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Fritz Walter

German association football player (1920-2002) · Germany · Footballers · Died at 81

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The midfielder who captained West Germany to their first World Cup in 1954 - an upset so unlikely it still carries its own name in German football lore - and never played for any club but Kaiserslautern.

FootballersFootball / Soccer PlayerSoccerFootballGermanyEurope20th Century

A life in dates

2018German Football Hall of FameAward2003Order of Merit of North Rhine-WestphaliaAward2002Died17 June 20022000Honorary Citizen of the State of Rhineland-PalatinateAward1997Georg von Opel AwardAward1994FIFA Order of MeritAward1985Honorary Citizen of KaiserslauternAward1975Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyAward1970Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyAward1954Silbernes LorbeerblattAward1951Silbernes LorbeerblattAward1943Thionville FCClub1940Germany men's national association football teamClub1940-195819391. FC KaiserslauternClub1939-19591920Born31 October 1920

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Fritz Walter Trainingslager der Deutschen Fußballnationalmannschaft in der Sportschule Malente (cropped)Fritz Walter Trainingslager der Deutschen Fußballnationalmannschaft in der Sportschule Malente (cropped)Autogrammstunde mit Fußballspieler Fritz Walter (Kiel 77.753)Autogrammstunde mit Fußballspieler Fritz Walter (Kiel 77.753)Badenweiler- Empfang des Fußballclubs Cosmos New York in Badenweiler mit Franz Beckenbauer und Fritz Walter (mit Eugen Keidel) - LABW - Staatsarchiv Freiburg W 140 Nr. 00359Badenweiler- Empfang des Fußballclubs Cosmos New York in Badenweiler mit Franz Beckenbauer und Fritz Walter (mit Eugen Keidel) - LABW - Staatsarchiv Freiburg W 140 Nr. 00359Badenweiler- Empfang des Fußballclubs Cosmos New York in Badenweiler mit Franz Beckenbauer und Fritz Walter (mit Eugen Keidel) - LABW - Staatsarchiv Freiburg W 140 Nr. 00370Badenweiler- Empfang des Fußballclubs Cosmos New York in Badenweiler mit Franz Beckenbauer und Fritz Walter (mit Eugen Keidel) - LABW - Staatsarchiv Freiburg W 140 Nr. 00370Bundesarchiv Bild 183-41853-0007, SC Wismut gegen 1. FC Kaiserslautern (cropped)Bundesarchiv Bild 183-41853-0007, SC Wismut gegen 1. FC Kaiserslautern (cropped)Bundesarchiv Bild 183-41853-0007, SC Wismut gegen 1. FC Kaiserslautern croppedBundesarchiv Bild 183-41853-0007, SC Wismut gegen 1. FC Kaiserslautern croppedBundesarchiv Bild 183-41853-0007, SC Wismut gegen 1. FC KaiserslauternBundesarchiv Bild 183-41853-0007, SC Wismut gegen 1. FC KaiserslauternBundesarchiv Bild 183-41853-0008, SC Wismut gegen 1. FC KaiserslauternBundesarchiv Bild 183-41853-0008, SC Wismut gegen 1. FC Kaiserslautern

Teams 4

Thionville FC1943-1943
Germany men's national association football team1940-1958
1. FC Kaiserslautern1939-1959
TBVfL Neustadt-Wildenheid

Career record

SpellAppsGoals
1940-19586133

Awards

German Football Hall of Fame2018
Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia2003
Honorary Citizen of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate2000
Georg von Opel Award1997
FIFA Order of Merit1994
Honorary Citizen of Kaiserslautern1985
Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany1975
Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany1970
Silbernes Lorbeerblatt1954
Silbernes Lorbeerblatt1951
Germany's Sports Hall of Fame
Order of Merit of Rhineland-Palatinate

In their orbit 3

About this person

Friedrich Walter was born in October 1920 and came up through 1. FC Kaiserslautern, where he stayed for his entire senior career. He played as an attacking midfielder or inside forward, and by the early 1950s had become captain of the West Germany national team. In 1954 he led them to victory at the World Cup, a tournament in which he also set a record for assists that still stands: nine across all World Cup appearances. Over 61 matches for Germany and West Germany, he scored 33 goals. After retiring, the federation named him honorary captain for life. He died in June 2002.

Country
Germany
Category
Footballers
Type
Football / Soccer Player
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1920 to 2002 · aged 81

In common with Fritz

Ferenc PuskásAlso in German Giants (1954)Hans SöhnkerAlso in The Big Game (1942)Sammy DrechselAlso in German Giants (1954)Josef SieberAlso in The Big Game (1942)Lucie HöflichAlso in The Big Game (1942)Uwe SeelerBoth received German Football Hall of Fame

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