Klaus Linnenbruegger

Klaus Linnenbruegger is a German former footballer and coach who briefly played professionally in Germany and coached Canadian clubs.

Club career

Early career Linnenbruegger began his professional career in his native city of Bielefeld with VFB03 Bielefeld at the junior level and finally at the senior level.

Canada In 1971, he emigrated to Canada and landed in Ottawa, Ontario where he initially played in the local circuit known as the Ottawa and District Soccer Association's first division with Ottawa Centennials.

He played in the inter-provincial Quebec National Soccer League in 1973 after signing with Ottawa St.Anthony Italia. Linnenbruegger re-signed with Ottawa for the 1974 season. In the 1975 season, he finished as Ottawa's top goalscorer and assisted the team in securing a playoff berth. In the opening round of the postseason, he contributed two goals against St. Viataeur which advanced the club to the next round. Ultimately, St. Anthony would secure the championship title after defeating Haitiana where Linnenbruegger scored a goal in a 4-2 victory.

Ottawa would re-sign Linnenbruegger for the 1976 season. He played in the semifinal round of the tournament where he recorded a goal against Montreal Elio Blues where Ottawa advanced to the finals.

Maple Leaf Almrausch After four seasons with Ottawa St. Anthony, he departed from the club in order to return to the Ottawa and District League to serve in the capacity of a player-coach for Ottawa Maple Leaf Almrausch. In his debut season at the helm, he led the team to a city championship and the league cup. In his second season with Ottawa, he successfully defended the league title and also added the Eastern Ontario Senior Challenge Cup. In 1979, during the winter season, he led the indoor team to the championship finals where they were defeated by Ottawa Royals. In 1980, Ottawa qualified for the Challenge Trophy tournament where in the semifinal round, Linnenbruegger contributed a goal against Halifax City Privateers which helped the team advance to the finals. In the national tournament final, Ottawa was defeated by Saint John Drydock.

Managerial career Linnenbruegger's first experience with coaching occurred in the Ottawa and District League with Maple Leaf Almrausch as a player-coach throughout the late 1970s. In his first tenure with Ottawa, he led the club to a league treble. In the postseason he guided Ottawa to a championship title after defeating the North York Astros. Linnenbruegger would be reinstated as head coach for Ottawa in early September of 2003 after the departure of Hubert Busby, Jr. The Wizards would clinch their division and secure a playoff berth.

Ottawa Fury In 2011, he returned to the coaching scene as an assistant coach under head coach Steve Payne for the Ottawa Fury in the American-based USL Premier Development League. After the dismissal of Steve Payne midway through the season, he was named the interim head coach on June 17, 2011. Ultimately, the Fury failed to secure a playoff berth. After the conclusion of the season, he was succeeded by Stephen O' Kane.

Honors

Manager Ottawa Wizards CPSL Championship: 2002 Open Canada Cup: 2002 Canadian Professional Soccer League Eastern Conference: 2002, 2003