Sparwasser began his playing career in the youth department of his hometown club BSG Lokomotive Halberstadt in 1956.

When Magdeburg was relegated to the second-tier DDR-Liga at the end of the 1965–66 season, Sparwasser played an integral role in their immediate repromotion, scoring 22 goals in 27 matches.

[4] As a member of the Olympic team in 1972, he played in 7 matches and scored 5 goals, earning a shared bronze medal for his native country.

[5] He also made six appearances for East Germany at the 1974 FIFA World Cup finals, where he gained fame for scoring the winning goal in a politically charged match against West Germany.

As he later said: "Rumor had it I was richly rewarded for the goal, with a car, a house, and a cash premium.