goalkeeper legend
Former Lautern keeper Ronnie Hellström is dead
Ronnie Hellström was an institution at 1. FC Kaiserslautern and was one of the best goalkeepers in the world for years
© Heinz Wieseler / Picture Alliance
In the autumn of last year it became known that goalkeeper legend Ronnie Hellstrom was suffering from cancer. Now the Swede, who played for 1. FC Kaiserslautern for ten years, has died.
The blond Swede between the posts was one of the reasons why Paul Breitner said the famous sentence in 1982: “It’s best if we send the points straight away by post.” FC Bayern had once again suffered a defeat at the Betzenberg, as always in those years, and that was also due to the Lauterer keeper: Ronnie Hellström, the Swedish national keeper with the blond moustache.
Now the goalkeeping legend has died, according to his first club, Hammarby IF. Hammarby is mourning, the Swedish first division soccer team tweeted on Sunday. Hellstrom, who was suffering from cancer, died in the morning surrounded by his family at the age of 72. The Swedish tabloid “Expressen” also reported on it, citing the family of the former international goalkeeper. According to “Expressen”, Hellström said in November 2021 that he was terminally ill with esophageal cancer.
Ronnie Hellström played for Lautern for ten years
Hellstrom is considered one of the best goalkeepers Sweden has ever had. In 1974 he finished fifth in the World Cup with the Swedish national team, and in 1971 and 1978 he was voted footballer of the year in his home country. Between 1974 and 1984 he played 266 Bundesliga games for 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Most recently he lived in Beddingestrand in southern Sweden.