Fritz Szepan
Encyclopedia
Friedrich "Fritz" Szepan (2 September 1907 in Gelsenkirchen
– 14 December 1974 in Gelsenkirchen) was a German
footballer in the period leading up to and including World War II
. He spent his entire career with Schalke 04
where he won six national championships and one German Cup. He is commonly regarded as one of the greatest Schalke players of all time. To celebrate the 100th birthday of the club, the supporters voted the Schalker Jahrhundertelf, the "Team of the century": he was included in the midfield. From 1929 to 1938 he played for the German national team
which he led as captain in 30 matches and during two World Cups
. Usually a highly skilled midfielder, his versatility allowed him to play centre half and as forward.
n Kreis Neidenburg. He joined Schalke 04 as a youth player in 1916 and remained with the side until his retirement in 1950. He first played for the senior side at the age of 17 in 1924. He and his brother-in-law Ernst Kuzorra
led Schalke during the era of the team's greatest success in the 30s when it was the dominant club in Germany. Together they established the famous "Schalker Kreisel" system that used short flat passes to overwhelm their opponent's defense.
Unlike Kuzorra, Szepan also had a successful international career. From 1929 to 1938 he played for the German national team
which he led as captain in 30 matches and during two World Cups
. In 1938, Szepan was named captain of the "Unified Germany" team shortly after the Anschluss
. He started out at inside right but gained international recognition in his interpretation of the center half role. Szepan made the play of Schalke and the German national side at a time when other center halves were largely committed to covering the opposing center forward. He however was not an easy-going player and declared his retirement from international play more than once. Szepan had a comeback in late-1936, playing at inside left. His displays again reached the high level of his 1934 World Cup performance and by 1937 Szepan was the outstanding playmaker of the Breslau XI.
After his retirement in 1950, Szepan remained active as coach for Wuppertaler SV, Schalke 04 and Rot-Weiß Essen, leading that club to the German championship in 1955. He served Schalke again as club president from 1964 to 1967. Fritz Szepan died on 14 December 1974 in his hometown Gelsenkirchen. He also took over a business that was once owned by German Jews
after the business was taken away from them by Nazi government officials. Szepen paid 7000 marks for the business which only covered the most minor of costs and is therefore seen as one of those who took advantage of Nazi crimes, and it is for this reason that many Germans outside of Schalke supporters do not see Szepen in the same light. For the same reason, Schalke refrained from naming a street near their stadium after him.
In his 1978 book "Fussball", Helmut Schön
characterised Szepan as follows:
"One from the gallery of great playmakers, not markedly pacy, but talented to make the game pacy. He knew how to play directly but also capable of great solos - all that while being strong enough defensively to have played as a stopper. A commander."
Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the Ruhr area. Its population in 2006 was c. 267,000....
– 14 December 1974 in Gelsenkirchen) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
footballer in the period leading up to and including World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He spent his entire career with Schalke 04
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
where he won six national championships and one German Cup. He is commonly regarded as one of the greatest Schalke players of all time. To celebrate the 100th birthday of the club, the supporters voted the Schalker Jahrhundertelf, the "Team of the century": he was included in the midfield. From 1929 to 1938 he played for the German national team
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
which he led as captain in 30 matches and during two World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
. Usually a highly skilled midfielder, his versatility allowed him to play centre half and as forward.
Life
Fritz Szepan was born in 1907 in the industrial town of Gelsenkirchen, in a family that came to Gelsenkirchen from the East PrussiaEast Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
n Kreis Neidenburg. He joined Schalke 04 as a youth player in 1916 and remained with the side until his retirement in 1950. He first played for the senior side at the age of 17 in 1924. He and his brother-in-law Ernst Kuzorra
Ernst Kuzorra
Ernst Kuzorra was a German footballer of the pre-war era. During his entire career, he played for Schalke 04, whom he led to six national championships and one national cup...
led Schalke during the era of the team's greatest success in the 30s when it was the dominant club in Germany. Together they established the famous "Schalker Kreisel" system that used short flat passes to overwhelm their opponent's defense.
Unlike Kuzorra, Szepan also had a successful international career. From 1929 to 1938 he played for the German national team
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
which he led as captain in 30 matches and during two World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
. In 1938, Szepan was named captain of the "Unified Germany" team shortly after the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
. He started out at inside right but gained international recognition in his interpretation of the center half role. Szepan made the play of Schalke and the German national side at a time when other center halves were largely committed to covering the opposing center forward. He however was not an easy-going player and declared his retirement from international play more than once. Szepan had a comeback in late-1936, playing at inside left. His displays again reached the high level of his 1934 World Cup performance and by 1937 Szepan was the outstanding playmaker of the Breslau XI.
After his retirement in 1950, Szepan remained active as coach for Wuppertaler SV, Schalke 04 and Rot-Weiß Essen, leading that club to the German championship in 1955. He served Schalke again as club president from 1964 to 1967. Fritz Szepan died on 14 December 1974 in his hometown Gelsenkirchen. He also took over a business that was once owned by German Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
after the business was taken away from them by Nazi government officials. Szepen paid 7000 marks for the business which only covered the most minor of costs and is therefore seen as one of those who took advantage of Nazi crimes, and it is for this reason that many Germans outside of Schalke supporters do not see Szepen in the same light. For the same reason, Schalke refrained from naming a street near their stadium after him.
In his 1978 book "Fussball", Helmut Schön
Helmut Schön
Helmut Schön was a German football player and manager. He is best remembered for his exceptional career as manager of West Germany....
characterised Szepan as follows:
"One from the gallery of great playmakers, not markedly pacy, but talented to make the game pacy. He knew how to play directly but also capable of great solos - all that while being strong enough defensively to have played as a stopper. A commander."
Trivia
- He and fellow Schalke star Ernst KuzorraErnst KuzorraErnst Kuzorra was a German footballer of the pre-war era. During his entire career, he played for Schalke 04, whom he led to six national championships and one national cup...
married sisters and thus became brothers-in-law.