1938 in association football

The following are the football (soccer) events of the year 1938 around the world.

• May 7: Manchester City lose 1-0 against Huddersfield Town, and are relegated to the Football League Second Division. This makes Manchester City the only team in history to be relegated the year after becoming English champions.

• June 19: The 1938 FIFA World Cup Final is played. In that match, Italy beat Hungary 4–2 at the Stade Olympique de Colombes in Paris, France.

• July 3: Hannover 96 wins their first German football championship.

• January 2:
  • Nodar Akhalkatsi (died 1998), footballer (SKA Tbilisi, Lokomotivi Tbilisi), assistant manager (Soviet Union), and manager (Lokomotivi Tbilisi, Dinamo Tbilisi).
• January 5:
  • Piet Kruiver (died 1989), footballer (PSV Eindhoven, Lanerossi Vicenza, Feyenoord, DWS, Netherlands).
• January 8:
  • Bobby Ferguson (died 2018), footballer (Newcastle United, Derby County, Cardiff City), player-manager (Barry Town, Newport County), and manager (Ipswich Town, Al-Arabi).
• January 13:
  • Tord Grip, footballer (Degerfors, AIK, KB Karlskoga), assistant manager (Sweden, Lazio, England, Mexico, Ivory Coast, Kosovo), and manager (KB Karlskoga, Örebro, Degerfors IF, Sweden women's, Sweden U21, Malmö FF, Campobasso, Norway, Young Boys, Indonesia U23).
• January 15:
  • Chuni Goswami (died 2020), footballer (Mohun Bagan, India, manager (India), and first-class cricketer.
• January 20:
  • Derek Dougan (died 2007), footballer (Distillery, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Peterborough United, Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Los Angeles Wolves, Kansas City Spurs, Northern Ireland) and player-manager (Kettering Town).
• January 21:
  • Romano Fogli (died 2021), footballer (Torino, Bologna, AC Milan, Catania, Italy) and manager (Reggiana, Foggia, Livorno, Siena, Vicenza).
• January 22:
  • Altair (died 2019), footballer (Fluminense, Brazil) and interim manager (Fluminense).

• February 1:
  • Heinz Steinmann (died 2023), footballer (Schwarz-Weiß Essen, 1. FC Saarbrücken, Werder Bremen, West Germany).
• February 7:
  • Cayetano Ré (died 2013), footballer (Cerro Porteño, Elche, Barcelona, Espanyol, Paraguay) and manager (Eldense, AD Almería, Onteniente, Córdoba, Guaraní, Cerro Porteño, Paraguay, Club Necaxa, Real Betis).
• February 9:
  • Park Jong-hwan (died 2023), footballer (Korea Tungsten Company, South Korea B) and manager (Seoul City, South Korea U20, South Korea B, South Korea, Ilhwa Chunma, Wuhan Hongjinlong, Daegu FC, Seongnam).
• February 17:
  • Saul Malatrasi, footballer (SPAL, Fiorentina, AS Roma, Internazionale, AC Milan, Italy), assistant manager (SPAL), and manager (Legnago Salus, AS Roma (youth), Pescara).
• February 20:
  • Mahmoud El-Gohary (died 2012), footballer (Al Ahly, Egypt), assistant manager (Al Ahly, Al-Ittihad), and manager (Al-Ittihad, Al Ahly, Al-Sharjah, Al-Ahli Jeddah, Egypt, Zamalek, Al Wahda, Oman, Jordan).

• March 6:
  • Nikolai Manoshin (died 2022), footballer (Torpedo Moscow, CSKA Moscow, Soviet Union), assistant manager (CSKA Moscow), and manager (SKA Kyiv, Somalia, Yemen, Mali).
• March 8:
  • Milan Galić (died 2014), footballer (Partizan, Standard Liège, Stade de Reims, Yugoslavia).
• March 14:
  • Árpád Orbán^[1] (died 2008), footballer (Győri ETO, Hungary).
• March 16:
  • Carlos Bilardo, footballer (San Lorenzo, Deportivo Español, Estudiantes) and manager (Estudiantes, Deportivo Cali, San Lorenzo, Colombia, Argentina, Sevilla, Boca Juniors, Guatemala, Libya
• March 17:
  • Adolf Knoll (died 2018),^[2] footballer (Wiener Sport-Club, Austria Wien, Alpine Donawitz, Austria).
• March 23:
  • Bertie Auld (died 2021), footballer (Celtic, Dumbarton, Birmingham City, Hibernian, Scottish Football League XI, Scotland) and manager (Partick Thistle, Hibernian, Hamilton Academical, Dumbarton).

