Fritz Korbach

Fritz Korbach (18 July 1945 – 14 August 2011) was a German professional football player and manager.

He was particularly well known in the Netherlands, where he served eleven different teams, including FC Wageningen, FC Zwolle, FC Volendam, FC Twente, SC Cambuur, Go Ahead Eagles, SC Heerenveen, De Graafschap, Heracles Almelo, Sparta Rotterdam (where his management spell famously lasted only two days), Rohda Raalte and Harkemase Boys.

As a player, Korbach was active for Dutch amateur clubs ZSC Patria and SV Baarn.

In 1970, Korbach was appointed assistant to Bert Jacobs at the newly formed club FC Utrecht.

Prior to that, he had been co-trainer with the predecessor USV Elinkwijk, as assistant of Evert Mur.

The football instructor had his first post as manager at the FC Wageningen, At the end of his first season, he led Wageningen in winning the playoffs and securing promotion to the Eredivisie.

Wageningen's first season ever in the Eredivisie was not successful; the club relegated in 1975.

At 1 February 1977, it was announced that Korbach would start as PEC Zwolle's new manager.

Given his experience at both Dutch tiers, and his ideas on scouting and youth programs, he was the most fit of the twelve candidates.

After one of the first matches in the 1977–78 season, Korbach attracted the anger of Heracles Almelo-coach Hennie Hollink, who threw a glass of lemonade in the face of Korbach, and slapped Korbach's face afterwards.

They reconciled a few days later.

After this incident, Korbach's team (with Rinus Israel Uri Banhoffer and Ron Jans), became the champion of the Eerste Divisie and promoted to the Eredivisie.

In its debut in the highest class of the Netherlands the team reached the eighth place.

Korbach kept the club regularly safe from the relegation (with a 2–1 win against Feyenoord in his last season), before he signed at FC Volendam for the 1982–83 season.

During his time at PEC Zwolle, Ajax wanted to contract Korbach.

However, when the Amsterdam board consulted with then-PEC Zwolle chairman Jan Wiersma, Korbach stormed the boardroom, asking 'at what time the fucking would start.' After that, Korbach never heard anything again from Ajax.

With Volendam his goal was to promote from the Eerste Divisie.

Under Korbach, the tall defender Kees Guyt became a forwarder, thus scoring eleven goals.

Frank Kramer returned to the club and became the top scorer of Volendam with 14 goals.

With a 0–2 victory in the last match against FC VVV the team secured a second place behind DS'79 in the league, and Korbach's goal was achieved.

Despite this, the club and the coach parted ways, and FC Twente lured Korbach to Enschede for 1983–84 season.

Twente had relegated in the previous year and wanted the immediate promotion.

Korbach's sense of humor and enthusiasm worked well on FC Twente's selection; within one year Twente was back at the highest level.

For the fourth time in succession Korbach promoted to the Eredivisie.

After two more rather uneventful seasons at Twente, Korbach decided to leave after an 8–1 defeat against Ajax.

SC Cambuur, who needed a new manager after Simon Kistemaker left for DS'79, then secured Korbach's services as a manager for season 1986–87.

Korbach gave confidence to his players and maintained a good relationship with the board.

The atmosphere in the club improved and spectators found the way to the stadium again.

Korbach developed a special game style, which had all the charms of English football: little fuss, attacking, demanding a lot of effort and a heartbreaking enthusiasm.

It became a spectacular season, with Cambuur scoring 80 goals in 36 matches.

However, this time Korbach's team ended third, two points short for promotion.

The promotion competition was all that remained.

On 18 June 1987, the deciding contest between Korbach's Cambuur and Kistemaker's DS'79 was played in the Cambuur Stadium, filled with 16,000 spectators.

DS controlled the match and was already halfway the match at 0–2.

Willem van der Ark was given a chance to change the odds when Cambuur was awarded a penalty, but failed hopelessly.

The 1987–88 season was very disappointing.

Cambuur finished eleventh and Korbach left for Go Ahead Eagles in Deventer.

As with many clubs before, he once again had the task of leading the club into the Eredivisie, this time with the help of his assistant Henk ten Cate.

After less than two years without success, Korbach found a new challenge at SC Heerenveen before his second season ended.

Although only 16th place in the second Dutch league was reached, the club rose to the Eredivisie by the play-offs for the first time in history.