Rolf Schafstall (born Rudolf Schafstall, 22 February 1937 — 30 January 2018) was a German football player and coach whose career spanned decades of post‑war German football. He began as a youth and senior player in the 1950s and later became a long‑serving manager known for steady stewardship of a number of professional clubs. A concise profile is available via his career profile.

Playing career

Schafstall spent the bulk of his playing years with Hamborn 07, joining the club as a teenager and remaining there from 1950 until 1963. He then continued his playing career with SV Reutlingen 05 from 1963 to 1969. Those years covered the amateur and early professional eras of German football, and Schafstall made the transition from regional competition into the more nationalized structures that emerged in the 1960s.

Managerial career

After retiring as a player Schafstall moved into coaching and held managerial posts at numerous German clubs. His appointments included spells at MSV Duisburg, VfL Bochum and Bayer 05 Uerdingen, among others. Across these roles he worked with teams in the top tiers of German football as well as in the second division, often brought in to stabilise clubs or to guide squads through promotion and relegation battles.

Style, reputation and contributions

Schafstall was regarded as a pragmatic coach who emphasized organisation and team cohesion. While not always the most celebrated name in German football, he earned respect for his longevity and adaptability, taking on a variety of challenges at clubs with differing resources and ambitions. Players and colleagues remembered him for a straightforward approach to training and match preparation.

Clubs (selected)

  • Player: Hamborn 07 (1950–1963)
  • Player: Reutlingen 05 (1963–1969)
  • Manager: MSV Duisburg — see club page
  • Manager: VfL Bochum — see club page
  • Manager: Bayer 05 Uerdingen — see club page

Schafstall was born in Duisburg, Germany. He passed away on 30 January 2018 in Krefeld at the age of 80. His professional life reflects the path of many post‑war German football figures who moved from regional playing careers into long coaching tenures, contributing to the development and continuity of the national club game.