He was once standing tall between the posts for Manchester City and the German national team.
But today, Eike Immel, once one of Europe’s top goalkeepers, finds himself behind bars—this time not guarding a net, but serving a sentence.
The former shot-stopper has been sentenced to over two years in prison for multiple fraud-related offences, marking a tragic downfall from his days in the football spotlight.
Fraud Charges Stack Up Against the Former Keeper
According to reports from German outlet Bild, the 64-year-old Immel was handed a two-year and two-month prison sentence by a court in Marburg.
The main charge? Selling tickets to a European Championship match that he never delivered.
But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Authorities brought 107 different cases against him, most of which involved him borrowing money and failing to pay it back.
Altogether, the unpaid debts reportedly totalled around £29,775.
A Career Once Full of Promise
Immel’s time at Manchester City was relatively short—just 43 appearances between 1995 and 1997—but he had already made a name for himself in Germany.
With 550 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart, plus a German league title in 1992, his place in football history was solid.
He also earned 19 caps for West Germany, even being part of the squad that won Euro 1980 and reaching the World Cup finals in 1982 and 1986.
Downfall Blamed on Financial Mismanagement
In court, Immel’s defence didn’t deny his actions but tried to explain them.
They said the former keeper was ashamed of the situation and insisted he was no criminal mastermind—just a fallen star who couldn’t handle money.
“He lives hand to mouth,” the defence stated, explaining that his financial struggles have been public knowledge for years.
In fact, Immel declared bankruptcy back in 2008, and things have only worsened since then.
From Lavish Spending to Welfare Support
Immel’s own reflections paint a vivid picture of how his wealth vanished. In past interviews, he admitted to reckless spending.
“I lived like God,” he told German outlet Sat.1, recounting extravagant expenses like a £9,000 phone bill and blowing £25,000 on Christmas gifts for a girlfriend.
Then came the hammer blow—a tax bill of £800,000, which he simply couldn’t pay.
“It’s not my strength to handle money,” he confessed.
These days, he lives in a council flat, reportedly surviving on benefits and struggling to make it to the end of each month, often left with just £2 in his account.
A Harsh Reminder of How Quickly It Can All Disappear
Immel’s story is a sobering reminder of how quickly fortunes can fade, even for those who once stood at the pinnacle of their sport.
From European glory and Bundesliga titles to financial ruin and prison time, the former goalkeeper’s life has taken a painful turn.
What remains is a cautionary tale—for footballers and fans alike—about the price of mismanaged success and the long shadow of past decisions.