BERLIN, Oct 23: Legendary German goalkeeper and World War II veteran Bert Trautmann, who celebrated his 85th birthday on Wednesday, will be the DFB guest of honour at next month’s friendly against England in Berlin.

The ex-Manchester City goalkeeper, who famously helped the club win the 1956 FA Cup final despite suffering a broken neck, will receive a special German Football Federation (DFB) honour before the game.

“The game at the Olympic Stadium is the perfect occasion to honour Bert Trautmann for the good work he did for German football in England,” said DFB President Theo Zwanziger.

“Bert Trautmann was a legend of English football in the 1950s and as both a sportsman and human-being was a great ambassador for Germany.”

Although his real name is Bernd, Trautmann is widely known by his nickname Bert which he picked up while playing football in England.

He won over City’s fans playing all but five of the club’s next 250 matches and in total made 545 appearances between 1949 and 1964.

He is most famous for the 1956 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium when 15 minutes before the final whistle he suffered a serious injury after diving at the feet of Birmingham City’s Peter Murphy.—AFP