Official: Milan pay tribute to ‘unforgettable Karl’ Schnellinger after passing

News broke late on Monday evening, May 20, that AC Milan legend Karl-Heinz Schnellinger had passed away at the age of 85, and the Rossoneri paid tribute to the player and the man this morning. 

When looking for accolades within football, many would be envious of the career that Schnellinger had, and very few Rossoneri players can match it. In his nine years at Milan, he won everything that could be won: a Scudetto, three Coppa Italia, three European cups and an Intercontinental cup.

The German defender was also named in the ‘World XI’ and ‘FIFA XI’ during his earlier years for the Diavolo.

His accolades do not end there, though. Schnellinger is one of few players to have played at four World Cup tournaments, making his first appearance for the German National Team in the tournament at the age of 19 in 1958.

Although he never won the tournament, he was part of German sides that finished second, third and fourth, and scored an iconic goal in the 1970 World Cup against Italy.

After 222 games for Milan, the defender left the club and joined German side Tennis Borussia Berlin, but later moved back to Milan after retiring from the sport, and he passed after a long-term illness in the San Raffaele hospital.

This morning, the club posted the following message on their X account.

“Karl-Heinz Schnellinger champion of Italy, Europe and the World with Milan. The Carletto del Paròn was with Gianni Rivera, the protagonist of the Match of the Century, at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Hello, unforgettable Karl. With a huge thank you from all Milan and all Milanisti.”