Karl-Heinz SCHNELLINGER (1939-2024)
Schnellinger was one of the world’s finest left-backs during his playing days, going to four World Cups in a row between 1958 and 1970. The first of those came when he was only 19 and had yet to play in the German national championship, but that changed when he was signed by Cologne after the finals.
Four years later, he was named German Footballer of the Year as the club won their first league title, and took that form into that summer’s World Cup, earning a spot in the Team of the Tournament and finishing third in the 1962 Ballon d’Or voting.
In 1963, he moved to Italy, spending a year with Mantova and another at Roma, but it was at Milan that his career took off. In nine years, he won eight trophies, including the 1969 European Cup when he started the 4-1 final win over Ajax.
Schnellinger didn’t miss a minute of West Germany’s run to the 1966 World Cup final, and was a regular again four years later as they finished third in Mexico. He scored his only international goal in the semi-final epic against Italy, subsequently dubbed “The Game of the Century”, as his equaliser in the 92nd minute took the game to extra-time before the Germans ultimately lost 4-3.
Charlie HURLEY (1936-2024)
A Sunderland icon, widely considered the club’s greatest player, having played over 400 games in 12 seasons after joining in 1957. An uncompromising yet elegant centre-half, Hurley’s main achievement at Roker Park was starring in the side that won promotion to the First Division in 1964, and he was revered in the north east, named the club’s Player of the Century in their centenary year in 1979.
Born in Cork, he grew up in London and began his career at Millwall before heading north. When he played his 40th and final international for the Republic of Ireland in 1969, he was his country’s most-capped player.
Leighton JAMES (1953-2024)
James’ name is one that is inked into the history of Swansea City. It was his goal – scored after a trademark jinking run from the left wing followed by a dipping shot into the far corner – against Preston in 1981 that took his hometown club into the First Division for the first time.
By then, James had already played over 300 Football League games, for Burnley (twice) either side of spells at Derby County and QPR. He was brought back to South Wales by then-Swans boss John Toshack to help the club complete a meteoric rise from the fourth tier to the first. The winger went on to play for Sunderland, Bury and Newport County before ending his career wi
