The Australian soccer neighborhood is mourning the lack of Socceroos nice Manfred Schaefer, who has died aged 80.
Schaefer, who migrated to Australia from the then East Germany on the age of 10, was a member of the Socceroos squad on the 1974 World Cup, taking day off from his job as a milkman to participate within the event within the then West Germany.
The previous defender made 73 appearances for Australia between 1967 and 1974, with 49 of then coming in “A” internationals.
In 1999, he was inducted into Soccer Australia’s Corridor of Fame for his companies to the game.
FA chairman Chris Nikou described Schaefer, who performed his membership soccer for Blacktown and St George-Budapest, as a “large of Australian soccer”.
“Whereas not born in Australia, Manfred gave every thing to Australia, representing the nation each on and off the sector with the best of distinction,” Nikou stated in a press release.
“Even after retiring as a participant, Manfred influenced the careers of so lots of the nation’s best gamers by his technical brilliance and powerful managerial abilities for nearly three many years.
“Manfred liked all ranges of Australian soccer and would usually be discovered supporting the game, whether or not at grassroots, NPL, Australia Cup or nationwide staff stage, the place his presence will now be sorely missed however at all times felt.
“On behalf of Soccer Australia and the Australian soccer neighborhood, I ship my deepest condolences to the Schaefer household, his mates, and former teammates at this unhappy time. Manfred Schaefer, perpetually cap 198.”
Following his retirement as a participant in 1975, Schaefer had teaching stints with St George, Sydney Olympic, Brunswick-Juventus, APIA Leichhardt, Sydney Croatia, Marconi, Adelaide Sharks and Parramatta Energy.
