Farewell to Jürgen Grabowski: "The best that Eintracht has ever had"

That worked.

In an extremely stylish and dignified funeral service, Eintracht publicly bid farewell to Jürgen Grabowski.

It was the right decision to do this exactly where the Eintracht icon, who died at the age of 77, worked: on the football field in the Waldstadion.

The list of those who came on Saturday to pay their respects to the world and European champions, UEFA and DFB Cup winners was long and long.

Rudi Völler was there, as was of course Wolfgang Overath from the 1974 World Cup team, who also gave a speech for the first time and publicly since his election as the new DFB President Bernd Neuendorf.

The first man of the German Football Association (DFB) said: "Jürgen Grabowski deserves a place in the history books of football.

But he also remains so unforgotten because of his successes and his fine character.

He wore the eagle with Eintracht and the DFB with full devotion.

The national team was his second home.

He was a real team player who always put the success of the team above his own ego.

Jürgen was one of the greatest German national players in terms of sport and personality.”

One that his friend Overath remembered with a lot of empathy.

"To the best Eintracht has ever had.

To a "very fine guy who has never pushed himself to the fore".

Grabowski, the grand seigneur, who dizzily dribbled his opponents and enjoyed the greatest respect, both sportingly and personally.

"True Ambassador of the City"

Franz Beckenbauer also wanted to be present at the funeral service, as Overath said.

"But Franz got infected with Corona." Head of sports department Mike Josef, who spoke for the city of Frankfurt, praised Grabowski as a "real ambassador of the city", which his character made him.

"We owe you a lot, the city will remain connected to you forever," said Josef at the funeral service, where stadium chaplain and football friend Eugen Eckert led through the program.

Friends, teammates, companions, fans: they all came.

Not only Grabowski's congenial teammate Bernd Hölzenbein, but also the entire team of licensed players, led by coach Oliver Glasner, sat in the stadium and kept looking up at the video cube, on which pictures from Grabowski's eventful football life could be seen.

"Your life was unity," said Peter Fischer, who spoke freely as usual.

The Frankfurt President was also moved and, just like before the Bundesliga game against Bochum, when the entire stadium commemorated Eintracht's greatest player three days after Grabowski's death, emphasized that his wife Helga could always rely on Eintracht.

"Jürgen, you always spoke for Eintracht, it was always your team, you defended the boys even after poor performances," said Fischer.

"Your life was unity.

We will always talk about you, our songs with you will always remain.

Take care Jürgen, there are a couple of guys waiting for your dribbles up there.”