Willy Schaller

Willy (Willie) Schaller (February 23, 1933 – January 3, 2015) was a U.S. soccer defender who played most of his career in the German American Soccer League. He also played on the U.S. soccer team at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1996.[1]

Willy Schaller
Personal information
Date of birth (1933-02-23)February 23, 1933
Place of birth Bonlanden, Germany
Date of death January 3, 2015(2015-01-03) (aged 81)
Place of death Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Schwaben
Blau-Weiss Gottschee
National team
United States
Medal record
Men's football (soccer)
Representing the  United States
Pan American Games
1959 ChicagoTeam competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

While born in Germany, Schaller’s family moved to the United States when he was a young boy. He joined Schwaben of the German American Soccer League when he was in high school. In 1953, he joined the U.S. Army, serving until 1955. At some point, he moved to Blau-Weiss Gottschee,[2] playing with the team through at least 1960.[3]

National teams

In 1952, he was selected to the U.S. soccer team which competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics. He was nineteen at the time. The U.S. lost its first game of the single elimination tournament to Italy.[4] In 1959, he was with the U.S. team which won the bronze medal at the Pan American Games.

Coaching

After retiring from playing professionally, Schaller became a youth and high school soccer coach.

References
  1. "Willy Schaller". Denver Post. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  2. History of Blau-Weiss Gottschee
  3. U.S. Soccer History – 1960
  4. 1952 Summer Olympic results at RSSSF


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