Bernhard "Berni" Klodt (26 October 1926 – 23 May 1996) was a German footballer who played as a striker.
Career Klodt was born in Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck; the goalkeeper Hans Klodt was his elder brother (they are among 14 sets of siblings to have played for Germany). In his club career, Klodt played mainly for Schalke 04. He debuted in the senior team of the club on 17 January 1943 at the age of 16, where he scored a goal in a 6–2 victory over Westfalia Herne.
Aged 36, Klodt ended his career in 1963 with the start of the Bundesliga. In his last game, he scored the only goal in Schalke's 1–0 victory against the Bulgaria national team on 18 June 1963. He played in 330 Oberliga West games in which he scored 129 goals.
Between 1950 and 1959, Klodt played 19 times and scored three goals for the West Germany national team. He was part of the 1954 FIFA World Cup-winning squad, and also played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
During the 1954 World Cup, Klodt had started in the outside right position instead of Helmut Rahn. He played in both games against Turkey. Although he played fairly well in both games, Sepp Herberger decided to replace him with Rahn for the quarterfinal against Yugoslavia. Herberger's decision at first was not exclusively greeted with enthusiasm by the press, but after Rahn had scored against Yugoslavia, Klodt was out of the team for good. The basis for Herberger's decision was his hope that Rahn with his unconventional style and shooting prowess was more likely to turn around a game than any other player. Contrary to Rahn, Klodt was said to be less of an individualist and more of a teamplayer.
Later life After his retirement from football, Klodt among other things coached the youth team of FC Schalke 04 and also worked as salesman for a brewery. After suffering a heart attack and a stroke in 1990, he was paralysed from the right.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueGerman ChampionshipCupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSchalke 041942–43Gauliga Westfalen3210——50921943–44Gauliga Westfalen1151020—101551944–45Gauliga Westfalen00————001945–46Landesliga Westfalen52————521946–47Landesliga Westfalen1612———5021121947–48Oberliga West248————248Total59292020—1107429STV Horst-Emscher1948–49Oberliga West2410————24101949–50Oberliga West29811———309Total531811———5419Schalke 041950–51Oberliga West26820———2881951–52Oberliga West281662———34181952–53Oberliga West269—10——2791953–54Oberliga West2912————29121954–55Oberliga West265—50——3151955–56Oberliga West281362——1035151956–57Oberliga West2812———2030121957–58Oberliga West281545———32201958–59Oberliga West289——732237141959–60Oberliga West204———102141960–61Oberliga West146————1461961–62Oberliga West25124100—2131141962–63Oberliga West00—00—1010Total3061212210607393350137Schalke 04 total36515024108073203424166Career total41816825118073203478185
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsWest Germany195010195110195231195300195461195500195620195710195841195910Total193
Honours Schalke 04 German Championship: 1958
West Germany FIFA World Cup: 1954
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