In 1970, Berger was forced to retire due to a muscle injury and started his managing career after the studying at the DHfK Leipzig.
[1] He was renowned as a great motivator, helping clubs threatened with relegation, but with little chance to build up teams over a longer period.
[3] He was replaced as manager of Schalke by Huub Stevens in October 1996 shortly before they won the UEFA Cup in 1997.
Berger's last big success was reaching the DFB-Pokal final with Alemannia Aachen, a side from the Second division of the Bundesliga.
However his contract was cancelled, by mutual agreement, after they lost to the then current champions (SV Werder Bremen) and failed to gain promotion to the Bundesliga.