Uwe Seeler shaped German football for decades, leaving traces far beyond his Hamburger SV. This is one of the reasons why the greats of sport and politics are reporting on his death. They commemorate the former footballer who died at the age of 85.
Seeler completed 476 games between 1953 and 1972 for the Hamburger SV, remains loyal and closely connected to his club afterwards. In recent years, the worries that the club icon has about the stumbling Bundesliga dinosaur have become a dictum. For today’s ambitious second division club says Sports director Jonas Boldt: “Uwe Seeler stands for everything that characterizes a good person: down-to-earth, loyalty, joie de vivre, and he was always approachable. He is the epitome of HSV. I personally have a special memory of our get-together on his last birthday. He talked shop, asked about his HSV, gave me tips and a few jokes. We will never forget him and will always cherish him.”
For the A national team of the German Football Association (DFB), Uwe Seeler made 72 appearances during his playing days, scored 43 goals and played for Germany in four World Cups. The selection writes about his death: “Rest in peace, Uwe Seeler! Our honorary captain passed away at the age of 85. Our thoughts and our sincere sympathy go to his family and relatives.”
In Hamburg Seeler is probably a bit more popular than he is everywhere else. The Hanseatic city respectfully bids farewell to the sports legend: “With Uwe Seeler, honorary citizen since 2003, the Hanseatic city of Hamburg has lost an exceptional footballer and special person. Bye, Uwe!”
In a letter to Ilka Seeler Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his sympathy: “With Uwe Seeler we are losing a legend of German football and a unique personality without great pretense, at the same time the honest worker on the field and the brilliant goal scorer. (…) We all mourn the honorary captain of the German Football Association national team. I am grateful to have met Uwe Seeler a few times and I fondly remember the encounters and the pleasant conversations – conversations beyond football and HSV. I hope that you and your family can find comfort in the thought of the together spent time and shared happiness. I wish you that you have people around you who accompany you in your grief and who can be of help and support. We will not forget Uwe Seeler and will keep him in honorable memory.”
Also Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks up, on Twitter he writes: “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. For his 80th birthday I was allowed to give the after-dinner speech: ‘We actually want us to be like Uwe all be: confident and humble.'”
Home Secretary Nancy Faeser mourns the loss of a great man: “With Uwe Seeler, German football and the entire sports world are losing an absolute icon. The death of the fair sportsman and folk hero with integrity makes me very sad. He will be missed.”
Hansi Flick, national coach of the men’s national teamhonors the deceased with the following words: “Uwe Seeler was a role model for generations of national players. With his down-to-earth, modest and reserved manner, he also inspired and won over people off the pitch. His name is a symbol of loyalty to the club and loyalty. He was on the pitch at four World Cups himself, later he accompanied our national team to tournaments as honorary captain and part of the DFB delegation, for example to South Africa in 2010. We have always enjoyed having him around.Uwe Seeler inspired us. All of us in the national team and in the DFB will miss him very much.”
This is also supported by the recognition given in the statements by Bernd Neuendorf, President of the DFBit becomes clear: “In Uwe Seeler we are losing one of the best footballers Germany has ever had. (…) But Uwe Seeler had an impact far beyond the football field of his life. With his foundation, he campaigned for needy people and people who were in need through no fault of their own. He was also passionately committed to the DFB Foundation Sepp Herberger. His death makes us unspeakably sad. Uwe Seeler will help the DFB and the entire German We miss football very much. We will miss ‘Us Uwe’ very much.”
From the local rivals, the second division FC St Paulisends President Oke Divine his recognition: “Uwe was always a very welcome guest at the Millerntor. We would like to thank him for everything he has done for football!”
Oliver Kahnlongtime national goalkeeper and now a CEO of FC Bayern Munich up, says: “Whoever thinks of German football and its greatest thinks of Uwe Seeler. His death is a painful loss for the whole football family. Seeler stood for honest football, for loyalty and humanity, he was a player with a heart and for the hearts – we will always remember him as one of the very special of the sport.”
Also from Säbener Straße Bayern President Herbert Hainer on words: “Uwe Seeler’s death hits the soul of German football deep down. ‘Uns Uwe’ was a folk hero, there wasn’t a fan in Germany who didn’t adore him. Seeler moved the nation – even beyond the game Personally, I was lucky enough to be able to work with him for a long time and to get to know him as a special person who approached everyone warmly, friendly and openly. FC Bayern is united in mourning with his family, relatives and friends.”
Hans-Joachim Watzke, Managing Director of Borussia Dortmund and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the German Football Leaguerecalls the values that Seeler embodied: “Uwe Seeler was an extraordinary footballer, but above all an extraordinary person. Without a doubt, he was one of the best strikers that the Federal Republic of Germany has ever produced. Uwe Seeler was a man who was deeply rooted in his hometown of Hamburg. All of this, coupled with a modesty that was second to none, has made him an idol and a role model for millions of people.”
Also Reinhard Rauball, President of Borussia Dortmundexpresses his sympathy: “The news of Uwe’s death caused me deep sadness, because we had a close, friendly relationship. As a member of the traditional Uwe-Seeler team, I was with him in Brazil and in Mexico when we played for the Earthquake victims played. There is no one who didn’t like Uwe Seeler. That’s why my heartfelt condolences go not only to Uwe’s family, but to the entire HSV family.”
For Rudi Voeller, responsible for the men’s national team in the early 2000s and who left Bayer Leverkusen as managing director this summer, “one of the greatest German sporting idols has left us.” He was “terrified. My thoughts are with his family, to whom I express my deepest condolences. Uwe was a wonderful person.”
Sepp Blatter, longtime President of FIFAsays: “The world mourns the loss of one of the best center forwards and a magnificent personality. Uwe Seeler! He was also my idol – the same size, the same age. And a gifted goalgetter. Dear Uwe, you live on in our hearts. Me will never forget you.”
When Seeler’s career as a professional was drawing to a close, the career of Berti Vogts. The former world champion as a player and European champion as national coach remembers his teammates: “Uwe Seeler was such a fine, kind-hearted person. A great comrade who never thought of himself. 1970 in Mexico was my first World Cup, I was the youngest player in the squad. He helped me straight away, was always there for the others. As a player, it was an experience for me to play against him. The way he protected the ball, the goal instinct he had. It was incredible.”