# Klaus Fichtel

Klaus Fichtel (born 19 November 1944) is a German former professional footballer who played as a defender for Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen. He made 23 appearances for the West Germany national team.

## Career

Fichtel was born in Castrop-Rauxel, Province of Westphalia He began his career with FC Schalke 04 and after four years with SV Werder Bremen he returned to Schalke. In total he played 552 games (14 goals) in the Bundesliga. In addition, he played 42 times in the 2. Bundesliga in one of his four years with SV Werder Bremen.
Fichtel is the oldest player to appear in the Bundesliga, playing his last match at the age of 43 and a half years in May 1988. His 477 Bundesliga matches for Schalke 04 remain a club record.
Fichtel won 23 caps in four years with West Germany in between 1967 and 1971, scoring one goal against Scotland in 1969. He was part of the West German squad at the 1970 FIFA World Cup, playing in five matches during the tournament.

## Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | DFB-Pokal | DFB-Pokal | Europe | Europe | DFL-Ligapokal | DFL-Ligapokal | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Schalke 04 | 1965–66 | Bundesliga | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | 1966–67 | Bundesliga | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 37 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | 1967–68 | Bundesliga | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | 1968–69 | Bundesliga | 29 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | 1969–70 | Bundesliga | 32 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | — | 43 | 2 |
| Schalke 04 | 1970–71 | Bundesliga | 29 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 1 |
| Schalke 04 | 1971–72 | Bundesliga | 33 | 3 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 40 | 3 |
| Schalke 04 | 1972–73 | Bundesliga | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Schalke 04 | 1973–74 | Bundesliga | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 1 |
| Schalke 04 | 1974–75 | Bundesliga | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 31 | 1 |
| Schalke 04 | 1975–76 | Bundesliga | 32 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 4 |
| Schalke 04 | 1976–77 | Bundesliga | 34 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 45 | 2 |
| Schalke 04 | 1977–78 | Bundesliga | 22 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | 1978–79 | Bundesliga | 34 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 37 | 2 |
| Schalke 04 | 1979–80 | Bundesliga | 29 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | Total | Total | 437 | 14 | 52 | 1 | 20 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 516 | 17 |
| Werder Bremen | 1980–81 | 2. Bundesliga | 42 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 47 | 1 |
| Werder Bremen | 1981–82 | Bundesliga | 34 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 39 | 0 |
| Werder Bremen | 1982–83 | Bundesliga | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 0 |
| Werder Bremen | 1983–84 | Bundesliga | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Werder Bremen | Total | Total | 117 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 137 | 1 |
| Schalke 04 | 1984–85 | Bundesliga | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | 1985–86 | Bundesliga | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | 1986–87 | Bundesliga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | 1987–88 | Bundesliga | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | Total | Total | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 40 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 594 | 14 | 66 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 693 | 18 |