Brave Bert Trautmann, whose astonishing heroics in an FA Cup Final helped make him a legend, has died aged 89.
Manchester City goalie Bert broke his neck during the game at Wembley in 1956 – but miraculously he played the remaining 17 minutes.
He was clearly in pain but he shrugged off the life-threatening injury and went on to make some spectacular saves as his side beat Birmingham City 3-1.
Bert, who survived two heart attacks this year, died today at his home near Valencia in Spain where he had retired with his third wife.
Even the Duke of Edinburgh commented on Bert’s “crooked state” as the goalkeeper collected his winner’s medal in 1956.
It was only three days later that the German goalie – who was brought to Britain in 1945 as a prisoner of war – found out the extent of his injury.
After assessing X-rays, docs found he had dislocated five vertebrae in his neck, with one snapped in half.
Man City hero Francis Lee said: “I don’t think he knew he’d broken his neck, not until they had the scans.
"There was no way he was coming off – there were no subs in those days. He was brave as a lion.
“He was on the Western Front as well the Eastern Front, so he saw a bit of action and a broken neck was not going to put him off.”
Ex-City goalie Joe Corrigan said: “Bert was a fantastic man and one of the best keepers ever.
"I’m proud to have called him a friend and mentor. As a keeper, he had everything. He was agile, intelligent, commanding and brave. He’s a true legend.
“He wrote the foreword for my autobiography – the words he wrote still send a shiver down my spine.”
Born Bernhard Trautmann in Bremen in 1923, his dad was a docker and his mum was a housewife.
Bert, who had been an apprentice mechanic, became a paratrooper in the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.
He won five medals including the Iron Cross.
After being captured by a British solider – who said “Hello, Fritz, fancy a cup of tea?” – Bert was taken to a POW camp in Greater Manchester.
At the end of the war he declined the offer of returning to Germany.
He joined City in 1949 but 20,000 people attended a demo over the signing of one of Hitler’s troops. Bert soon won fans over, racking up 545 appearances before he left in 1964.
He retired from playing shortly after and began a coaching career. Despite moving to Spain in the late-80s, his heart stayed in Manchester.
Bert, awarded an OBE in 2004 for promoting Anglo-German relations, said in 2010 during a visit to see his old team: “I watch all City’s games on TV, they’re still my club.
"I love England and still shout for them even if they’re playing Germany.”
He had four children but his eldest son died aged five in a car accident months after the 1956 cup final.