Josef ('Sepp') Herberger (born 28 March 1897 in Mannheim, Germany, died 20 April 1977 in Weinheim-Hohensachsen, Germany was a German football player and manager.

After becoming assistant to Dr Otto Nerz in 1932, he succeeded him as national coach after Germany's uninspired loss to Norway at the 1936 Olympics. He is most famous for being the manager of the West German national team which won the Football World Cup 1954 - The Miracle of Bern. He remained manager until 1963, when he was succeeded by Helmut Schön.

He was also noted for his ability to sum up the essence of the game in short phrases, many of which survive to this day.

He also played 3 times for the German football team between 1921 and 1925. He died of Pneumonia in Mannheim aged 80.

His most famous quote is: "The ball is round and the game lasts ninety minutes." ("Der Ball ist rund und das Spiel dauert 90 Minuten.")

1897 births | 1977 deaths | German footballers | German football managers | FIFA World Cup-winning managers

Sepp Herberger | Sepp Herberger | Sepp Herberger