51,500 spectators in a packed arena: That would have been exactly what Jürgen Grabowski would have wanted for his Eintracht game against VfL Bochum.
But "only" 25,000 were allowed - and they also showed great sensitivity when it came to paying their last respects to the great Frankfurt soccer strategist in a dignified setting and with a minute's silence.
Him, the honorary captain of Eintracht, soccer world champion in 1974, DFB Cup winner in 1974 and 1975 and UEFA Cup winner in 1980. The icon, legend and integration figure of Eintracht died on Thursday evening at the age of 77 after a long illness in his hometown of Wiesbaden.
For fans of Eintracht, “his” Eintracht, there is no question: “Heroes live long and legends never die.
But only gods are resurrected.
See you soon, Grabi!”
So it was written in huge white letters on the north-west curve.
Fifteen minutes before kick-off, a short film about Jürgen Grabowski was shown on the video cube above the kick-off circle.
About the ingenious, always humble professional who has won the hearts of millions of football fans and whose death has torn a huge gap.
There was only one like “Grabi” at Eintracht.
Peter Fischer found moving words to commemorate the club's greatest player.
The president, who held Grabowski's wife Helga in his arms together with Bundesliga record player Karl-Heinz Körbel, spoke of a "difficult day.
Each of us has pictures, experiences, memories, scenes of Jürgen in our heads.” Fischer read out the saying from the curve – and he corrected it, because for Fischer there is no question: “Jürgen will never fully walk.” Addressing Grabowski’s widow, Fischer promised, looking across the stadium and at the spectators, now and forever: "Helga, this is your family."