View source for Karl-Heinz Granitza

{{short description|German footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{BLP sources|date=June 2009}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                = Karl-Heinz Granitza
| image               = Karl-Heinz Granitza, MISL 1984-85 media guide page 014.tif
| caption             = Granitza circa 1984
| height              =
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1951|11|1|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Lünen]], [[West Germany]]
| position            = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1         = {{0|0000}}–1959
| youthclubs1         = [[VfB Lünen]]
| youthyears2         = 1959–1970
| youthclubs2         = [[Eintracht Dortmund]]
| years1              = 1970–1972
| clubs1              = [[Eintracht Dortmund]]
| caps1               = 
| goals1              =
| years2              = 1972–1973
| clubs2              = [[Lüner SV]]
| caps2               = 23
| goals2              = 4
| years3              = 1973–1975
| clubs3              = [[DJK Gütersloh]]
| caps3               = 50
| goals3              = 16
| years4              = 1975–1976
| clubs4              = [[SV Röchling Völklingen]]
| caps4               = 45
| goals4              = 32
| years5              = 1976–1979
| clubs5              = [[Hertha BSC]]
| caps5               = 73
| goals5              = 34
| years6              = 1978–1984
| clubs6              = [[Chicago Sting]]
| caps6               = 199
| goals6              = 128
| years7              = 1982–1987
| clubs7              = [[Chicago Sting]] (indoor)
| caps7               = 174
| goals7              = 168
| years8              = 1988–1990
| clubs8              = [[Chicago Power]]
| caps8               = 53
| goals8              = 97
}}

'''Karl-Heinz Granitza''' (born 1 November 1951) is a German former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[forward (association football)|forward]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/karl-heinz-granitza/spieler/bundesliga/1977-78/hertha-bsc | title = Granitza, Karl-Heinz | language = de | publisher = [[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] | access-date = 1 June 2011}}</ref>  In the United States, he is a member of the [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Karl-Heinz Granitza - 2003 Inductee {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |url=http://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/players/karl-heinz-granitza.html |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Karl-Heinz Granitza - 2003 Inductee {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |language=en}}</ref>

Granitza was born in [[Lünen]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]. He played in Germany for [[VfB Lünen]], [[Eintracht Dortmund]], [[Lüner SV]], [[DJK Gütersloh]], [[SV Röchling Völklingen]] and [[Hertha BSC]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher= fussballdaten.de |title=Karl-Heinz Granitza|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/granitzakarlheinz/|language=de|access-date=5 October 2009}}</ref> In 1978 and again for the 1979 season,<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/granitzadata.html | title = Karl-Heinz Granitza - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga | author = Matthias Arnhold | date = 5 September 2013 | access-date = 25 September 2013 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> he transferred to the [[Chicago Sting]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968-1984)|NASL]], leading the team to two league championships.  He also excelled at the [[indoor soccer|indoor game]].  Granitza was known for his powerful and accurate left foot. He was also very effective with direct free kicks, having the ability to strike the ball with top spin over the wall of defenders, and into the upper corners of the goal. He would finish as the NASL's second all-time leading scorer.

In the 1990s Granitza owned "State Street", an American-style sports bar in Berlin.

In 2003, Granitza was inducted into the [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]].  His #12 shirt has been retired by the Chicago Storm.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.karlheinzgranitza.com/en/}}
* [http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/G/Granitza.Karl-Heinz.htm NASL/MISL stats]
* {{Fussballdaten|granitzakarlheinz|Karl-Heinz Granitza}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Karl-Heinz Granitza honors
| titlestyle = 
| list1  = 
{{1978 NASL All-Stars}}
{{1979 NASL All-Stars}}
{{1980 NASL All-Stars}}
{{1980–81 NASL Indoor All-Stars}}
{{1981 NASL All-Stars}}
{{1981–82 NASL Indoor All-Stars}}
{{1982 NASL All-Stars}}
{{1983 NASL All-Stars}}
{{1983–84 NASL Indoor All-Stars}}
{{1984 NASL All-Stars}}
{{2. Bundesliga top scorers}}
{{National Soccer Hall of Fame members}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Granitza, Karl-Heinz}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Lünen]]
[[Category:Footballers from Arnsberg (region)]]
[[Category:West German men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Chicago Sting (MISL) players]]
[[Category:Chicago Sting (NASL) players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:German men's footballers]]
[[Category:Hertha BSC players]]
[[Category:FC Gütersloh players]]
[[Category:Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) players]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor players]]
[[Category:National Soccer Hall of Fame members]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players]]
[[Category:West German expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:West German expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]


{{Germany-footy-forward-1950s-stub}}