Merkel mourned across Europe
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Article summary
Max Merkel, who won international caps for both Austria and Germany and coached clubs to titles in those countries and Spain, has died aged 87.
Article body
Coaching achievements
Born in Vienna, Merkel played for SK Rapid Wien and was capped once by Germany, in 1939, and again by Austria in 1952, before finding his calling as a coach. He won league titles with Rapid (1956/57), TSV 1860 München (1965/66), 1. FC Nürnberg (1967/68) and Club Atlético de Madrid (1972/73). His Nürnberg side remain the only Bundesliga team to be relegated the season after winning the title, although Merkel had resigned before the end of that campaign.
European final
Other honours included winning a German Cup with 1860 in 1964 and a Copa del Rey with Atlético in 1971/72, while he also led the Munich side to the 1964/65 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final, where they lost 2-0 against English side West Ham United FC. His coaching career also saw him take charge of ADO Den Haag, BV Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla FC, FC Schalke 04, FC Augsburg and Karlsruher SC as well as the Dutch national team, between 1954 and 1956.