Today's top footballers lack heart for the game due to huge wages, says legend Trautmann

London, Apr 10 (ANI): Soccer legend Bert Trautmann has said that today's top footballers lack the heart for the game due to their huge wages.

German-born Bert wrote his name in FA Cup history when he kept goal for Manchester City in the 1956 final despite breaking his neck. is death-defying performance earned him just 9.87 pounds, as compared to the millions pocketed annually by modern Premier League stars.

And German-born Bert, 86, believes huge pay packets have damaged the game.

"The attitude of players today tells me something valuable has been lost," The Sun quoted Bret, as saying.

"If I earn 80,000 pounds a week, have I still got the heart to come away from a match and really analyse my performance? I don't think so. That size of wage spoils a person's character. It gives them a 'couldn't-care-less' attitude."

Bert, a one-time Hitler Youth member who joined the Luftwaffe's elite parachute regiment, came to Britain as a prisoner of war in 1945.

City sparked a public outcry when they signed him, with Jewish groups threatening a boycott. But he became a hero and helped them win the Cup in 1956, even after his injury.

Bert will be named an "ambassador" for Manchester City.

"I watch all City's games on TV, they're still my club. I love England too and still shout for them - even if they're playing Germany!" (ANI)