An attacking midfielder, Overath started playing football at SSV Siegburg, but spent the majority of his career at 1.

As well as the World Cup victory in 1974, he was at the heart of the West German midfield when they reached the final in 1966 and achieved third place in 1970.

[citation needed] Overath is one of only seven players (alongside his teammates Franz Beckenbauer, Jürgen Grabowski, Horst-Dieter Höttges, Sepp Maier, later compatriot Miroslav Klose, and Italian Franco Baresi) with World Cup medals for first, second and third place.

A main rival in the national team for leading the midfield was the flamboyant Günter Netzer from Borussia Mönchengladbach, German Player of the year in 1972 and 73.

[6] A technically gifted playmaker in the same vein as his friend and rival Günter Netzer, the left-footed Overath is considered by many as one of Germany's finest players and one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.

Although known as an attacking midfielder with excellent technique, passing skills and a powerful shot, Overath also had good defensive workrate.