Mourning for HSV idol: football legend Uwe Seeler is dead

He was one of the greatest football idols in Germany – and the long-standing HSV centre-forward always remained loyal to his club. Now Uwe Seeler is behind NDR-Information died at the age of 85.

Former German national soccer player Uwe Seeler is dead. He died at home with his family at the age of 85, as his former club Hamburger SV confirmed. For a long time, Seeler had repeatedly struggled with health problems. Most recently, he fell in his house in the spring and had to be treated in the hospital.

Seeler, who was born in Hamburg on November 5, 1936, was a long-time centre-forward at Hamburger SV. His popularity was based not only on his athletic but also on his human qualities. He was the epitome of down-to-earthness, modesty, honesty and loyalty. Although he was considered one of the greatest players of his time, he turned down offers from other clubs and stayed at HSV.

In 1961, for example, he resisted an offer worth millions from Inter Milan and preferred home and family. Coach Helenio Herrera, who negotiated with Seeler for three days and added more and more salary, was shocked in the end. He confessed that he had never seen anyone go without so much money.

Vice World Champion 1966

“Uns Uwe” played for HSV from 1946 to 1973. He became German champion with the club and also won the DFB Cup, and he was repeatedly voted footballer of the year. In the first season of the newly founded Bundesliga in 1963/64 he became the first top scorer. From October 1995 to June 1998 he also acted as President of HSV.

For the German national soccer team, Seeler played 72 times and scored 43 goals. He was at four World Cups. In 1966 he captained the German team to the World Cup final at London’s Wembley Stadium against England, which Germany lost in extra time and also because of the infamous Wembley goal.

His last tournament was the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, where he finished third with the team. After his career, Seeler was appointed honorary captain. Despite all the sporting successes, one dream remained unfulfilled. “If I’ve been to four world championships, I would have liked to win the title,” said Seeler later. “But I wasn’t lucky. Still, everything was beautiful. I don’t miss anything.”

“The most beautiful thing is to be normal”

Even if it was never enough for a really big international title, Seeler was one of the best-known and most popular German footballers. The “kicker” once described him as a “soccer idol without an expiry date”. HSV was a matter of the heart for Seeler until his death. He even interrupted his vacations at his North Sea home in St. Peter-Ording to watch the team’s home games.

“The best thing in the world is to be normal,” said the bearer of the Great Federal Cross of Merit before his 85th birthday in November 2021. “I’m perfectly normal, and I like that.”