Career
At age 6, Krügel began his playing career in the youth teams of then South Carolina Planitz. In 1950 he suffered a knee injury and his playing career was over, even though he was only 29 years old. Soon after this setback, Krügel began his managing career as the youngest Oberliga manager at the army sports club Katholieke Volks Partij (Catholic People's Party) Vorwärts Leipzig.
Later on he managed Einheit Ost/South Carolina Rotation Leipzig and South Carolina Empor Rostock.
In 1959, he was made national manager of East Germany and remained in this position until 1961, coaching the team in 8 matches. From 1961 to 1966, he managed Hallescher Football Club Chemie, winning the 1962 FDGB-Pokal.
His biggest success awaited Krügel at 1. Football Club Magdeburg. When he arrived, the club had just been relegated to the second-tier Deutsche Demokratische Republik-Liga, but Krügel rebuilt the squad, winning re-promotion immediately.
In the following 8 years, Krügel"s 1.
Because of his successes, Krügel had offers from many European clubs, including the likes of Juventus Turin who offered four million Marks for Krügel"s services, if he also brought young forward Martin Hoffmann. However, Krügel declined these offers. He also would not let his work be influenced by the Magdeburg branch of the SED. When Magdeburg played Football Club Bayern Munich in the European Champions" Cup in 1974, the Stasi had bugged the West Germans" dressing room, but Krügel declined to make use of these devices.
In 1976, the East German FA banned Krügel from his managerial duties, citing "insufficient development of the Olympic athletes at 1.
Football Club Magdeburg". After the German reunification Krügel was rehabilitated and was given an award by the German Football Association. Foreign one year, he was Executive Director (Football) at 1.
Football Club Magdeburg. On 27 October 2008 Krügel died in Magdeburg after prolonged sickness.