Otto Decker

Otto Decker (born 19 September 1930) is a retired German-American soccer player who earned one cap, scoring two goals, with the U.S. national team in 1953.

Youth

Decker and his brother Rolf where born in Germany, but grew up in England. In March 1939, the Decker's parents, Ilse and Hans, sent the two boys to England as part of the kindertransport.[1] He attended the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, England from 1948 to 1950 after transferring from Wycombe Technical Institute in 1948. While at RGS, he played both soccer and cricket, as the wicket keeper.[2]

Club career

After graduating from RGS, Decker signed with Wycombe Wanderers before moving to the United States in 1950. He moved to the U.S., along with his brother Rolf Decker to rejoin their mother who lived there. When he arrived in the U.S. he joined New York Hakoah of the American Soccer League (ASL).

National team

Decker earned his lone cap as a second half substitute in the only U.S. game of 1953, a 6-3 loss to England. Decker came on at halftime and scored in the 59th and 67th minutes.[3] Despite such a productive start to his national team career, he was never called into the U.S. team again.

References