 At international level, he represented West Germany from 1965 to 1974, amassing 66 caps and scoring 1 goal.Born in Mönchengladbach, Höttges began playing football at local sides Blau-Weiß Bahl and Rheydter SV before joining Borussia Mönchengladbach at the age of 17.After three years in the youth of Mönchengladbach he was taking part for them in their Regionalliga West campaign of 1963–64 with Mönchengladbach manager Hennes Weisweiler feeling Höttges' way of playing was not he was looking for and the defender was forced to move on.