Hamburg and the football world mourn Uwe Seeler. The football legend of Hamburger SV died today at the age of 85. This was confirmed by HSV, citing Seeler’s family.
NDR 90.3 had previously reported on Seeler’s death. The honorary captain of the German national soccer team has recently had to deal with health problems again and again. Seeler became German champion in 1960 with HSV, to which he remained loyal all his life. “Uns Uwe” has been an honorary citizen of the city of Hamburg since 2003. According to NDR information, Seeler died with his family at home in Norderstedt. Uwe Seeler leaves behind his wife Ilka, three daughters and seven grandchildren.
Chancellor and President condole – fans in deep mourning
From the Federal Chancellor to the simple football fan – the news of Uwe Seeler’s death caused many people across Germany to be very sad on Thursday. “Germany mourns the loss of ‘Us Uwe’. He was a role model for many, a football legend and of course an honorary citizen of Hamburg. On his 80th birthday I was allowed to give the after-dinner speech: ‘We all really want to be like #UnsUwe: self-confident and modest.’ He will be missed,” tweeted Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier condoled Ilka Seeler. “Your husband gave us many unforgettable games and scored inimitable goals. I hope that you and your family can find comfort in the thought of the time you spent together and the happiness you experienced together,” said Steinmeier. He is grateful to have met Seeler a few times. “We will not forget Uwe Seeler and will honor his memory.”
HSV sets flags at half-mast in the Volkspark
Hamburger SV changed the black-white-blue club crest to black-and-white on its Twitter account and flew the flags at half-mast in front of the Volksparkstadion. In the early evening, football supporters laid flowers at the oversized bronze sculpture of Seeler’s right foot. The 5.30 meter high sculpture on the northeast corner of the stadium, weighing four tons, was inaugurated in August 2005.
“With Uwe Seeler, honorary citizen since 2003, the Hanseatic City of Hamburg has lost an exceptional footballer and a special person. Bye, Uwe!” wrote the City of Hamburg on its website.
“The best thing in the world is to be normal.”
— Uwe Seeler
From 1954 to 1970, Seeler played 72 international matches and scored 43 goals. The attacker was part of four World Cups. In 1966 he became Vice World Champion in England. Seeler was voted “Footballer of the Year” three times (1960, 1964 and 1970). From 1995 to 1998 he led HSV as president.
Health problems restricted Seeler more and more
Since a car accident in 2010, he has been deaf in his right ear and complained of problems with his balance. In addition, Seeler received a pacemaker and had to have a tumor in his shoulder removed. He recently fell several times in his house in Norderstedt. He once fractured his right hip and three ribs. He was then fitted with an artificial hip joint. After that he had to use a walking stick. In a fall a few weeks earlier, he had broken a finger and torn his right shin. He was less and less able to attend appointments and invitations.
“I’m perfectly normal and I like that”
Seeler was the epitome of down-to-earthness, modesty, honesty and loyalty. “The best thing in the world is to be normal,” said the bearer of the Great Federal Cross of Merit before his 85th birthday in November 2021. “I’m perfectly normal, and I like that.”
DFB women with crape – minute’s silence at the tennis tournament
The German women’s national team played against Austria in the European Championship quarter-finals in London-Brentford in the evening with a black ribbon in memory of Seeler. Before the game, a minute’s silence was held in the stadium for Seeler, who was also valued in England as an impeccable sportsman. A black-and-white picture of Seeler with his biographical data was displayed on the scoreboard.
At the Hamburg European Open tennis tournament at Rothenbaum, spectators, athletes and organizers also commemorated the HSV idol with a minute’s silence. “Rest in peace, Uwe Seeler!” It says on the men’s national team’s Twitter account: “Our honorary captain passed away at the age of 85. Our thoughts and our sincere condolences go to his family and relatives.”
Obituary “Farewell to a folk hero”
NDR television honored Uwe Seeler on Thursday evening with the special program “NDR Info Extra: The North mourns the loss of ‘Us Uwe'”, which was also broadcast on the radio by NDR Info. Afterwards, NDR television broadcast the 30-minute obituary “Uwe Seeler – Farewell to a folk hero” by Henning Rütten.
This topic in the program:
Sports | 07/21/2022 | 17:00 o’clock
