Gerhardt Neef
{{Short description|German footballer (1946–2010)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Gerry Neef
| fullname = Klaus Gerhard Neef
| height =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|12|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hausham, Allied-occupied Germany
| death_date = {{death date and age|2010|2|23|1946|12|30|df=y}}
| death_place = Nuremberg, Germany
| position = Goalkeeper
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = SV Hamborn
| years1 = {{0|0000}}–1968
| clubs1 = VfvB Ruhrort/Laar{{cite journal | title = Out of Ruhrort: Gerry Neef machte Karriere bei den Glasgow Rangers | journal = 11 Freunde – Magazin für Fußball-Kultur | issue = 44 |date=May 2005 | language = German}}
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 1968–1973
| clubs2 = Rangers
| caps2 = 33
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1973–1975
| clubs3 = 1. FC Nürnberg
| caps3 = 43
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1975–1979
| clubs4 = FC Herzogenaurach{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/gerhard-neef/spieler/2-bundesliga/1974-75/1-fc-nuernberg | title = Neef, Gerhard | language = German | publisher = Kicker | access-date = 2 October 2012}}
| caps4 =
| goals4 =
| totalcaps = 76
| totalgoals = 0
}}
Gerhard "Gerry" Neef (30 December 1946 – 23 February 2010), often known as Gerhardt Neef, was a German professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/neefgerhard/1975/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|title=Gerhard Neef|accessdate=13 April 2011}}{{cite web | url = http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/gerry-neef-1-792909 | title = Gerry Neef | work = The Scotsman| date = 1 March 2010 | accessdate = 2 October 2012}}
Career
Although Neef was taken to Scotland initially by Eddie Turnbull, manager of Aberdeen, he was best known for his spell at Scottish side Rangers, whom he signed for in spring 1968. A former German policeman, he was seen as the answer to the clubs problematic goalkeeping position. The manager Davie White had been struggling to find a replacement to Billy Ritchie since his departure in 1967, using Erik Sørensen and Norrie Martin but not settling on either.
He made his debut on 19 April 1969 in a league match against Greenock Morton, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 home win. The following season, he became first choice at the club playing 39 games and winning the 1970 League Cup, after keeping out Celtic F.C. in the final.
The 1970–71 season saw him lose his place to new signing Peter McCloy. His appearances were sporadic thereafter. He was part of the 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup squad, but never played. Neef left Rangers to return to West Germany in 1973, having made 48 appearances in total for the club.
Death
Neef died from throat cancer at his home in Nuremberg on 23 February 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20100224/gers-mourn-keeper-neef_2254024_1976008 |title=Gers Mourn Keeper Neef |publisher=Rangers FC |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226200445/http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20100224/gers-mourn-keeper-neef_2254024_1976008 |archivedate=26 February 2010 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.fcn.de/news/artikel/club-trauert-um-gerry-neef/|title= Club trauert um Gerry Neef|date=24 February 2010|publisher=1. FC Nürnberg|accessdate=13 April 2011 | language = German}} A one-minute silence was held in respect for Neef before a match at Ibrox Stadium on 28 February 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/rangers-vs-celtic/206196 | date=28 February 2010 |title=Rangers 1-0 Celtic|publisher=Sky Sports }}
Personal life
Melanie Neef, Neef's daughter, was an athlete for Great Britain.{{cite news |title=Old Firm in silent tribute for Rangers keeper Gerry Neef|author=Angus Wright |newspaper=The Scotsman|date=25 February 2010|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Old-Firm-in-silent-tribute.6102478.jp|accessdate=25 February 2010}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/gerhardtneef.html Career stats]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neef, Gerhardt}}
Category:People from Miesbach (district)
Category:Footballers from Upper Bavaria
Category:German men's footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Scottish Football League players
Category:2. Bundesliga players
Category:1. FC Nürnberg players
Category:Deaths from esophageal cancer in Germany
Category:West German expatriate men's footballers