe: A football life's work is 80 years old!

Ulrich Rothe: A football life's work is 80 years old!

Today, July 19, 2025, the time has come: Ulrich Rothe, a face of East German football, is celebrating his 80th birthday. The native of Kirchsteitz, who was born in 1945, has not only celebrated personal triumphs over the course of his career as a footballer and track and field athlete, but has also thrilled numerous fans. He became known for the winning goal he scored on October 5, 1969 in the decisive game between Hallescher FC and Gorki Zabrze, which ended in a 3-2 win for the HFC. The unmistakable header from a corner transformed it into a footballing heroic act in the eyes of around 30,000 spectators.[ Hallescher FC ] reports on the celebrations that will take place today in a restaurant in Halle with friends and family.

However, Ulrich Rothe's sporting career began early. When he was only 10 years old, he joined the sports community in Döschwitz and in 1960 moved to the Friedrich-Engels children's and youth sports school in Halle. His successes in athletics are particularly noteworthy: in 1963 he became GDR youth champion in the 4x100 meter relay and in 1965 he even became GDR junior champion in the 4x400 meter relay. In 1965 he continued into the world of football when he moved to Halleschen FC Chemie, where he attracted attention with a brilliant 102 league games and 8 goals.[ Wikipedia ] shows us the different stages of his career.

A path full of challenges

But Rothe's path wasn't always straight. After being called up for military service, he played for the first time for the Vorwärts Löbau army sports community and was promoted to the GDR league with them in 1971. After his military service, he returned to BSG Chemie Leipzig and played in 6 crucial promotion games to the Oberliga. Here he played his last league season and ended his active career after a few more years in the GDR league.[ GDR football ] provides interesting insights into the contemporary history of East German football.

From 1978 to 1990, Rothe was active as a coach and led the GDR league team Dynamo Eisleben, where he passed on his extensive knowledge and experience to the next generation. In recent years he has also organized the traditional HFC team. This selection recently competed in the final round of the DFB Cup for over 40s, bringing together many football enthusiasts.[ Hallescher FC ] highlights that Rothe's commitment to the sport has never waned.

A true football man is celebrating a big anniversary today. Ulrich Rothe, with his diverse talents and his tireless commitment to sport, remains a role model for many. From athletics to football to his role as a coach, Rothe has left a mark on the world of sports that will last.