Mourning in the world of soccer, farewell to Karl-Heinz Schnellinger

In Italy, as well as with the Diavolo, he played with the jerseys of Roma and Mantova

At age 85 è Schnellinger, one of the most talented soccer players of the '60s and '70s, has died. Ill for some time, he è passed away in Milan, where he had resided for years. His career as a soccer player è was truly prestigious. Born in 1939, he played in the top Italian league for 11 seasons.

In 1963, he was bought by Roma, which turned him over on loan, for one year, to Mantova. After only one year with the Giallorossi (1964/65), the call came from Milan. With the Diavolo he stayed until 1974, winning everything he could: a Scudetto, a Champions Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, two Cup Winners’ Cups and three Italian Cups (to which must be added the one won in his only year in Rome).

A defender of great quality and physique, he wore the Rossoneri jersey 334 times, scoring three goals. Very long was his stay in the West German national team: from 1958 to 1971. In total, 47 tokens with a goal but not a trivial one, rather it became historic.

His was the dart that was worth, at the 1970 World Cup, the extra time in the Italy-Germany match, the famous "match of the century". A goal that made him famous even though it did not allow the Germans to win the match. After retiring from soccer, he decided to live right in Milan, in what è became his ’adopted city.