New Straits Times

1950 World Cup hero Bahr dead at 91

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LOS ANGELES: Former US internatio­nal Walter Bahr, the last surviving member of the team which famously shocked England at the 1950 World Cup, has died, it was confirmed Monday. He was 91.

Bahr provided the assist for the goal which handed the US a 1-0 victory over the English in Belo Horizonte, a result regarded as one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.

Former US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati confirmed Bahr’s passing in a post on Twitter.

“Saddened to learn of the passing of Walter Bahr — a legend as a player, coach and a caring gentleman. Rest in peace my dear friend,” Gulati wrote.

Bahr made 19 appearance­s for the US between 1948 and 1957, and later coached club teams in Pennsylvan­ia while working as a high school teacher.

He later coached the men’s soccer team at Pennsylvan­ia State University from 1974 to 1988.

Bahr took over the Penn State men’s soccer program in 1974 and led the Nittany Lions to the NCAA tournament 12 times in 14 years, winning 185 games from ‘74 to ‘87. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the National Soccer Coaches Associatio­n Hall of Fame.

Bahr’s three sons — Matt, Casey and Chris — all played profession­ally in the North American Soccer League during the 1970s.

Chris and Matt Bahr would later enjoy successful careers in the National Football League, each winning the Super Bowl twice.

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