German football mourns the loss of one of its great legends!
GDR record scorer Joachim Streich is dead! The “Gerd Müller of the East” died two days after his 71st birthday after a long, serious illness. This was reported by the “Ostsee-Zeitung” and was also confirmed by those closest to him.
He had been suffering from advanced myelodysplastic syndrome for a long time. In March, BILD reported that a stem cell transplant had to be postponed due to pneumonia.
Streich was a legend of East German football. He played 102 international matches and was twice “Footballer of the Year” in the East (1979, 1983). Just a few weeks ago, he was inducted into the German Football Hall of Fame.
He scored two goals at the 1974 World Cup and was also in the starting XI in the legendary 1-0 win over Germany. Two years earlier he had won the bronze medal with East Germany at the Olympic Games in Munich.
Born in Wismar, he went to Rostock at the age of 16. There he made his debut in the GDR Oberliga when he was still a teenager. Then in 1975/76 he moved to Magdeburg. With the traditional club he won the FDGB Cup three times.
He played in the Oberliga for a total of 16 years and broke all records in East German football during this time: record goalscorer in the Oberliga (229 goals), record scorer in the GDR national team (55 goals), record national player.
After the fall of the Wall, he also tried his hand as a coach in the West. In 1990/91 he worked for Eintracht Braunschweig in the second division, but was released before the end of the season. His other commitments in Magdeburg and at FSV Zwickau were also unsuccessful.
His ex-club Hansa Rostock has already commented on the death of the honorary member, announcing the second division game against Jahn Regensburg on Sunday (1.30 p.m. / live on Sky and in the BILD.de live ticker) with black armbands.
1. FC Magdeburg also wrote on its website: “The entire blue and white family is united in deep sadness and heartfelt condolences to his family, but also in gratitude for everything Joachim Streich has done for 1. FC Magdeburg… Joachim Streich will live on in the hearts of all club members and fans and the memory of ‘our record goalscorer’ will always be cherished.”