In the 1980s he was part of the Bundesliga inventory: Klaus Täuber, who died at the age of 65 after a life full of anecdotes.
Knew where the goal was: Klaus Täuber (1958-2023). imago images / RHR photo
On the evening of May 18, 1988, he was to be the last Leverkusen player to take a penalty. Klaus Täuber, a powerful left foot. When a few spectators had gathered on the pitch in the second leg of the UEFA Cup, he converted dryly. Espanyol Barcelona’s Sebastian Losada then not.
The European Cup victory with Bayer 04 Leverkusen was the greatest success in the career of the man from Erlangen, who remained a Schalke player at heart. “I would have preferred to have won the European Cup with Schalke,” S04 quoted the dynamic offensive man in a statement on Täuber’s death, about which the club gave no further information. Tauber was 65 years old.
With his brothers Jürgen and Stephan, Tauber formed the only trio of brothers who were active in the Bundesliga. Klaus’ career began in 1976 at 1. FC Nürnberg, four years later followed by three at the Stuttgarter Kickers and four more in a Schalke jersey. Everywhere he was able to shine as a goalscorer, accumulated the impressive numbers of 51 goals in 137 Bundesliga games and 89 goals in 197 second division games.
Schalke had joined Täuber in 1983, of all things, after his relegation, then witnessed the legendary 6: 6 in the DFB Cup against FC Bayern and meanwhile ensured direct promotion again. In 1987 he went to Leverkusen against his will – the Royal Blues needed the money: “I would never have left, not for 100,000 marks more,” said Täuber: “But the club had to sell players, so I went to Leverkusen.”
He celebrated his big title with the Werkself in his first season before a serious spinal injury ended his anecdotal career prematurely just months later. Due to his physical style of play, Tauber earned himself the nickname “Boxer” and was once voted the “league’s biggest knocker” by the Bundesliga defenders.
“I like to go where it hurts,” Täuber once said. “Especially for me.”
2023-07-01 13:25:15
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