Karl-Heinz Granitza

{{short description|German footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}

{{BLP sources|date=June 2009}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Karl-Heinz Granitza

| image = Karl-Heinz Granitza, MISL 1984-85 media guide page 014.tif

| caption = Granitza circa 1984

| height =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|11|1|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Lünen, West Germany

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1959

| youthclubs1 = VfB Lünen

| youthyears2 = 1959–1970

| youthclubs2 = Eintracht Dortmund

| years1 = 1970–1972

| clubs1 = Eintracht Dortmund

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1972–1973

| clubs2 = Lüner SV

| caps2 = 23

| goals2 = 4

| years3 = 1973–1975

| clubs3 = DJK Gütersloh

| caps3 = 50

| goals3 = 16

| years4 = 1975–1976

| clubs4 = SV Röchling Völklingen

| caps4 = 45

| goals4 = 32

| years5 = 1976–1979

| clubs5 = Hertha BSC

| caps5 = 73

| goals5 = 34

| years6 = 1978–1984

| clubs6 = Chicago Sting

| caps6 = 199

| goals6 = 128

| years7 = 1982–1987

| clubs7 = Chicago Sting (indoor)

| caps7 = 174

| goals7 = 168

| years8 = 1988–1990

| clubs8 = Chicago Power

| caps8 = 53

| goals8 = 97

}}

Karl-Heinz Granitza (born 1 November 1951) is a German former professional footballer who played as a forward.{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/karl-heinz-granitza/spieler/bundesliga/1977-78/hertha-bsc | title = Granitza, Karl-Heinz | language = de | publisher = Kicker | access-date = 1 June 2011}} In the United States, he is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |title=Karl-Heinz Granitza - 2003 Inductee {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |url=http://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/players/karl-heinz-granitza.html |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Karl-Heinz Granitza - 2003 Inductee {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |language=en}}

Granitza was born in Lünen, North Rhine-Westphalia. He played in Germany for VfB Lünen, Eintracht Dortmund, Lüner SV, DJK Gütersloh, SV Röchling Völklingen and Hertha BSC.{{cite web|publisher= fussballdaten.de |title=Karl-Heinz Granitza|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/granitzakarlheinz/|language=de|access-date=5 October 2009}} In 1978 and again for the 1979 season,{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/granitzadata.html | title = Karl-Heinz Granitza - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga | author = Matthias Arnhold | date = 5 September 2013 | access-date = 25 September 2013 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}} he transferred to the Chicago Sting of the NASL, leading the team to two league championships. He also excelled at the indoor game. Granitza was known for his powerful and accurate left foot. He was also very effective with direct free kicks, having the ability to strike the ball with top spin over the wall of defenders, and into the upper corners of the goal. He would finish as the NASL's second all-time leading scorer.

In the 1990s Granitza owned "State Street", an American-style sports bar in Berlin.

In 2003, Granitza was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. His #12 shirt has been retired by the Chicago Storm.