The Horrifying Injury That Changed Ewald Lienen's Life Forever

In 1981, German midfielder Ewald Lienen was playing a seemingly routine game for Werder Bremen against Arminia Bielefeld. However, the match would take a horrifying turn and forever change the course of Lienen’s career. The Ewald Lienen injury will undoubtedly go down as the worst in living memory.

During the 20th minute of the first half, Lienen was making an attacking run towards Werder’s goal. His forward run was brought to an abrupt stop when he was tackled hard by Bielefeld defender Norbert Siegmann. The tackle resulted in a 25 cm gash on Lienen’s thigh, exposing flesh and bone. Despite the intense pain and shock, Lienen limped to the sidelines and furiously confronted the opposing coach. There he met an enraged Otto Rehhagel, who subsequently accused him of orchestrating the injury. Amazingly, Siegmann only received a yellow card for his part in the incident.

Legal Action

Lienen’s horrific injury required 23 stitches and a 20-day recovery period. The aftermath of the incident resulted in legal action against Rehhagel and Siegmann. However, the case was ultimately dismissed as part of the risk inherent in playing soccer.

The injury received widespread media coverage and Rehhagel faced intense criticism. Requiring a bulletproof vest for his safety at future games. Meanwhile, Siegmann was subject to death threats and earned the nickname “The Butcher”. The whole incident ultimately led to his retirement and conversion to Buddhism.

What Happened Next?

After 2 seasons with Arminia Bielefeld, Ewald Lienen returned to play for Borussia Mönchengladbach where he and his team had several top-4 finishes but missed out on winning a league title. In 1984, he played in the DFB-Pokal final where his team lost to Bayern Munich on penalties. In 1987, Lienen left Mönchengladbach to co-establish a professional footballers’ union in Duisburg and also studied for a football coaching license, which he earned with an A grade in 1989.

He also continued his football career at MSV Duisburg and helped them win promotion to the 2. Bundesliga in 1989 and then to the top flight 2 years later. After MSV Duisburg was relegated in 1992, Lienen retired from football.

The Ewald Lienen injury serves as a reminder of the brutal physical side of the sport and the lasting impact it can have on a player’s life.