As of: 08/10/2022 6:21 p.m
The funeral service for Uwe Seeler took place in Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion early on Wednesday afternoon. It was a moving tribute to the football idol.
Several hundred fans had come to the stadium early to wait for admission. Around 5,000 people came to the stadium, including 1,000 invited guests. The funeral service started with the pianist Joja Wendt and the Hamburg Sailors’ Choir. They sang the Hamburg anthem “Hammonia”. A lectern was set up in the kick-off circle of the Volksparkstadion, and wreaths had been placed around it.
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Hamburg’s Mayor Peter Tschentscher gave the first funeral speech. In the almost 20 years as a professional player and in the decades that followed, Uwe Seeler always remained true to his homeland, emphasized Tschentscher. “Uwe Seeler carried the diamond and his homeland in his heart”. Addressing Ilka Seeler, Uwe Seeler’s widow, he said: “At home you were the team that gave him support and managed him.”
Tschentscher: “Hamburg loses a piece of itself”
With his down-to-earthness, his approachability and honesty, he was also a great human role model, said Tschentscher in front of fans and invited guests. Finally, the mayor emphasized Seeler’s position as an honorary citizen of Hamburg. In 2003, the Hamburg Senate honored him with this highest award in Hamburg. “His name stands for closeness and honesty”, he was also a great human role model. “With Uwe Seeler, Hamburg loses a piece of itself, an extraordinary Hanseatic personality and a very special honorary citizen”. HSV board member Jens Boldt said of Uwe Seeler: “He’s one of us, only better.” And he added: “Dear Uwe, you are forever in our hearts.”
Olli Dittrich: “Uwe Seeler was my great hero”
Olli Dittrich described how Uwe Seeler accompanied him in his childhood and how he once took his place in a dream when Uwe dropped out due to an injury in the dream. His black Adidas Uwe football boots were his proudest possession. “Uwe was my great hero, that’s how I wanted to be!” said Dittrich, adding: “Those who knew him well raved about him. Uwe Seeler leaves a big gap.” When he found out about his death, it was like when his parents died. He thought: “Now you are alone”. Dittrich ended his speech with the words “rest in peace Uwe” to the applause of the thousands of fans who had come to the stadium. “In Hamburg they say goodbye” – the funeral service ended after an hour with this well-known folk song sung by Joja Wendt.
Lots of guests and fans
The pianist Joja Wendt had already rehearsed for his performance in the morning. “It’s a great honor for a legend to play here,” said Wendt. “Of course it’s sad that such a great, maybe the greatest legend of German football has gone.” On the other hand, he believes one can look back on an eventful and very fulfilling life. Fans who came to the stadium early on described their feelings for Seeler: “It’s a great honor for us to be here,” said one woman. Another said: “You feel like you belong together and everyone had Uwe as their idol. It will always go on like this, Uwe is always the greatest.” A man from Niendorf said: “It is a great honor for us to be here”. Pictures from the life of Uwe Seeler were shown on the screen in the stadium.
Fegebank: “HSV and Seeler are one”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Carlo von Tiedemann, Dagmar Berghoff and Hamburg’s second mayor Katharina Fegebank (Greens) were also on site as guests: “HSV and Seeler are one. Far beyond his death, the name of Uwe Seeler will be remembered for a great one Sportsman stand,” she said to NDR 90.3. Chancellor Scholz said after the funeral service: “I’m touched.” For him, what was special about Seeler was that he remained so normal.
Uwe Seeler died at the age of 85
HSV idol Uwe Seeler died on July 21 at the age of 85. The city laid out a book of condolences for him in the town hall. In 2003, Seeler was awarded honorary citizenship by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
AUDIO: The funeral service for Uwe Seeler as a full audio report (66 min)
Will Volksparkstadion be renamed?
Further honors for “Us Uwe” are already being prepared. HSV investor Klaus-Michael Kühne, who currently holds the naming rights to the Volksparkstadion, has already discussed renaming it to the Uwe-Seeler-Stadion. There are also plans to name a street near the stadium after the four-time World Cup participant. Stadionstraße and Sylvesterallee between the stadium and the Barclays Arena would be suitable.
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