Australian football is mourning the loss of Socceroos great and 1974 World Cup representative Manfred Schaefer, who has died aged 80.
The defender represented Australia 73 times between 1967 and 1974, with 49 of those being “A” Internationals.
Schaefer started all three group games in Australia’s first World Cup finals appearance in West Germany in 1974, taking time off from his job as a milkman.
That included helping a 10-man Socceroos line-up earn a 0-0 draw in their final game against Chile, and claim their first point at a World Cup.
The Socceroos will wear black armbands against Ecuador at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Tuesday night, with a moment of silence to be conducted before kick-off.
“Today we mourn the passing of a giant of Australian football in Manfred Schaefer,” Football Australia chairman Chris Nikou said in a statement.
“While not born in Australia, Manfred gave everything to Australia, representing the country both on and off the field with the greatest of distinction.
“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.”
Schaefer migrated to Australia from East Germany at the age of 10 and took up football at high school.
He made his international debut at the Quoc Khanh Cup under Joe Vlatsis in 1967, helping Australia win the trophy.
After the 1974 World Cup, Schaefer retired and enjoyed a long coaching career.
He managed the likes of St George, Sydney Olympic, Brunswick-Juventus, APIA Leichhardt, Sydney Croatia, Marconi, the Adelaide Sharks and Parramatta Power between 1975 and 2004.
In 1999 Schaefer was inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame for his service to the game.
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