The remarkable story of Saarbrücken

1. FC Saarbrücken's current priority is winning promotion from the Regionalliga Südwest, German football's regional fourth tier. This month, however, the club from south-west Germany are casting a nostalgic glance backwards – 60 years to be precise, to a time when they rubbed shoulders with football's elite in the inaugural European Champion Clubs' Cup.

Following the Second World War, in 1947 the Saarland region that borders France became a French protectorate, separate from Germany. One of its strongest clubs, 1. FC Saarbrücken, which had been playing in the so-called 'French zone league' system, was invited in 1948 to join the French second division as guest participants. Their results would not count in terms of points. However, the team's record was so impressive that had results counted, the league title would have nestled comfortably in their pocket.

An application to join the French Football Federation (FFF) and officially enter the French league set-up fell through, so Saarbrücken embarked upon friendlies, and also competed in a short-lived tournament called the International Saarland Cup, performing with distinction against international opposition.

It was 1951/52 before teams from Saarland re-entered the German league system. Saarbrücken immediately made their mark, winning the Oberliga Südwest and going through to the national final, where they were defeated by Stuttgart.

In 1950, Saarland's status led to its football association becoming a member of FIFA. The FA also attended the founding meeting of UEFA on 15 June 1954. Saarland took part in the 1952 Olympic Games and qualifying for the 1954 FIFA World Cup. Saarbrücken provided the majority of the team that finished group runners-up behind West Germany – who would go on to win the World Cup – and ahead of Norway.

The Saarland association entered Saarbrücken in the inaugural European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1955/56. Their first round opponents? AC Milan, with their Swedish stars Nils Liedholm and Gunnar Nordahl.

Werner Otto, a pacy winger and, as he puts it, "not really a goalscorer, more a provider of assists", played for Saarbrücken and the Saarland national team during this momentous period. The special circumstances of the time actually made little impression on him. Would he have considered himself German, or a Saarländer? "I saw myself as a footballer … we did not care much for politics," he recalls.

The trip to Milan looked a daunting prospect, but Saarbrücken refused to be overawed in a topsy-turvy first leg at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on 1 November 1955. They took the lead on five minutes through Peter Krieger, but Milan soon hit their stride, Amleto Frignani, Juan Alberto Schiaffino and Giorgio Dal Monte giving the Italians a comfortable-looking advantage. In adversity, Saarbrücken's unfailing team spirit held them together. "We were a tight-knit unit," Otto emphasises. "Everyone knew where the other would run, or how he would pass."

That resilience saw Waldemar Philippi reduce the deficit before the break. And whatever coach Hans Tauchert said in the dressing room at the interval, it had the desired effect. Saarbrücken came out with renewed vigour, shocking Milan with the quality of their response, and quick-fire strikes from Karl Shirra and Herbert Martin completed a sensational turnaround. Otto and his colleagues had a 4-3 lead to take home.

Milan's Nils Liedholm©Getty Images

Buoyed by this shock result, the city of Saarbrucken was alive with anticipation for the return encounter on 23 November 1955. Players at the time had jobs alongside preparing for football matches. "I worked in public service, dealing with pensions," Otto remembers. "At the time, the government were really generous when it came to playing football. We always got leave. First we had to use up our holiday allowance, then we were granted leave."

The city welcomed Milan and their big names. The visitors soon levelled 4-4 on aggregate, Valentino Valli scoring after eight minutes. Undaunted, Saarbrücken equalised and edged ahead through Herbert Binkert on the half-hour.

Urged on by their vociferous support, Saarbrücken's hopes were still gloriously alive, but disaster hit them 15 minutes from the end. Theodor Puff put through his own net to make it 5-5. It knocked the stuffing out of the home side. Valli got his second soon after and Eros Beraldo sealed Saarbrücken's fate.

"Maybe [Milan] underestimated us a little in the first leg," Otto recalls. "And then, here, they really upped the ante. But it could have been different. It would not have been such a big surprise for us to go through. We were a big club …" Indeed, Saarbrücken had been good enough, during the early 1950s, to thrash Real Madrid in a friendly. "We won 4-0," says Otto. "Maybe they also underestimated us a little bit – it was a sensation."

Werner Otto, now 86, lives close to Saarbrücken's Ludwigparkstadion, and is a member of the honorary committee. What does he see as the main difference between football now and then? "Well, first and foremost, they make a lot more money! Back then, we were paid 150 Marks [roughly €75] per month."

Saarland's status soon changed. Following a plebiscite in 1955, and the signing of the Saar Treaty by France and Germany in October 1956, it became part of West Germany on 1 January 1957, and the Saarland football association was integrated into the German Football Association (DFB). Saarbrücken's brush with the European big time was brief but unforgettable.