Uwe Seeler, who captained West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final in England and who is considered one of the best players in Germany’s soccer history, died Thursday.
He was 85.
Seeler was Germany’s seventh all-time goal-scorer, connecting for 43 goals in 72 matches.
He participated in four World Cups – 1958, 1962, 1966, and 1970, becoming the first player to score goals in four World Cup. He scored nine goals in those World Cups and won the German Footballer of the Year three times.
Seeler also competed in one of the most memorable World Cup finals ever – England’s 4-2 extratime triumph at Wembley.
“Rest in peace, Uwe Seeler,” the German Football Association said on Twitter. “A national team honorary captain and footballing legend, Uwe Seeler has passed away at the age of 85. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with his family and loved ones.”
Seeler played his entire 19-year career at Hamburg, recording 404 goals in 476 Bundesliga appearances.
“With Uwe Seeler, HSV has lost the greatest sportsman in its club history,” Hamburg stated. “It was not only Seeler’s sporting successes and records that were unparalleled, but above all his down-to-earth, fair and loyal manner that earned the Hamburg-born player a reputation as an absolute man of honour and coined the phrase: ‘I’m no better than anyone else, I’m just a normal person. I just played football.’ ”
