The four-time German soccer champions 1. FC Kaiserslautern must mourn the loss of their former goalkeeper Ronnie Hellström.
According to media reports from his homeland, the Swede succumbed to cancer on Sunday. The former world-class keeper was 72 years old. At the end of November, Hellstrom made it public that he was terminally ill with esophageal cancer.
Hellstrom is considered one of the best goalkeepers in Swedish history. In 1974 he finished fifth in the World Cup with the Scandinavians, for whom he played 77 international matches.
In 1971 and 1978 he was voted footballer of the year in his home country. Hellstrom made 266 appearances for FCK in the Bundesliga.