Lothar Kurbjuweit

Defender Lothar Kurbjuweit was in the East Germany (GDR) team that beat Poland 3-1 at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, to become the first German team to win the Olympic title. Four years earlier he came on as a substitute for the GDR team that won the bronze medal at the München Olympics, following a 2-2 draw, after extra-time, against the Soviet Union. During the period of extra-time, neither team tried to win, because they knew a draw would secure both of them a medal. Kurbjuweit was also in the East German team that surprisingly beat West Germany 1-0 in the 1974 World Cup.

Kurbjuweit played 66 international matches between 1970-81, and also played 11 matches with the GDR Olympic team. Domestically, he played with BSG Stahl Riesa, and then from 1970-83 with FC Carl Zeiss Jena. In 1972, 1974 and 1980 he helped Jena to win the East German Cup. He then moved for one season to Hallescher FC Chemie.

After his playing career, Kurbjuweit worked as a football coach and a graduated sports teacher in several positions. In 1980 he married long jumper Birgit Grimm. After reunification he embarked on a new career with a leading car dealership in Jena. Since 2004 he was again active as a football coach in several East German clubs including a brief stint as chief scout with Bundesliga club 1. FC Nürnberg. His son Tobias also became a professional footballer.