Karl-Heinz Schnellinger

Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (31 March 1939 – 20 May 2024) was a German footballer who played as a defender.

He started his professional career at 1. FC Köln, winning the German league title in 1962, before moving to Italy the following year. After season-long spells with Serie A sides Mantova and Roma, winning a Coppa Italia with the latter team, he joined AC Milan in 1965, where he had over 200 league appearances across nine seasons, winning numerous domestic and continental titles. He ended his career in Germany in 1975, after a season with Tennis Borussia Berlin.

At international level, Schnellinger represented West Germany at four World Cups, finishing fourth in 1958, second in 1966, and third in 1970.

An athletic and hard-tackling player, who possessed pace, a powerful physique, and a strong mentality, he was nicknamed the "Volkswagen" for his continuity of performance, both in quantity and in quality, and for his versatility; indeed, although he was usually deployed as a full-back, he was capable of playing anywhere along the back, and could also play as a centre-back, as a sweeper, or even as a defensive midfielder. He was one of the first successful German footballers abroad. In his prime he was often considered one of the best and most complete left-backs in the world in his era, rivaled only by Giacinto Facchetti, Nílton Santos and Silvio Marzolini.

Club career

Schnellinger was born in Düren (then in Rhine Province, Prussia, today North Rhine-Westphalia). After his appearance at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden at the age of 19, he signed for 1. FC Köln. Four years later, he won the German Championship with Köln, and was awarded the German Footballer of the Year. Following his performances at the 1962 FIFA World Cup, he received the third most votes for the Ballon d'Or.

International career

Schnellinger participated in his first World Cup in Sweden in 1958, where the team finished in fourth place, and went on to become one of the few players to play in four World Cups (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970). He was renowned for his physical power, pace, and his winning mentality. His performances in 1962 saw him named in the Team of the Tournament.

He played in all the games at the finals in England in 1966, including the defeat to England in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final.

Personal life and death Schnellinger later lived in Milan's suburb of Segrate where he worked as a businessman after retirement from football. He died after a long illness at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, on 20 May 2024. He was 85. He was the last surviving player from the Germany team in the 1958 World Cup.

Honours 1. FC Köln German Championship: 1962

Roma Coppa Italia: 1963–64

A.C. Milan Serie A: 1967–68 Coppa Italia: 1966–67, 1971–72, 1972–73 European Cup: 1968–69 European Cup Winners' Cup: 1967–68, 1972–73 Intercontinental Cup: 1969

West Germany FIFA World Cup: runner-up 1966, third place 1970, fourth place 1958

Individual Ballon d'Or third place: 1962 German Footballer of the Year: 1962 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1962 World XI: 1963, 1967 FUWO European Team of the Year: 1965 World Soccer World XI: 1969 A.C. Milan Hall of Fame