• April 19:
  • Stanko Poklepović (died 2018), footballer (RNK Split) and manager (RNK Split, Solin, Hajduk Split, Budućnost Podgorica, Borac Banja Luka, APOEL, Croatia, Iran, Persepolis, Publikum Celje, Osijek, Ferencváros).
• April 22:
  • Henk Groot (died 2022), footballer (Ajax, Feyenoord, Netherlands) and scout (Ajax).

• May 5:
  • Adolf Scherer (died 2023), footballer (CH Bratislava, Slovnaft Bratislava, Lokomotíva Košice, VSS Košice, Nîmes Olympique, Olympique Avignonais, Czechoslovakia).
• May 24:
  • Jean-Claude Suaudeau, footballer (FC Nantes, France) and manager (FC Nantes).
• May 29:
  • Guy Calleja (died 2023), footballer (Bordeaux, Gazélec Ajaccio, France B) and manager (Gazélec Ajaccio, AS Cannes).

• June 1:
  • Dieter Klaußner, footballer (Karlsruher SC, FC Phönix Bellheim).
• June 7:
  • Ian St John (died 2021), footballer (Motherwell, Liverpool, Hellenic, Coventry City, Scottish Football League XI, Scotland) and manager (Motherwell, Portsmouth).
  • Armando Tobar (died 2016), footballer (Santiago Wanderers, Universidad Católica, Chile) and manager (Huachipato, O'Higgins, Audax Italiano, Rangers de Talca, Everton, Santiago Wanderers).
• June 15:
  • Chus Pereda (died 2011), footballer (Real Madrid, Sevilla, Barcelona, Mallorca, Catalan XI, Spain) and manager (Spain U18, Spain U20, Spain U19, Spain U16, Spain U17, Spain U21, Xerez, Castile and León).
• June 22:
  • Virginio De Paoli (died 2009), footballer (Varese, Pisa, Venezia, Brescia, Juventus, Italy) and manager (Frosinone).
• June 29:
  • József Gelei, footballer (MTK, Vasas SC, Tatabánya, Hungary) and manager (Tatabánya, St George Budapest, Csepel, Pécsi, Al Ittihad Alexandria, India).
  • Giampaolo Menichelli, footballer (AS Roma, Sambenedettese, Parma, Juventus, Brescia, Cagliari, Italy).
• June 30:
  • Mike Hellawell (died 2023), footballer (Queens Park Rangers, Birmingham City, Sunderland, Huddersfield Town, Peterborough United, England).

• July 2:
  • Marcel Artelesa (died 2016), footballer (AS Troyes-Savinienne, AS Monaco, Marseille, Nice, France).
• July 3:
  • Sjaak Swart, footballer (Ajax, Netherlands).
• July 6:
  • Oleh Bazylevych (died 2018), footballer (Dynamo Kyiv, Chornomorets Odesa, Shakhtar Donetsk), assistant manager (Dynamo Kyiv, Soviet Union), and manager (Desna Chernihiv, Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Minsk, Pakhtakor Tashkent, Soviet Union, CSKA Moscow, Zorya Voroshilovhrad, Slavia Sofia, Ukraine, Kuwait Olympics, Al Kuwait Kaifan
  • Marquitos (died 2019), footballer (Plus Ultra, Cádiz, Excelsior Rotterdam, Blauw-Wit Amsterdam). Brother of former Spanish international footballer Marquitos, and uncle of former Spanish international footballer Marcos Alonso.
  • Uli Maslo, footballer (SG Wattenscheid 09, Rot-Weiss Essen, Racing Club Heemstede) and manager (Schalke 04, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Braunschweig, Bahrain Riffa Club, Qatar SC, Qatar, FC St. Pauli, Fortuna Düsseldorf).
• July 8:
  • Vojtech Masný, footballer (Dukla Pardubice, Jednota Trenčín, First Vienna, Czechoslovakia).
• July 12:
  • Lin Shllaku (died 2016), footballer (Vllaznia, Partizani Tirana, Albania), assistant manager (Partizani Tirana), and manager (Besëlidhja).
• July 18:
  • John Connelly (died 2012), footballer (Burnley, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Bury, England).
• July 20:
  • Roger Hunt (died 2021), footballer (Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers, Hellenic, England).
• July 24:
  • José Altafini, footballer (Palmeiras, AC Milan, Napoli, Juventus, Toronto Italia, Chiasso, Mendrisiostar, Brazil, Italy). Also known as Mazzola in Brazil.
• July 28:
  • Luis Aragonés (died 2014), footballer (Real Madrid, Plus Ultra, Hércules, Real Betis, Atlético Madrid, Spain) and manager (Atlético Madrid, Real Betis, Barcelona, Espanyol, Sevilla, Valencia, Real Oviedo, Mallorca, Spain, Fenerbahçe).

