| Stefan Szefer | |
| Fullname: | Stefan Rudolf Szefer[1] |
| Birth Date: | 8 May 1942 |
| Birth Place: | Pabianice, Poland |
| Position: | Defender |
| Youthyears1: | 1959–1962 |
| Youthclubs1: | Pabianice |
| Years1: | 1963–1965 |
| Clubs1: | Śląsk Wrocław |
| Years2: | 1966–1968 |
| Clubs2: | ŁKS Łódź |
| Years3: | 1968 |
| Clubs3: | Chicago Mustangs |
| Years4: | 1969–1971 |
| Clubs4: | MVV Maastricht |
| Caps4: | 49 |
| Goals4: | 2 |
| Years5: | 1971–1973 |
| Clubs5: | Chicago Wisła |
| Years6: | 1973–1975 |
| Clubs6: | Ukrainian Lions |
| Years7: | 1975 |
| Clubs7: | Chicago Sting |
| Caps7: | 22 |
| Goals7: | 3 |
| Years8: | 1976 |
| Clubs8: | Chicago Cats |
| Years9: | 1977–1979 |
| Clubs9: | Chicago Sting |
| Caps9: | 40 |
| Goals9: | 3 |
| Years10: | 1980–1981 |
| Clubs10: | Chicago Sting (indoor) |
| Caps10: | 8 |
| Goals10: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1966–1967 |
| Nationalteam1: | Poland |
| Nationalcaps1: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 1973 |
| Nationalteam2: | United States |
| Nationalcaps2: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
Stefan Rudolf Szefer (born May 8, 1942), also known as Steve Shafer or Shaffer,[2] is a former soccer player who played as a defender. He earned six caps during his career, three with Poland and three with the United States.[3]
Most sources for Szefer's early career are in Polish. In 1964, he was with Śląsk Wrocław.[4] He then played for ŁKS Łódź from 1966 to 1968. In 1968, Szefer moved to the Chicago Mustangs of the North American Soccer League. The Mustangs folded at the end of the season. He then moved to Dutch club MVV Maastricht for two seasons, scoring two goals as a left back.[5] In 1971, Szefer moved back to Chicago where he played for two amateur teams, Chicago Wisla (1971–1973) and the Ukrainian Lions (1973–1975). In 1975, he signed with the expansion Chicago Sting of the NASL. In May 1976, Szefer joined the Chicago Cats of the American Soccer League,[6] but returned to the Sting for the 1977 season. Szefer played outdoor for the Sting until 1979. He returned briefly in 1980 to play for them during the 1980–1981 NASL indoor season.
Szefer played three games for the Poland from 1966 to 1967. He also played for Poland in the 1968 European Championship.[7]
In 1973, Szefer played for the U.S. under the name Steve Shafer. The first game was a 2–0 win over Canada on August 5. Five days later, he played in a 4–0 loss to Poland. On August 12, he played his last game with the U.S., a 1–0 win over Poland. He was replaced by Jerry Panek in the 60th minute.[8]