 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in German. (May 2022)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
 Detlef Irrgang (first from right) in 1989 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1966-05-27)27 May 1966 (age 58) | ||
| Place of birth | Finsterwalde,East Germany | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1977 | Motor Finsterwalde Süd | ||
| 1977–1985 | Energie Cottbus | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1985–1991 | Energie Cottbus | ||
| 1991–1992 | Stahl Brandenburg | 16 | (2) |
| 1992–2000 | Energie Cottbus | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Detlef Irrgang (born 27 May 1966) is a German former professionalfootballer[1] who played as anattacking midfielder. He is best remembered for his two spells withEnergie Cottbus, spanning 22 years, over 400 appearances, andthe reunification of Germany.
Born inFinsterwalde, Irrgang began his footballing career withMotor Finsterwalde Süd, before joining Cottbus at age 11. He progressed to the first-team, and played for the club in the late-1980s as theyyo-yoed between theDDR-Oberliga and the second tierDDR-Liga. After reunification, Energie failed to qualify for the2. Bundesliga, so Irrgang joined a club who had: he spent the1991–92 season withStahl Brandeburg, but returned to Cottbus a year later, after 16 appearances and two goals.
Cottbus were one of the stronger sides in theNOFV-Oberliga Mitte, but could not overtake perennial championsUnion Berlin, who were themselves unable to earn promotion. However, Energie's second-place finish in 1994 was enough to qualify for the newly formedRegionalliga Nordost. Irrgang scored 22 goals in hissecond season at this level, making him the League's top scorer, and better was to come the following year. Cottbus ended the1996–97 season as league champions, and defeatedHannover 96 in aplayoff to earn promotion to the2. Bundesliga, with Irrgang scoring two goals in the tie. The club had also reached thefinal of the1996–97 DFB-Pokal, eventually losing againstVfB Stuttgart.
Irrgang continued to be a key player for Cottbus in the second tier, making 84 appearances in three seasons, and scoring 13 goals. He scored the winning goal in his last game for the club, a 1–0 win over1. FC Köln which secured a remarkable promotion to theBundesliga. He retired with Energie's all-time appearance record (which he still holds), and the nicknameFußballgott (Football God) from the club's fans.
After retirement, Irrgang continued with Energie in amarketing capacity. He was appointed as the club's general manager during the 2007–08 season, but left the club at the end of the season after a dispute, the details of which are still unknown. He also served as acouncillor in Cottbus from 2003 to 2008, as part of theCDU.