Otto Siffling
Encyclopedia
Otto Siffling was a German
footballer
. He was a player for the club SV Waldhof Mannheim
. He also played for the Germany national football team
, making 31 appearances and scoring 17 goals between 1934 and 1938. He was a participant in the 1934 FIFA World Cup
, where he scored a goal, and the 1938 FIFA World Cup
. He was the center forward of the Breslau Eleven that beat Denmark 8:0 in Breslau in 1937 and went on to win 10 out 11 games played during that year.
Otto Siffling was one of the most talented center forwards of the 1930s. An opinionated and exceptionally gifted player, Siffling was a virtuoso on the pitch who impressed with his ingenuity and imagination when on the ball. Being not keen on overly physical play, he was not a traditional center forward, preferring to create more than to score. Taciturn in nature, he did not like to be in the spotlight and ovations at times made him feel uncomfortable. His performance for the Breslau XI in 1937 was the pinnacle of his career. In 1938 his level suddenly dropped inexplicably, so that he was not starting in the 1938 World Cup. A year later he died of a pleurisy
aged 27.
In his 1978 book "Fussball", Helmut Schön
characterised Siffling as follows:
"As a center forward he was not a tank but a playing center forward who still was enormously dangerous in front of the goal; in the famous game in Breslau he scored five goals. He was creating goals and scoring goals."
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
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He was a player for the club SV Waldhof Mannheim
SV Waldhof Mannheim
SV Waldhof Mannheim is a German association football club, located in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg. The club today has a membership of over 2,400.-History:...
. He also played for the Germany national football 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....
, making 31 appearances and scoring 17 goals between 1934 and 1938. He was a participant in the 1934 FIFA World Cup
1934 FIFA World Cup
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934....
, where he scored a goal, and the 1938 FIFA World Cup
1938 FIFA World Cup
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.-Host selection:...
. He was the center forward of the Breslau Eleven that beat Denmark 8:0 in Breslau in 1937 and went on to win 10 out 11 games played during that year.
Otto Siffling was one of the most talented center forwards of the 1930s. An opinionated and exceptionally gifted player, Siffling was a virtuoso on the pitch who impressed with his ingenuity and imagination when on the ball. Being not keen on overly physical play, he was not a traditional center forward, preferring to create more than to score. Taciturn in nature, he did not like to be in the spotlight and ovations at times made him feel uncomfortable. His performance for the Breslau XI in 1937 was the pinnacle of his career. In 1938 his level suddenly dropped inexplicably, so that he was not starting in the 1938 World Cup. A year later he died of a pleurisy
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
aged 27.
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 Siffling as follows:
"As a center forward he was not a tank but a playing center forward who still was enormously dangerous in front of the goal; in the famous game in Breslau he scored five goals. He was creating goals and scoring goals."