Manfred Schaefer, a former Socceroo star and one of our game’s pioneers, passed away, breaking Football NSW’s heart.
49 of the 73 times the defender represented Australia between 1967 and 1974 were “A” Internationals.
He started all three of Australia’s group games at the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany as a part of our country’s groundbreaking inaugural team.
At the age of 10, Schaefer moved to Australia from East Germany and began playing football in high school.
He joined Blacktown at the club level before switching to St. George in 1959, where he would play over 450 games and win the NSW State League in 1972.
Who was Manfred Schaefer? Australian football legend dead at 80
Manfred Schaefer, an association football defender, lived from 12 February 1943 to 28 March 2023. He achieved success with St. George Budapest at the club level. He competed in his native Germany’s 1974 World Cup with the Australian national team.