Fritz Szepan

Career start in the Schalke youth programme

Szepan joined Schalke's youth programme at the age of 14. From then on, he spent his entire playing career with the miners. Some regard him as one of the best players ever to wear the royal blue jersey.

Source: Institut für Stadtgeschichte Gelsenkirchen

Thinker and leader of the Schalker Kreisel

Since his debut in 1927, Szepan quickly developed into a central pillar of Schalke's game. He became the director who could play a deadly pass at any time.

Source: Institut für Stadtgeschichte Gelsenkirchen

From victory to victory

No player on the Schalke roster has played in as many finals as Fritz Szepan. He scored his most important goal in the 1934 final against 1. FC Nürnberg: in the 88th minute, Szepan tucked the ball away to save the tie.

Source: Institut für Stadtgeschichte Gelsenkirchen

After the career

In 1950, Szepan retired as a player and dedicated himself to his textile business in Schalke. Along the way, he occasionally takes on coaching positions. From 1964 to 1967, he was president of FC Schalke 04. He died in 1974 at the age of just 67 following a kidney operation.

Source: Institut für Stadtgeschichte Gelsenkirchen

The final resting place

Source: Olivier Kruschinski