"Sepp Herberger was a formidable figure of authority.
Discipline, good conduct and punctuality were very important to
him. He himself lived by the standards he expected of his players.
He never smoked or drank, but he was well aware of all his
players' vices. He would punish you for misconduct. It could
end up with you not being allowed to play any more. He always spoke
to me personally if something was up."
Horst Eckel (Former international and 1954 FIFA World Cup
winner)
"Sepp Herberger - who we all simply knew as 'Chief'
- was the father of our success. As captain, I was his right-hand
man on the field of play, and I was privy to all his plans. I could
hardly believe it in the bus on the way to the Final at the
Wankdorf stadium in Berne: it was raining so hard, the windscreen
wipers were going at double speed! I was sitting next to the Chief.
Herberger put his hand on my knee and said: 'Your weather,
Fritz.' I answered: 'Fine by me, Chief.'"
Fritz Walter (captain of the 1954 FIFA World Cup winning
team)
