- Willi Steffen
Infobox Football biography
playername = Willi Steffen
fullname =
dateofbirth =17 March 1925
cityofbirth = Unknown
countryofbirth =Switzerland
dateofdeath =3 May 2005
cityofdeath =Bern
countryofdeath =Switzerland
height =
nickname =
position = Left-back
currentclub =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1946-47
1947-??
clubs = Chelsea
Young Boys Bern
caps(goals) = 15 (0)
? (?)
nationalyears = 1945-55
nationalteam = Switzerland
nationalcaps(goals) = 28 (0)
manageryears =
managerclubs =Willi Steffen (
17 March 1925 –3 May 2005 ) was a Swiss international footballer who played as a left-back.Steffen started out as an
amateur with Cantonal Neuchâtel and later became the first Swiss footballer to play inEngland when he signed for Chelsea. He had only journeyed to England to learn the language, having been sent by his parents in preparation for him joining the family'sfruit andvegetable business, but his teacher turned out to be the wife of then-Chelsea manager,Billy Birrell . He was given a trial and signed for the club in July 1946.Steffen was a cultured and dedicated full back, tall and pacy, who quickly became a crowd favourite at Chelsea, while his blonde hair and good looks also won him admirers. He made his debut in a 3-1 loss against Derby County and played 20 league and cup games for Chelsea during the 1946-47 season, including a memorable
FA Cup win over Arsenal at Highbury, during which he expertly marked wingerIan McPherson . Steffen returned to Switzerland at the end of the season to finish hisnational service and was made club captain in his final game for Chelsea, also against Derby.Upon his return to Switzerland he joined Young Boys Bern, with whom he won the
Swiss Super League four years in succession from 1957-60 as well as theSchweizer Cup in 1953 and 1958.A former fighter pilot, Steffen played for Switzerland at the
1950 FIFA World Cup , though they went out in the group stages. He also played in a 1-0 win over an England side containingStanley Matthews ,Tommy Lawton and Billy Wright inZurich in 1947. He won 28 international caps for his country.He died in
Bern in 2005, aged 80.
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