# Walther Bensemann

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German footballer (1873–1934)

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Walther Bensemann Bensemann in 1896 Personal information Date of birth (1873-01-13)13 January 1873 Place of birth Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire Date of death 12 November 1934(1934-11-12) (aged 61) Place of death Montreux, Switzerland Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1889-? International Football Club 1891-? Karlsruher FV * Club domestic league appearances and goals

**Walther Bensemann** (13 January 1873 – 12 November 1934) was a German pioneer of [football](/source/Association_football) and founder of the country's major sports publication, *[Kicker](/source/Kicker_(sports_magazine))*.[1][2]

## Biography

Bensemann was born in [Berlin](/source/Berlin), [Brandenburg](/source/Province_of_Brandenburg), as the son of a [Jewish](/source/Jew) banker. During his time at private school in [Montreux](/source/Montreux), Switzerland, he learned about the new sport of football. When he moved to [Karlsruhe](/source/Karlsruhe) in order to complete his school-leavers' exam, he began to spread the sport around the [German Empire](/source/German_Empire).[3]

There, in September 1889, he founded the *International Football Club*, the first football club in southern Germany, and two years later he was instrumental in the founding of [Karlsruher FV](/source/Karlsruher_FV), one of the first champion clubs in Germany. He was also involved in the creation of *Frankfurter Kickers*,[4] who would later become [Eintracht Frankfurt](/source/Eintracht_Frankfurt). In 1900 he belonged to the founding-fathers of the [German Football Association](/source/German_Football_Association).

Bensemann thought of football as a means of international understanding, so he started to organize international matches such as the ones between selections of [Lausanne](/source/Lausanne) and southern Germany in 1893. Consequently, this also led to the five historical matches between selections from [Germany](/source/Germany_national_football_team) and [England](/source/England_national_football_team) between 1899 and 1901, which albeit not having any official status, are considered the historically first international matches of any Germany national side.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

In 1920, Bensemann founded *[Kicker](/source/Kicker_(sports_magazine))*, which evolved soon into Germany's leading football magazine, a status which it retains today.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

In 1933, the [Nazi](/source/Nazi_Germany) *[Machtergreifung](/source/Machtergreifung)* in Germany compelled Benseman to move to Montreux where he died soon, relatively unnoticed and without means.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

He also taught German at Birkenhead School in the Wirral.[5]

## Walther Bensemann Prize

The German academy for football culture gives the Walther Bensemann prize[6] every year to a person for extraordinary dedication with courage and a pioneering spirit, for social responsibility, fairplay, intercultural understanding in and around football. The prize comes with a monetary reward of €10,000.[7] It was given amongst others to [Franz Beckenbauer](/source/Franz_Beckenbauer),[8] [Bobby Charlton](/source/Bobby_Charlton),[9] [Marcello Lippi](/source/Marcello_Lippi), [Alex Ferguson](/source/Alex_Ferguson).[10][11]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** David Bernreuther (11 November 2024). ["Walther Bensemann: The Freedom of Hearts"](https://www.kicker.de/walther-bensemann-die-freiheit-der-herzen-1066890/artikel). *Kicker* (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Walther Bensemann | ZKM"](https://zkm.de/en/person/walther-bensemann). *zkm.de*. Retrieved 20 September 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Katherine Quinlan-Flatter (17 June 2024). ["Karlsruhe Football Pioneer and Jew: The Story of Walther Bensemann"](https://www.ka-news.de/region/karlsruhe/die-geschichte-von-walther-bensemann-karlsruher-fussballvisionaer-und-gruender-des-kicker-magazins-art-3177915). *KA-News* (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Hesse-Lichtenberger, Ulrich (2003). *Tor! The story of German football*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Walther Bensemann"](https://stadtlexikon.karlsruhe.de/index.php/De:Lexikon:bio-0498). *Stadtlexikon Karlsruhe* (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Walther Bensemann Preis](http://www.fussball-kultur.org/fussball-kulturpreis/walther-bensemann-preis/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The clearest voice in football: Christian Streich follows in the footsteps of Franz Beckenbauer and Sir Alex Ferguson"](https://www.footboom1.com/en/news/football/1934899-the-clearest-voice-in-football-christian-streich-follows-in-the-footsteps-of-franz-beckenbauer-and-sir-alex-ferguson). *Footboom*. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Franz Beckenbauer: All Information on Life, Titles, Documentary, and Family"](https://www.sportsillustrated.de/fussball/franz-beckenbauer-alle-infos-zu-leben-titel-doku-und-familie). *Sports Illustrated* (in German). 10 January 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Bär, Andi (7 November 2011). ["Academy honors Sir "Bobby" Charlton: Bensemann Prize for the old veteran"](https://www.fussballn.de/sites/cms/artikel.aspx?SK=4&Btr=15464). *Fußballn* (in German). Retrieved 23 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Liam Hanna. ["Sir Alex Ferguson Wins Walther Bensemann Prize"](https://www.besoccer.com/new/sir-alex-ferguson-wins-walther-bensemann-prize). *BeSoccer*. Retrieved 23 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Beckenbauer was the first: All recipients of the Bensemann Prize"](https://www.kicker.de/loew-und-seine-vorgaenger-alle-traeger-des-bensemann-preises-875699/slideshow). *Kicker* (in German). 14 October 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2025.

## External links

- [Walther Bensemann](https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/walther-bensemann/) at WorldFootball.net

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States Israel People Deutsche Biographie DDB Other IdRef Yale LUX

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