• August 2:
  • Friedhelm Konietzka (died 2012), footballer (Borussia Dortmund, 1860 Munich, FC Winterthur, West Germany) and manager (FC Zürich, BSC Young Boys, Grasshoppers, Hessen Kassel, Bayer Uerdingen, Borussia Dortmund, FC Luzern).
• August 9:
  • Otto Rehhagel, footballer (TuS Helene Altenessen, Rot-Weiss Essen, Hertha BSC, 1. FC Kaiserslautern) and manager (1. FC Saarbrücken, Kickers Offenbach, Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund, Arminia Bielefeld, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Bayern Munich, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Greece, Hertha BSC).
• August 14:
  • Bennie Muller (died 2024), footballer (Ajax, Holland Sport, Blauw-Wit Amsterdam, Netherlands). Father of former Dutch footballer Danny Muller.
• August 28:
  • Đorđe Pavlić (died 2015), footballer (Vojvodina, MSV Duisburg, Schwarz-Weiß Essen, Yugoslavia).

• September 2:
  • John Angus (died 2021), footballer (Burnley, England). Nephew of former English footballer Jack Angus.
• September 8:
  • José Torres (died 2010), footballer (Benfica, Vitória Setúbal, Estoril, Portugal) and manager (Estoril, Estrela Amadora, Varzim, Portugal, Boavista, Portimonense).
• September 28:
  • Peter Grosser (died 2021), footballer (Bayern Munich, 1860 Munich, Austria Salzburg, West Germany) and manager (SpVgg Unterhaching).

• October 1:
  • Les Scheinflug, footballer (Sydney Prague, Club Marconi, Australia) and manager (Marconi Fairfield, Western Suburbs, Adelaide City, Australia, Blacktown City, Fiji).
• October 7:
  • Carlos Contreras (died 2020), footballer (Universidad de Chile, Antofagasta Portuario, Ferroviarios, Chile) and manager (Deportes Aviación, Rangers de Talca, Unión La Calera, Santiago Morning).
  • Mal Lucas (died 2024), footballer (Leyton Orient, Norwich City, Torquay United, Wales and manager (Gorleston).
• October 10:
  • Pierre Mwana Kasongo (died 1986), footballer (Saint-Éloi Lupopo, RCS Verviétois, Gent, SC Imana, DR Congo) and manager (SC Imana, Saint-Éloi Lupopo, TP Mazembe, US Bilombe, SM Sanga Balende).
• October 18:
  • Guy Roux, footballer (Auxerre, Stade Poitevin, Limoges) and manager (Auxerre, Lens).
• October 22:
  • Alan Gilzean (died 2018), footballer (Dundee, Tottenham Hotspur, Scottish Football League XI, Scotland) and manager (Stevenage Athletic).
  • César Luis Menotti (died 2024^[3]), footballer (Rosario Central, Racing Club, Boca Juniors, New York Generals, Santos, Juventus-SP, Argentina), manager (Newell's Old Boys, Huracán, Argentina, Argentina U20, Barcelona, Boca Juniors, Atlético Madrid, River Plate, Peñarol, Mexico, Independiente, Sampdoria, Rosario Central, Club Puebla, Tecos), and director (Argentina).
• October 23:
  • Eugenio Fascetti, footballer (Bologna, Juventus, Messina, Lazio, Savona) and manager (Varese, Lecce, Lazio, Avellino, Torino, Hellas Verona, Lucchese, Bari, Vicenza Fiorentina, Como

• November 13:
  • Rolando Serrano (died 2022), footballer (Cúcuta Deportivo, América de Cali, Unión Magdalena, Millonarios, Atlético Junior, Colombia) and manager (Cúcuta Deportivo).Grandfather of Colombian tennis player Camila Osorio.
• November 18:
  • Giancarlo Danova (died 2014), footballer (AC Milan, Torino, Catania, Atalanta, Fiorentina, Mantova).
• November 29:
  • Johnny Crossan, footballer (Derry City, Sparta Rotterdam, Standard Liège, Sunderland, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, KSK Tongeren, Northern Ireland). Brother of former Northern Irish international footballer Eddie Crossan.

• December 2:
  • Luis Artime, footballer (Atlanta, River Plate, Independiente, Palmeiras, Nacional, Fluminense, Argentina) and manager (Atlético Tucumán, Atlanta).
• December 9:
  • Nikola Kotkov (died 1971), footballer (Lokomotiv Sofia, Levski Sofia, Bulgaria).

