Grief
Goalscorer of the century Karl-Heinz Schnellinger is dead
Karl-Heinz Schnellinger scored 1-1 against Italy at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. photo
© UPI/UPI/dpa
Karl-Heinz Schnellinger is one of the legends of German football. Not just because of his goal in the so-called game of the century at the 1970 World Cup against Italy. He died at the age of 85.
Almost 54 years ago, the left-back equalized in injury time to force extra time in the match against Italy, which is still considered one of the best football matches in history. Italy won 4:3 after extra time in the Aztec Stadium in Mexico City and then lost to Brazil in the final, with Germany finishing third. Schnellinger was already earning his money in Italy at the time and continued to live there after his career ended.
Italy is also a legend
This single goal in his 47 international matches made Schnellinger a legend of German football. It is less well known that Schnellinger was also on the pitch in another classic – the 2-4 defeat in the World Cup final against England in 1966 – and came fourth at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, back then with Fritz Walter. He played his last international match against Albania in 1971. When the Federal Republic became European and world champions shortly afterwards in 1972 and 1974, the left-back was already called Paul Breitner.
In return, Schnellinger won several titles with his club teams. In the last year before the introduction of the Bundesliga, he became champion with 1. FC Köln in 1962. He then moved to Italy, first to AC Mantua, then to AS Roma and finally to AC Milan. With the red-blacks he won the Italian Cup three times, won the championship once, won the European Cup Winners’ Cup twice and the national champions’ trophy once.
“Carlo il Biondo” (“The Blonde Karl”), as he was known in Italy, is still one of the most successful foreign professionals today. But living far away meant that he was less noticed at home than others. “It always seems to me as if I’m a foreigner in Germany – and in Italy too,” Schnellinger told the German Press Agency on the occasion of his birthday in March. “But that’s okay.” Karl-Heinz Schnellinger leaves behind his wife, three daughters and four grandchildren.