Status: 07/21/2022 5:18 p.m
Hamburg is mourning – and says goodbye to Uwe Seeler with deep affection, gratitude and respect for an eventful and moving life that was unique on and off the football field.
The honorary citizen of the Hanseatic city, who excelled in his sporting career and was a role model and inspiration afterwards, died on July 21 at the age of 85. “Us Uwe” will be remembered as an impeccable sportsman and person who has always remained fair, down-to-earth and humble. Not just in Germany, but throughout the football world, where he will always be one of the greats.
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The oath of allegiance for Hamburg
“Hamburg will always remain a beautiful city – even without Uwe Seeler,” he told NDR in one of his last interviews before his 85th birthday. There was hardly any melancholy. Rather, it was probably a charming hint, which made him always remain true to his “floe”. Here he felt comfortable and secure, even when Inter Milan lured them with an almost immoral offer of 1.2 million marks in 1961.
“We were already so far that we decided who would take over our house for so long and that we could take the dog with us,” Seeler’s wife Ilka recalled the lively discussions, at the end of which the family resisted a chunk of money.
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Seeler’s currency was contentment
It was perhaps the most formative decision in Uwe Seeler’s life. A pledge of allegiance to his Hamburger SV and the job at a well-known sporting goods manufacturer, which secured the existence of the family. But at the same time it is a commitment that everyone can see that “there is nothing nicer in life than being normal,” as he was only too happy to put it.
Instead of indulging in the dolce vita, the football idol remained approachable and down-to-earth, preferring to drive thousands of kilometers across the country to sell sporting goods, accessories and jerseys as an independent sales representative. Uwe Seeler’s currency was: satisfaction with what he had achieved. He became a role model – and has remained so to this day. “I have no regrets. I think that’s the most important thing.” Typical souler.
Father Erwin exemplified values and football for him
He meant it, word for word. And it says a lot about the character of an unpretentious personality who had his roots in a youth in post-war Germany that was perceived as sheltered and who was anything but easy and carefree. As the youngest of the three Seeler children, he grew up in fairly modest circumstances.
But he and his siblings were brought up “to be absolutely correct and honest”. Values that should shape his football life – as well as his father’s role model. Erwin Seeler earned his money as a dock worker and counted from the 1920s to the 1940s -years among the most popular footballers in the Hanseatic city.
Modest, friendly – and sometimes mischievous
Uwe Seeler was aware of his talent, even if he still kept his light under a bushel even at a ripe old age. “Very early on in my youth I noticed that I was quick to start and that I was good at headers, because even when I was younger I always got headers. And at some point you finally realize that you’re really good at it.”
Quite well? Today, understatement is what people appreciated more than half a century ago. As did Seeler’s friendliness. He remained devoted to almost everyone he met, patiently, was neither aloof nor conceited, at times he even acted mischievous – even in old age.
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Marriage with Ilka without scandals
“He lets people approach him. They smile when they see him and chat with him, and he lets everything happen to him,” said Ilka Seeler, still touched after a long life together. “Little mouse” she called him in later years, sometimes “fat” like before. On February 18, 1959, they married in the St. Johannis Church in Hamburg-Eppendorf. Three daughters and seven grandchildren – including Levin Öztunali, who continues the football tradition – completed the happiness of a marriage that knew no scandals. Uwe Seeler expressed this in his own way: “I’m satisfied that I made the right choice.”
A monument in the hearts of the people of Hamburg
Uwe Seeler in front of the sculpture of his foot cast in bronze.
The list of achievements of the Hamburg soccer legend is long: Vice world champion, 43 goals in 72 international matches, German champion, cup winner, first top scorer in the Bundesliga, first “Footballer of the Year”, winner of the Silver Laurel Leaf and the Grand Cross of Merit.
The Hamburg “Uns Uwe” erected a monument in their hearts years ago. Honorary commissioner, honorary captain of the port of Hamburg and the “Rickmer Rickmers”, honorary lock keeper – the list of all honors would go beyond the scope. A five meter high bronze foot of “Us Uwe” has been in the Volkspark since 2005. And at some point maybe a life-size statue on the Rathausmarkt? At least that’s what Olli “Dittsche” Dittrich would wish for his friend, who “will definitely be remembered in a hundred years’ time”.
Max Lorenz: “As if he had springs in his shoes”
Unforgotten are so many moments of Uwe Seeler’s great career, who worked tirelessly and hated nothing more than losing. With “the energy of a cannonball”, according to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (FAZ), he threw himself against the larger defenders. Although the center forward was only 1.70 m tall, there was hardly a better header in Europe at the time. “Uwe climbed up as if he had springs in his shoes,” said his friend and former opponent from Werder Bremen, Max Lorenz.
Franz Beckenbauer: “Uwe wasn’t comfortable on the field”
But it wasn’t always easy with the “fat”. The second honorary captain of the national team after Fritz Walter also had his quirks and mistakes. He constantly talked to his teammates and the referee, is reported by companions. And that he could get quite uncomfortable when the game didn’t develop as hoped. “Uwe wasn’t comfortable on the field,” said Franz Beckenbauer.
Wembley defeat: ‘The ball wasn’t behind the line’
With all his commitment and ambition, Uwe Seeler remained a fair sportsman even in the defeat. An example of this was the legendary Wembley goal, which has stuck in the memory of even those who weren’t even born in 1966. Greatness revealed how he and his teammates endured the decision to the dubious 2:3 that paved the way for England to win the World Cup (4:2 aet).
“We ran there for a short time, but the queen was in the stadium, and nobody wanted to complain and make a big fuss,” said Seeler – only to add in all resoluteness: “The ball wasn’t behind the line, everyone will say that. Even the English didn’t have a clean conscience.”
Hinterkopf goal at the World Cup in Mexico: A feat for eternity
Little did Seeler realize after the low blow at Wembley that his trophy case would remain unfinished. Because four years later in Mexico it didn’t work out again with the world title. Despite all the prophecies of doom, Seeler and his friend Gerd Müller proved to be the perfect duo, who harmonized brilliantly and scored goals. And what kind of! The way he steered the ball into the back of his head in the quarter-finals against England will remain an eternal eye-catcher.
Seeler as HSV President – a mistake
It was only many years after the end of his career that it felt like it felt when boundaries were crossed. His HSV fell from one crisis to the next in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In the light of “Us Uwe”, the club was apparently hoping for a successful comeback. And the? Feeling courted and certainly taunted, allowed himself to be persuaded and was elected President with an overwhelming majority on October 5, 1995. A serious mistake, as he gradually realized. Annoyed to the point of disgusted by the scandals of some of his fellow campaigners, he resigned in 1998 and later did not want to become honorary president.
Car accidents and falls – life became more and more difficult
Needless to say, this mutual misunderstanding didn’t hurt him in the public eye. Just as the many headers and injuries in his career apparently could not harm him. But the car accident in 2010, through no fault of his own, left him with back pain and a deaf ear for years. Or the falls at an advanced age that broke his hip (2020) and sustained cuts and lacerations (2021). With an iron will, he fought his way back into life, which became more and more difficult with each passing day. Now Hamburg is mourning – and Uwe Seeler will not be forgotten.
VIDEO: 50 years ago: Uwe Seeler’s farewell game (4 min)
