# Hubert Birkenmeier

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German footballer (born 1949)

Hubert Birkenmeier Birkenmeier circa 1984 Personal information Date of birth (1949-05-24) 24 May 1949 (age 77) Place of birth Hartheim am Rhein, West Germany Position Goalkeeper Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1970–1972 Freiburger FC 1972–1977 Tennis Borussia Berlin 85 (0) 1977–1979 Freiburger FC 76 (0) 1979–1985 New York Cosmos 145 (0) 1981–1985 New York Cosmos (indoor) 24 (0) 1985–1986 Chicago Sting (indoor) 23 (0) 1986–1987 New York Express (indoor) 13 (0) 1987 Los Angeles Lazers (indoor) 3 (0) 1987 Cosmopolitan Eagles 1988 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms 1989–1990 New Jersey Eagles Total 369+ (0+) Managerial career 1984 New York Cosmos (interim) * Club domestic league appearances and goals

**Hubert Birkenmeier** (born 24 May 1949) is a German retired professional [footballer](/source/Association_football) who played professionally in Germany, the [North American Soccer League](/source/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968%E2%80%931984)), [Major Indoor Soccer League](/source/MISL_I) and [American Soccer League](/source/American_Soccer_League_(1988%E2%80%931989)). His greatest success came with the [New York Cosmos](/source/New_York_Cosmos_(1971%E2%80%931985)) in the NASL.

## Career

Birkenmeier began his career in [West Germany](/source/West_Germany). In 1970, he signed with [Freiburger FC](/source/Freiburger_FC) before moving to [Tennis Borussia Berlin](/source/Tennis_Borussia_Berlin) in 1972. He remained in Berlin until 1977 when the [Cosmos](/source/New_York_Cosmos_(1971%E2%80%9385)) of the [North American Soccer League](/source/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968%E2%80%931984)) purchased his contract. At the time he could not speak English.[1] Birkenmeier remained with the Cosmos until 1985. During those years, he played eight outdoor NASL, two indoor NASL and one [Major Indoor Soccer League](/source/MISL_I) season. During those years, Birkenmeier was a First Team NASL All Star selection in [1982](/source/1982_North_American_Soccer_League_season) and [1984](/source/1984_North_American_Soccer_League_season), a Second Teamer in [1981](/source/1981_North_American_Soccer_League_season) and an Honorable Mention in [1983](/source/1983_North_American_Soccer_League_season).[2] Birkenmeier was the Cosmos' starting goalie for three consecutive [Soccer Bowls](/source/Soccer_Bowl) (['80](/source/Soccer_Bowl_'80), ['81](/source/Soccer_Bowl_'81) & ['82](/source/Soccer_Bowl_'82)), and did not concede a goal in any of them. In 1985, he also played several exhibition games for the Cosmos. In August 1985, he signed with the [Chicago Sting](/source/Chicago_Sting) of the MISL.[3] He spent most of the season as a backup for [Victor Nogueira](/source/Victor_Nogueira). The Sting waived him on 29 April 1986.[4] On 4 November 1986, Birkenmeier signed with the expansion [New York Express](/source/New_York_Express) of the MISL. The Express folded two-thirds of the way through the season and on 6 March 1987, the [Los Angeles Lazers](/source/Los_Angeles_Lazers) signed him to a ten-day contract. He then played for the [Cosmopolitan Eagles](/source/Cosmopolitan_Eagles) during the 1987 outdoor exhibition season.[5] In 1988, he played for the [New York Pancyprian-Freedoms](/source/New_York_Pancyprian-Freedoms) of the [Cosmopolitan Soccer League](/source/Cosmopolitan_Soccer_League) as it went to the semifinals of the [National Challenge Cup](/source/National_Challenge_Cup). He returned signed with the [New York Eagles](/source/New_York_Eagles) of the [American Soccer League](/source/American_Soccer_League_(1988%E2%80%931989)).[6] He remained with them through the 1990 season in the [American Professional Soccer League](/source/American_Professional_Soccer_League).[7]

## Retirement from professional soccer

Birkenmeier now manages a sporting goods store called Birkenmeier Sport Shop in Hackensack, New Jersey. The store was founded and originally owned by Birkenmeier but was sold in 1985 to his former Cosmos teammate [Andranik Eskandarian](/source/Andranik_Eskandarian)[8] when Birkenmeier left to play for the [Chicago Sting](/source/Chicago_Sting).[9] The teammates helped teach Eksandarian's son, [Alecko](/source/Alecko_Eskandarian), how to play inside the store.[10] He also is now a goalkeeping coach for World Class FC.[11]

