Career
The goalkeeper started his career with VfL Husen 19 and SuS Kaiserau. Then he left for Westfalia Herne. While there he played 18 times for the West.
His next team was.
From 1963 to 1967 he played 81 times in the West German Bundesliga for Dortmund as well as 21 times for the West German National Football Team. He was superseded in the national team by Sepp Maier. His career ended playing for Eintracht Frankfurt (40 games in the Bundesliga).
He was honoured as German player of the year in 1965.
In 1962 he was only the backup-keeper. Coach Herberger took the young Wolfgang Fahrian as number one.
In 1966 Tilkowski was the Number. 1 goalkeeper of the West German team which lost the World Cup Final against England.
He was the oldest player in the West German squad, celebrating his 31st birthday during the competition.
He later took up coaching, taking charge of 1. Football Club Nürnberg, Werder Bremen and 1. Football Club Saarbrücken. Club Country Individual.
