He was one of the greatest players in Fortuna history. Gerd Zimmermann has now died at the age of 72 after a serious illness.
9 years ago “Zimbo” suffered a stroke that drew him. Now he died of the late effects.
► Zimmermann began his career in Gladbach in 1968. After winning the championship in 1970, he moved to Fortuna Cologne for 4 years, and in 1974 he came to Düsseldorf.
There the defender became a legend!
In 209 competitive games, the most powerful player in the league at the time scored 50 goals. He scored many of the hits from 30, 35 meters.
► In 1979 he won the cup with his Fortuna. And was in the same year in the team that lost the biggest game in the club’s history 3-4 aet against Barcelona in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final.
Doubly dramatic for Zimmermann. In the process, he tore his cruciate ligament. When he didn’t really get a chance after his recovery, he left Düsseldorf angrily in 1980 after winning the cup again.
But in his heart he always remained Fortune.
