The Australian soccer group 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 without work from his job as a milkman to participate within the match within the then West Germany.
The former defender made 73 appearances for Australia between 1967 and 1974, with 49 of them coming in “A” internationals – together with beginning in all three World Cup matches in ‘74.
In 1999, he was inducted into Football Australia’s Hall of Fame for his companies to the game.
He was additionally quick mates with Brazilian nice Pelé, after marking the legendary striker when his iconic membership Santos toured Australia in 1972.
In one of the well-known cases in Australian soccer folklore, Schaefer went to assist Pelé up from the bottom after the attacker was fouled by a Socceroo. Pelé reportedly mentioned: “I do know your identify, you’re Mr. Bastard.”
The nickname caught, with Pelé greeting him on the 1974 World Cup with the identical moniker – and the pair remained good mates till Pelé’s passing in 2022.
Manfred Schaefer has died, aged 80. Picture: Ray TitusSource: News Limited
FA chairman Chris Nikou described Schaefer, who performed his membership soccer for Blacktown and St George-Budapest, as a “big of Australian soccer”.
“While not born in Australia, Manfred gave every little thing to Australia, representing the nation each on and off the sphere with the best of distinction,” Nikou mentioned in an announcement.
“Even after retiring as a participant, Manfred influenced the careers of so lots of the nation’s best gamers by means of his technical brilliance and robust managerial abilities for nearly three a long time.
“Manfred beloved all ranges of Australian soccer and would often be discovered supporting the game, whether or not at grassroots, NPL, Australia Cup or nationwide workforce stage, the place his presence will now be sorely missed however at all times felt.
“On behalf of Football Australia and the Australian soccer group, I ship my deepest condolences to the Schaefer household, his mates, and former teammates at this unhappy time. Manfred Schaefer, ceaselessly 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 Power throughout greater than 20 years.
Former Socceroos coach, Rale Rasic, mentioned: ‘He was a rare man, an exquisite footballer. He was robust on the surface however type and delicate on the within.”
