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 time 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 then coming in “A” internationals.
In 1999, he was inducted into Football Australia’s Hall 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 “giant of Australian football”.
“While not born in Australia, Manfred gave everything to Australia, representing the country both on and off the field with the greatest of distinction,” Nikou stated in an announcement.
“Even after retiring as a player, Manfred influenced the careers of so many of the nation’s finest players through his technical brilliance and strong managerial skills for almost three decades.
“Manfred loved all levels of Australian football and would regularly be found supporting the sport, whether at grassroots, NPL, Australia Cup or national team level, where his presence will now be sorely missed but always felt.
“On behalf of Football Australia and the Australian football community, I send my deepest condolences to the Schaefer family, his friends, and former teammates at this sad time. Manfred Schaefer, forever 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.
Source: www.news.com.au
