Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Scott Somenthal
Guest(s)
Release Date
27 April 2023
Duration
71 min
In this triple-header episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by Scott Somenthal to explore three very different football revolutions — Millonarios’ artistry in 1950s Colombia, Hamburg’s rise to European prominence in the late 1970s, and Hereford’s fairytale FA Cup triumph of 1972.
For Hamburg SV, the late 1970s marked the dawn of a new identity. Under the guidance of Branko Zebec and the star power of Kevin Keegan, the club transformed from steady Bundesliga contenders into a force that could stand toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and the best of Europe.
Keegan’s arrival from Liverpool in 1977 turned Hamburg into a phenomenon. His relentless energy, professionalism, and attacking flair captured the imagination of German fans, earning him back-to-back Ballon d’Or awards in 1978 and 1979. Alongside teammates Felix Magath, Manfred Kaltz, and Caspar Memering, Hamburg blended English dynamism with German precision — a fusion that produced the 1978–79 Bundesliga title and a European Cup final appearance the following year.
Zebec’s methods were notoriously strict — double sessions, military discipline, and a demand for total fitness — yet his approach forged one of Europe’s most resilient and entertaining teams. Hamburg’s attacking football, fuelled by the marauding Kaltz and the “Magath-Keegan” connection, became a template for modern high-intensity play.
Hamburg’s 1978–80 side stood at the crossroads of eras: post-Cruyff, pre-Heynckes, embodying both work rate and artistry. For a brief, brilliant moment, Der Dino roared louder than anyone in Europe.
Takeaways
Kevin Keegan was a transformative figure in Bundesliga history.
Zebec’s strict regime built Europe’s fittest, most dynamic side.
Hamburg bridged English passion with German precision.
The 1980 European Cup final symbolised a near-miss in greatness.
Hamburg laid the groundwork for their 1983 European triumph.
Hamburg SV 1978–80: Keegan’s Blue Revolution
Hamburg SV’s late-1970s transformation was one of the great football revolutions of its era. When Kevin Keegan arrived from Liverpool in 1977, few expected a cultural shift that would redefine the Bundesliga. Under Branko Zebec, Hamburg became the fittest, fiercest, and most tactically advanced team in Germany — a perfect blend of English energy and German precision.
Playing an aggressive 4-3-3 built on pressing and overlapping width, Hamburg dominated the 1978–79 Bundesliga season and reached the 1980 European Cup final. Keegan, twice crowned Ballon d’Or winner, led from the front — all work rate, charisma, and flair. His partnership with Felix Magath and the marauding right-back Manfred Kaltz created some of the most dynamic attacking football the league had ever seen.
Zebec’s methods were uncompromising — strict diets, brutal training, and absolute discipline — yet they produced results. Hamburg were relentless without the ball and ruthless in transition, capable of turning defence into attack in seconds.
Though they fell short in the 1980 European Cup final to Nottingham Forest, Hamburg’s influence endured. Their professionalism and intensity set new standards for German clubs, laying the groundwork for the European triumph of 1983.
Hamburg 1978–80 were not just winners — they were transformers. A side that brought together the best of two footballing cultures and left an indelible mark on Europe.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Kevin Keegan’s arrival and impact on German football
Branko Zebec’s management style and tactical discipline
Hamburg’s 1978–79 Bundesliga title win
The 1980 European Cup final vs Nottingham Forest
The partnership of Keegan, Horst Hrubesch - the classic big & little man
Hamburg’s emergence as Europe’s model of professionalism
Keegan’s back-to-back Ballon d’Or wins (1978–79)
1978–79 Bundesliga title triumph
European Cup final appearance vs Nottingham Forest (1980)
Zebec’s famous “discipline revolution” in training
Magath’s creative midfield displays and long-range goals
Hamburg’s transformation into European contenders
Notable Manager
Branko Zebec, Aleksandar Ristić
Notable Players
Kevin Keegan, Felix Magath, Manfred Kaltz, Caspar Memering, Peter Nogly, Jimmy Hartwig, Horst Hrubesch, Jupp Kaczor, Rudi Kargus, Ivan Buljan, Jurgen Milewski, Holger Hieronymus
Style of Play
4-3-3 Formation, High Press, Overlapping Full-Backs, Transitional Play, Compact Defence, Possession Control
Hamburg 1978–80 played with a hybrid identity — part English grit, part German structure, and part European modernism. Branko Zebec’s side usually deployed a 4-3-3 that adapted into a 4-4-2 out of possession, combining pressing triggers with controlled transitions.
At the heart of the team was Kevin Keegan, operating as a roving forward. Rather than a pure striker, Keegan linked play between midfield and attack, pressing relentlessly, creating overloads, and energising every move. Felix Magath orchestrated the midfield, dictating tempo with one-touch combinations, while Manfred Kaltz’s legendary overlapping runs and whipped crosses (“Bananenflanken”) gave Hamburg their width and unpredictability.
Zebec’s hallmark was intensity — double training sessions, strict diets, and absolute focus. Hamburg pressed high, attacked in waves, and countered with devastating pace. Hrubesch and Keegan formed a perfect partnership of power and mobility, while Kaltz’s service from deep became iconic.
Defensively, the back four maintained impeccable spacing, supported by the tireless Hartwig and Memering in midfield. Hamburg’s structure ensured they could suffocate opponents without sacrificing creativity.
The result was football that felt ahead of its time — European in sophistication, yet emotionally charged. The team’s 1978–79 Bundesliga dominance and run to the 1980 European Cup final showed that Keegan’s charisma and Zebec’s ruthlessness had built more than a winning side: they’d built a philosophy.
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