Hans Schafer

Hans Schafer Biography

Hans Schafer, born on 19^th October 1927, was a German football player who represented the national side in three FIFA World Cups. The left-winger passed away on 7^th November 2017 at the age of 90.

Background

Schafer joined a local club, DJK Rhein land. After serving two years in the army as an anti-aircraft soldier, the Cologne man joined his newly-established native club, FC Koln, in 1948.

In the next year, he played an instrumental role to promote FC Koln to the top-tier, Oberliga West.

Debut

Schafer celebrated his first international cap by scoring a brace in a 5-1 rout of Switzerland in Basel in November 1952.

Although he played at outside-left in the first match, he had to sacrifice his position to the previous left-winger. The German recaptured the left-wing position for a long time against Austria in March 1953.

Rise to Glory

The German was his at formidable best during the 1954 FIFA World Cup scoring four goals in the Switzerland edition.

In the World Cup final, playing at outside-left, he used his sheer pace and impeccable control to provide two assists in Germany’s nail-biting 3-2 victory against the Mighty Magyars from Hungary.

Five minutes prior to regulation time, he pounced on a misplaced ball to set up the winning goal to help West Germany lift the FIFA World Cup for the first time.

In the next edition in 1958, he scored a remarkable goal with a spectacular long-range volley in the semi-final against the host, Sweden.

Low Points

Schafer played only one match after the 1958 FIFA World Cup and did not appear for West Germany for two years - 1960 and 1961 - due to a rift with the national coach regarding tactics.

He came back into the scene with a goal in an international friendly against Uruguay in April 1962 in Hamburg.

Captaincy

Schafer took the captaincy in an international friendly against Austria in March 1957.

He captained West Germany to the semi-final in the 1958 FIFA World Cup, while West Germany reached quarter-final under his captaincy in the 1962 FIFA World Cup, Chile. In his 16 games as West Germany skipper, Schafer won 10 matches losing only 4 games.

Records

Schafer was adjudged as the German footballer of the year 1963 for his brilliant performance at home.

Retirement

Schafer played his last international match in the 1962 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Chile in Santiago, losing 1-0. He played 39 international matches scoring 15 goals.

He continued to play for Koln in the domestic circuit and retired at the age of 37 in May 1965. Post-retirement he served Koln as the assistant coach between 1966 and 1969.

Club Career

Schafer spent his football career representing Koln (1948-1965).

He captained the side from 1958-1965 and helped to win two German Championship titles in 1992 and 1964, including the inaugural Bundesliga.

Schafer appeared in 506 competitive matches for FC Koln scoring an astonishing 306 goals.