Emil Poklitar, 1. FC Saarbrücken football legend, dies at 87

Emil Poklitar, a legendary striker for 1. FC Saarbrücken, has died at the age of 87. He passed away on October 4.

Born in 1939 in the Danube Delta, Poklitar’s life was marked by significant historical events. While playing for Dynamo Berlin in the GDR, he utilized a friendly match in Copenhagen on August 13, 1961—the day the Berlin Wall was constructed—to flee to the West. Alongside teammate Rolf Starost, he traveled via ferry to Hamburg and eventually to West Berlin.

Poklitar became an icon at 1. FC Saarbrücken, where he remains third on the club’s all-time top scorer list. During his career with the club, he scored 112 goals in 144 matches. His achievements include winning the Regionalliga Südwest championship in his first season and securing multiple top scorer titles. He is remembered by fans as the ‘White Whale’ for his prolific scoring ability.