Ivo Schricker

Dr. Ivo Wolfgang Eduard Schricker (18 March 1877 in Strasbourg, Alsace-Lorraine – 10 January 1962 in Zürich, Switzerland) was a German footballer and the 3rd General Secretary of FIFA, serving from 1932 to 1951 upon his resignation.^[1]

He, and his brother Erwin (22 August 1878 – 20 October 1914, killed in action) played at Strassburger FK 1890, Karlsruher Kickers,^[2] FV Straßburg and, while studying in Berlin, Akademischer SC 1893 Berlin. With Karlsruher FV he became South German champion several times. In 1899^[3] he was among the best players in the first—still unofficial—game against a team from England, and in September 1901, he also played in London.^[4]

His home town, Strasbourg in Alsace, was after World War I annexed to France again. After retirement as player, Schricker served from 1923 to 1925 as president of the South German association (Süddeutscher Fußball-Verband).

He moved to Zürich in Switzerland, a central and conveniently located place that fitted FIFA needs well when a permanent office was set up. Ivo Schricker became the organisation's first employee, and was appointed Permanent Secretary in 1931, working in a 30 square metre apartment at Bahnhofstrasse 77 that remained the home of football's governing body until 1954.^[5] From 1948 onwards, he was supported by secretary Marta Kurmann.^[6]

References

• Henry Wahlig: Dr. Ivo Schricker. Ein Deutscher in Diensten des Weltfußballs, in: Lorenz Peiffer / Dietrich Schulze-Marmeling (Hg.): Hakenkreuz und rundes Leder. Fußball im Nationalsozialismus, S. 197 – 206, Göttingen 2008