• January 9:
  • David Calderhead (73), footballer (Queen of the South Wanderers, Notts County, Lincoln City, Football League XI, Scotland) and manager (Lincoln City, Chelsea). Father of Scottish footballer David Calderhead Jr..
• January 10:
  • Jimmy Hampson (31), footballer (Nelson, Blackpool, England).
• January 17:
  • Eduard Garonne (56), footballer (Grasshopper Club Zurich, Switzerland).
• January 18:
  • Luis Carvallo (Unknown), footballer (Colo-Colo).
• January 28:
  • Jack Sharp, footballer (Aston Villa, Everton, England). Brother of English footballer Bertram Sharp.

• February 6:
  • Giuseppe Collino (48-49), footballer (Juventus).
• February 9:
  • Gustaf Bergström (53), footballer (Örgryte IS, Sweden). Brother of Swedish Olympic footballer Erik Bergström.
• February 13:
  • Enrico Bottazzi (37), footballer (Reggiana).

• March 7:
  • Henry Jameson (54), footballer (St. Rose Parish).
  • Robert Ogilvie (85), footballer (Upton Park, Clapham Rovers, England).
• March 17:
  • Alfredo France (42), footballer (Estrella del Mar, Gold Cross, Chile).
• March 27:
  • Charlie Shaw (52), footballer (Port Glasgow Athletic, Queens Park Rangers, Celtic, New Bedford Whalers, Scottish Football League XI) and manager (New Bedford Whalers).

• April 12:
  • Karl-Erik Roslund (21), footballer (HIFK Fotboll, Finland).
• April 16:
  • Steve Bloomer (64), footballer (Derby Midland, Derby County, Middlesbrough, England) and manager (Britannia Berlin 92, Blauw-Wit Amsterdam, Derby County, Real Unión).
• April 22:
  • James Reid (47), footballer (Partick Thistle, Lincoln City, Airdrieonians, Clydebank, Scottish Football League XI, Scotland).
• April 25:
  • Giuseppe Lubatti (Unknown), footballer (Internazionale Torino, Torinese

• May 17:
  • Wilhelm Brekke (51), footballer (Mercantile, Norway).
  • William Quash (69), footballer (Upton Park).
• May 21:
  • Frank Jefferis (53), footballer (Southampton, Everton, Preston North End, Southport, England).
• May 22:
  • Víctor Morales (33), footballer (Colo-Colo, Chile)
• May 23:
  • Gordon McDonald (60), soccer player (Galt F.C.).

• June 24:
  • Tommy Dunn (65), footballer (Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley, Chatham Town, Thames Ironworks).

• July 16:
  • Trygve Aasen (37), footballer (Moss, Norway).

• August 21:
  • Adolf Fischera (50), footballer (Wiener AC, Wiener AF, First Vienna, Austria) and player-manager (Borussia Neunkirchen).
• August 26:
  • Colin Veitch (57), footballer (Newcastle United, England) and manager (Bradford City).

• September 2:
  • Ángel Arocha (31), footballer (Tenerife, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Spain).
• September 14:
  • Dionys Schönecker (50), footballer (Rapid Wien, Wiener Sport-Club) and manager (Rapid Wien, Austria).
• September 19:
  • Floriano (35), footballer (Internacional, Grêmio, Fluminense, America-RJ, São Cristóvão, Santos, Atlético Mineiro, Brazil) and manager (Atlético Mineiro).
• September 23:
  • Ernst-Alfred Thalmann (57), footballer (FC Basel, Switzerland) and member of the Grand Council of Basel-Stadt (1911–1937)

• October 27:
  • Ingolf Olsen (30), footballer (Mjøndalen IF, Norway).
• October 30:
  • Esteban Cifuentes (26), footballer (UE Sant Andreu, Sabadell, Barcelona, Levante, Espanyol, Strasbourg, Nîmes Olympique, Catalonia).

• November 16:
  • Agustín Ojeda (40), footballer (Club América, Mexico).
• November 28:
  • Svend Aage Castella (48), footballer (KB, Denmark).

• December 9:
  • Paul Eichelmann (59), footballer (BFC Germania 1888, Union 92 Berlin, Germany).
  • Albert Eschenlohr (40), footballer (FC Wacker München, Tennis Borussia Berlin, FSV Frankfurt, Germany) and manager (Dresdner SC, SV Polizei Lübeck, Phönix Lübeck).
• December 27:
  • Ferruccio Corradino Squarcia (28), footballer (Ascoli), journalist, and soldier. Awarded the Gold and Silver Medal of Military Valor during the Spanish Civil War

• Juan Carlos Bertone (Unknown), footballer (Montevideo Wanderers, Americano, Comercial-SP, Uruguay) and manager (Chile, Deportivo Viña del Mar).
• Isidor Gansl (42), footballer (Wiener AF, Ferencváros, Hakoah Vienna, Hakoah Graz, Romania) and manager (US Tunisienne).