No, Uwe Seeler admits that he hadn’t felt particularly well the day before. Just the age, notes the 85-year-old legend of the second division soccer team Hamburger SV. But then, following the NDR interview near the Jürgen Werner School in Norderstedt, the most important HSV player in the club’s history suddenly stopped for a long time. He is holding a laptop in his hands: “Us Uwe” smiles as he observes the events of May 1, 1972 in Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion.
Souler carried on shoulders
He sees how the many people carry their number 9 on their shoulders out of the stadium shortly after the final whistle of his farewell game – him, who was already a model of down-to-earthness and who, despite an offer of millions from Inter Milan in 1961, always supported his club remained faithful.
Spellbound, Seeler looks at the screen and hears the shouts of “Uwe, Uwe” echoing through the sold-out stadium on that special day.
It was nice back then. “Of course I have very good memories of it. It gave me the feeling that you did everything right yourself and made people happy. That was a great experience,” says the three-time Footballer of the Year, who scored 43 goals in 72 international matches.
Numerous world stars at Seeler’s farewell game
On May 1, 1972, the top-class cast of the world selection, against which HSV competes, also contributes to this. Among others, Gordon Banks, Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Eusebio, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, Gianni Rivera and Gerd Müller will be there. The star selection wins 7:3 against HSV.
Of course, Seeler also scored in his last game, albeit with friendly support: “They defended my goal a bit reluctantly, they went away,” says Seeler with a laugh: “And I also got a penalty. What do I want any more? I’m satisfied.”