## Current activities

On a visit back to his hometown of Hartheim in 2009 to celebrate his 60th birthday, he described initially having mixed feelings about leaving Germany to play in the United States. He stated that in his first few months as a Cosmo, he lived in a hotel and had some difficulty with both homesickness and the learning of a new language. However, he credits his teammate and fellow countryman, [Franz Beckenbauer](/source/Franz_Beckenbauer) with helping him adjust quickly to his new home, team and language, helping him to become one of the team's most dependable and popular players while sharing in two NASL championships. Birkenmeier continues to manage the sporting goods store he founded but stays involved in the sport acting as goalkeeping coach with the U.S. Youth National Team. He also runs a soccer youth camp for seven weeks each summer in Northern New Jersey. In the same interview, he stated that he goes back home to Hartheim every year to visit his brother and sister and stays abreast of hometown news via the internet.[12]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The Americanization of Birkenmeier"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110723120549/http://www.etecsolutions.net/sportfolios/sportfolio.asp?IDSport=93). etecsolutions.net. Archived from [the original](http://www.etecsolutions.net/sportfolios/sportfolio.asp?IDSport=93) on 23 July 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["1983 All-Stars"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/09/18/The-New-York-Cosmos-who-won-the-regular-season-point/2065432705600/). *United Press International*. 18 September 1983. Retrieved 13 January 2017 – via UPI Archives.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "FORMER COSMOS' GOALIE FINALLY NETTED BY STING". *Chicago Tribune*. 24 August 1985.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "STING SIGN ALONSO, WAIVE GOALKEEPER BIRKENMEIER". *The Seattle Times*. 29 April 1986.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** '"RESULTS UNCLEAR AS EAGLES TEST LOCAL SOCCER WATERS". *The Record (New Jersey)*. 1 June 1987.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["American Soccer League 1989 Season"](https://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1989/statsasl89.htm#NJ). a-leaguearchive.tripod.com. Retrieved 17 January 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["American Professional Soccer League 1990 Season"](http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1990/statsasl90.htm#NJ). a-leaguearchive.tripod.com. Retrieved 17 January 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Birkenmeier Sport Shop History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080515064354/http://www.birkenmeiersportshop.com/about.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.birkenmeiersportshop.com/about.html) on 15 May 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Gola, Hank (8 November 2008). ["Where are they now? Former Cosmo Andranik Eskandarian"](http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2008/11/08/2008-11-08_where_are_they_now_former_cosmo_andranik.html). *[Daily News](/source/Daily_News_(New_York))*. Retrieved 16 January 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Gildea, William (14 November 2004). ["For Eskandarians, A Father-Son Game – United's Alecko Enjoys Same Success"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48285-2004Nov13.html). *The Washington Post*. Retrieved 27 March 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Coaching Staff](http://www.wcsocceracademy.org/CoachingStaff/CoachingStaff/index_E.html) wcsocceracademy.org [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150402182429/http://www.wcsocceracademy.org/CoachingStaff/CoachingStaff/index_E.html) 2 April 2015 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Ein Fußballstar auf Heimatbesuch"](https://www.badische-zeitung.de/hartheim/ein-fussballstar-auf-heimatbesuch--15529824.html). *Badische Zeitung* (in German). 28 May 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2012.

## External links

- [NASL career stats](https://nasljerseys.com/Players/B/Birkenmeier.Hubert.htm)

- [Hubert Birkenmeier](https://www.fussballdaten.de/person/birkenmeierhubert/) at [fussballdaten.de](/source/Fussballdaten.de) (in German)

v t e 1981 NASL All-Stars First Team GK: Van Beveren DF: Mathieu DF: Rijsbergen DF: Nogly DF: Gorman MF: Steffenhagen MF: Bogićević MF: Cubillas FW: Kidd FW: Hill FW: Chinaglia Second Team GK: Birkenmeier DF: Wallace DF: Bond DF: Keri DF: O'Leary MF: Hudson MF: Best MF: Lorimer FW: Granitza FW: Cabañas FW: Gerber Honorable Mention GK: Groß DF: Rohmann DF: Iarusci DF: Huson DF: Carlos Alberto MF: Veee MF: Sono MF: McKenzie FW: Stojanović FW: Margetic FW: Green FW Wegerle

v t e 1982 NASL All-Stars First Team GK: Birkenmeier DF: Mathieu DF: Cho DF: Nogly DF: Eskandarian MF: Bogićević MF: Ntsoelengoe MF: Steffenhagen FW: Chinaglia FW: Ward FW: Alonso Second Team GK: Van Beveren DF: Wallace DF: Durgan DF: Carlos Alberto DF: Evans MF: Daley MF: Neeskens MF: Cubillas FW: Hunt FW: Granitza FW: Margetic Honorable Mention GK: Möller DF: Wilson DF: Connell DF: Wile DF: Lenarduzzi MF: Hilaire MF: Hudson MF: Veee FW: Šegota FW: Byrne FW: Abrahams FW: Ingram FW: Valentine

v t e 1983 NASL All-Stars First Team GK: Van Beveren DF: Watson DF: Beckenbauer DF: Eskandarian DF: Wallace MF: Bogićević MF: Terlecki MF: Thijssen FW: Cabañas FW: Žungul FW: Margetic Second Team GK: Lettieri DF: Evans DF: Wilson DF: Mathieu DF: Cho MF: Granitza MF: Daley MF: Deyna FW: Chinaglia FW: Alonso FW: Byrne Honorable Mention GK: Birkenmeier DF: Thompson DF: Huson DF: Keri DF: Miller MF: O'Brien MF: Davis MF: Hudson FW: Cross FW: Ward FW: Beardsley

v t e 1984 NASL All-Stars First Team GK: Birkenmeier DF: Eskandarian DF: Neeskens DF: Crow DF: Wilson MF: Hudson MF: Thijssen MF: Bogićević FW: Žungul FW: Granitza FW: Ward Second Team GK: Hammond DF: Lodeweges DF: Moreland DF: Lenarduzzi DF: Moore MF: Margetic MF: Nicholl MF: O'Brien FW: Willey FW: Šegota FW: Byrne Honorable Mention GK: Bradshaw DF: Thompson DF: Clavijo DF: Canter DF: Wallace MF: Deyna MF: Quinn MF: Ntsoelengoe FW: Valentine FW: Cabañas FW: Futcher

v t e New York Cosmos (1970–1985) – head coaches Gordon Bradley (1971–75) Ken Furphy (1976) Bradley (1976–77) Eddie Firmani (1977–79) Ray Klivecka (1979) Júlio Mazzei (1980) Hennes Weisweiler & Yasin Özdenak (1981–82) Mazzei (1982–83) Firmani (1984) Hubert Birkenmeier (a.i.) (1984) Ray Klivecka (1984–85)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hubert Birkenmeier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_Birkenmeier) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_Birkenmeier?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.