Willi Schulz facts for kids
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Schulz in 1968
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 4 October 1938 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Wattenscheid, Germany | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre back, sweeper | ||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1950–1960 | Union Günnigfeld | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1960–1965 | Schalke 04 | 134 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1965–1973 | Hamburger SV | 211 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 345 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1959 | West Germany B | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1959–1960 | West Germany Amateur | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1959–1970 | West Germany | 66 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||
Willi Schulz (born 4 October 1938) is a German former footballer. He played as a defender for two famous German clubs. These were Schalke 04 and Hamburger SV. He also played for the West Germany national team 66 times. Willi Schulz is the last player still alive from the German team that played in the 1962 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Willi Schulz's Football Journey
Willi Schulz was born in Wattenscheid, Germany. He started playing football at a young age. His first game for the West Germany team was in 1959. At that time, he was still an amateur player. He played for a smaller club called Union Günnigfeld.
In 1960, he joined FC Schalke 04. For three years, he played in a league called the Oberliga West. Then, in 1963, the top German league, the Bundesliga, was officially created. In 1965, he moved to another big club, Hamburger SV.
Playing as a Defender
Schulz began his career in the late 1950s as a right half back. Football tactics changed over time. When teams started using a 4–2–4 formation, Schulz became a stopper. This happened around the mid-1960s.
During the 1966 FIFA World Cup, Schulz played a special role. He was the sweeper for the West Germany national team. A sweeper plays behind the other defenders. Their job is to "sweep up" any loose balls or cover for teammates. Schulz took over this role just before the tournament. Many people thought he was one of the best defenders at that World Cup.
For the next four years, Schulz was the main sweeper for West Germany. He was known as one of the best central defenders in the world. In November 1968, he was even chosen to play in a special FIFA team. This team played against Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.
Schulz was expected to be the main sweeper for West Germany in the 1970 FIFA World Cup. However, he got injured. He had problems with his knee and calf. Because of this, he only played in two of the six World Cup games in Mexico. Another player, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, played as sweeper instead. After the 1970 World Cup, Schulz stopped playing for the national team. He continued to play for Hamburger SV until 1973.
Willi Schulz's Playing Style
Willi Schulz was a very careful sweeper. He focused on organizing his team's defense. He did not often join the attack. He was known for staying calm, even when under pressure. He was also good at positioning himself on the field. Schulz was strong in one-on-one duels with other players. He could pass the ball well and was good at heading it. He was also very skilled at sliding tackles.
Because of these skills and his consistent performance, the West Germany national team coach, Helmut Schön, really liked Schulz. Coach Schön preferred Schulz as the sweeper. This meant that the younger and more adventurous player, Franz Beckenbauer, had to play in midfield instead.
Life After Football
After he stopped playing football, Willi Schulz started new careers. He opened an insurance business in Hamburg. He also got involved in the slot machine business.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Schulz was also known for writing articles. He wrote critical sports columns for newspapers in Hamburg. After a 1982 FIFA World Cup match between West Germany and Austria, Schulz spoke out. In that game, the two teams played in a way that allowed both of them to move forward in the tournament. This meant that Algeria was eliminated. Schulz strongly criticized the West Germany players for their actions in that match.
Achievements and Awards
- 1966 FIFA World Cup runner-up (second place)
- 1970 FIFA World Cup 3rd place
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finalist: 1967–68
- DFB-Pokal finalist: 1966–67
See also
In Spanish: Willi Schulz para niños
