Introduction
Helmut Benthaus (born 5 June 1935 in Herne) is a German retired football player and former coach. He spent his best playing days at Westfalia Herne and his best coaching days at FC Basel.
Playing career
Helmut Benthaus started his professional career at Westfalia Herne in 1958. In 1959 he won the Oberliga West title but left just a year later to join 1860 Munich before moving to 1. FC Köln. He won the Oberliga West again in 1963 with Köln, then the German Bundesliga in 1964. In 1965 he joined Swiss club FC Basel as player-manager. He retired from playing in 1971 aged 36.
He played for the West German national team on eight occasions between 1958 and 1960.
Coaching career
Benthaus coached FC Basel for 17 years between 1965 and 1982. He won the Swiss Championship seven times, the Swiss Cup twice and the first edition of the Swiss League Cup that was held in 1972. He coached Basel's legendary team of the late 1960s and the 70s that won the Championship title six times (five of which in seven years) as well as the Cup in 1967 and 1975. The squad included Marcel Kunz, Walter Mundschin, Karl Odermatt, Peter Ramseier and Ottmar Hitzfeld. After Basel he joined German club VfB Stuttgart in 1982. There he won the Bundesliga in 1984. He left in 1985 and rejoined Basel. However, this spell was much less successful and he retired in 1987.
Honours
- Swiss League: 1966–67, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1979–80
- Swiss Cup: 1966–67, 1974–75
- Swiss League Cup: 1972
- Coppa delle Alpi winner: 1969, 1970, 1981
- Uhren Cup winner: 1969, 1970