- His children Werner, jr., Heide and Gabi were 7, 5 and 2 respectively when their father won the World Cup.
- Brother, Roman.
- Described as peculiar and solitary, he was a loner and early riser who would give money to people facing financial hardships without hesitation.
- Played the violin.
- After winning the World Cup, he spent a lot of time partying and gambling, eventually piling up debts, gambling away two houses within two years and beginning to suffer from alcoholism.
- At the time of his death, he shared a council flat with his mother.
- His ex-wife Carola would go on to describe him as lazy and phlegmatic, an intelligent person who was good at a lot of things without having to try much but also one who was simply too uninterested to demand more lucrative work.
- Shared his hotel room during the World Cup with Fritz Laband, a member of the Germany squad who did not play during the final. Both players smoked, though they kept this secret at that time.
- 22 appearances for the West German National Soccer Team (1951-1955).
- Following his death aged 47, he gained the unenviable status of being the youngest (i.e. latest born) World Cup-winner to die. He succeeded Umberto Caligaris and Attilio Ferraris, respectfully, then was succeeded by Everaldo Marques da Silva seven months later.
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