German football legend Joachim Streich dies
German football legend, former star Joachim Strich, the record holder for the number of participations with the East German national team, passed away at the age of 71, his wife told the German News Agency (dpa) today.
Strish passed away yesterday evening, after he celebrated his 71st birthday on April 13.
"We had hope until the end," said Marita Strish, the wife of the former striker who suffered from myelodysplastic syndrome, which in its worst-case scenario could lead to leukemia.
Strish underwent treatment in recent weeks after developing severe anemia, and had to postpone a stem cell transplant due to pneumonia.
Strech scored 55 goals in 102 matches with the East German national team, and also holds the record for the number of posts and goals with his country.
Strech spent a successful professional period with Magdeburg between 1975 and 1985 and won the East German Cup three times, which is the second most important club championship in East Germany.
"We are heartbroken and saddened that the club's legend Joachim Strech passed away today at the age of 71 after a short and serious illness," Magdeburg, the third-division competitor, wrote on his Twitter account.
Because of his extreme cunning, Streich was always compared to German legend Gerd Muller, who won the 1974 World Cup with his country.
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