A model professional known to everyone exclusively by his nickname "Sigi", Siegfried Held was born in Freudental im Sudetenland on 7 August 1942. Today, he turns 80 years of age. Back in his playing days, there was nobody faster out there.

He helped Borussia Dortmund to win the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1966 and finished as a World Cup runner-up with the German national team later that same year. He and his strike partner Lothar Emmerich earned themselves the nickname "the terrible twins" in the British media. Sigi Held scored the opening goal in the 62nd minute of the final against Liverpool, then set up "Stan" Libuda's winner to seal the 2-1 victory.

The star striker of the '60s and '70s, who is married to wife Christin, took his first steps in football in Marktheidenfeld (1953 to 1963), before joining Offenbacher Kickers (1963 to 1965) and then BVB. The 1.8m-tall footballer wore the Borussia Dortmund shirt between 1965 and 1971, and then during a second spell between 1977 and 1979.

His record of 422 Bundesliga matches (72 goals), 49 second-tier games (four goals), 47 DFB-Pokal appearances (eight goals) and 11 European games (four goals) says it all. Held won 41 caps for Germany, scoring five goals. The striker, known for his quiet manner, was part of the squad for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico and played in the "Game of the Century" – the 4-3 extra-time defeat to Italy in the semi-final. Held coached in many countries, including Japan, Iceland, Egypt and Malta. The 2006 World Cup Ambassador for Dortmund has been a Fan Representative of the tradition-steeped Westphalian club since 2007 and is very popular.

Back in his playing days, there was nobody faster around. He was an unstoppable force down the left flank, consistently leaving footballing greats like Franz Beckenbauer, Klaus-Dieter Sieloff and Willi Schulz – to take Germany's outstanding defenders of the era as examples – trailing in his wake before then either going for goal himself or teeing up "Emma", Lothar Emmerich, the legend who led the line for the Black & Yellows.

In the dressing room, people would sit up and take note when he spoke. A clever fellow who had an endearingly reserved way about him, he still enjoys the same high standing in BVB's Council of Elders as he used to.

The entire BVB family sends him warm regards on his 80th birthday!
Fritz Lünschermann