Willi Gerdau

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameWilli•Gerdau
Used nameWilli•Gerdau
Nick/petnamesIlle
Born12 February 1929 in Heide, Schleswig-Holstein (GER)
Died11 February 2011 in Uetersen, Schleswig-Holstein (GER)
AffiliationsHeider SV, Heide (GER)
NOC Germany
Nationality West Germany

Biography

The West German soccer team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics was part of the mixed German team that was defeated 2-1 by the Soviet Union in the first round and immediately eliminated. Center half Willi Gerdau played for Heider SV and, after winning one amateur international cap, he went on to become the first player from Schleswig-Holstein to win a full West German cap. He was considered a hard-tackler and was a free-kicks and penalty specialist.

Gerdau trained as a bookkeeper and worked for the DEA mineral oil company DEA in Heide, later in Hamburg, when the bookkeeping department re-located. He was also engaged as an amateur coach with FC St. Pauli, TSV Uetersen and Raspo Elmshorn.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1956 Summer Olympics Football (Football) GER FRG Willi Gerdau
Football, Men (Olympic) Unified Team of Germany =9

Special Notes