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World champion Andreas Brehme died unexpectedly on Tuesday at the age of 63
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HJS / IMAGO
The news of the unexpected death of world champion Andreas Brehme shocked German football. Former clubs and companions react with sadness and dismay. Brehme's former club FC Bayern Munich, with whom he became German champion in 1987, was among the first to condole with the family.
»FC Bayern is deeply shocked by the sudden death of Andreas Brehme. The German record champion is united in mourning with his relatives and friends. We will always keep Andreas Brehme in our hearts. As a world champion and even more as a very special person," Bayern said: "He will always be a part of the FC Bayern family. Rest in peace, dear Andi!”
Munich's honorary president Uli Hoeneß also reacted with dismay: "I am incredibly sad about this shocking news. None of us will ever forget Andreas Brehme - because he is more than a 1-0 win in the World Cup final in Rome. We have lost a great person and a loyal friend."
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who played with Brehme on the national team, was “deeply affected and shocked. We played the 1986 World Cup together in Mexico and Andi was a great team player, extremely loyal and reliable. His joy for life was always contagious, and the fact that he had to leave us at the age of 63 makes me very sad," said Rummenigge.
The German Football Association paid tribute to Brehme with emotional words. "I can not believe it. The news of Andreas' sudden death makes me incredibly sad," said Rudi Völler, director of the senior national team and long-time companion of Brehme: "Andi was our World Cup hero, but for me even more - he was my close friend and companion to this day.”
Inter Milan plays with mourning ribbon
He will miss Brehme's wonderful joy of life, Völler added: "My thoughts are now with his surviving relatives, his friends, and especially with his two sons. I wish them all a lot of strength.«
1. FC Kaiserslautern, with whom he sensationally became Bundesliga champions in 1998, also expressed their dismay. “The FCK mourns the loss of Andreas Brehme,” wrote the Palatinate team. »He wore the Red Devils jersey for a total of ten years and became German champion and cup winner with FCK. In 1990 he shot the German national team to the World Cup title with his penalty and finally became a football legend. The club also posted pictures of Brehme showing him as a player and coach at FCK.
Former companions from abroad also reported Brehme's death. »A great player, a great Interista. Ciao Andy, forever a legend," wrote Inter Milan, where Brehme became Italian champion and UEFA Cup winner together with Lothar Matthäus and Jürgen Klinsmann. In Italy, Brehme was even voted athlete of the year. Inter announced that they would play their Champions League game against Atlético Madrid in the evening with a mourning ribbon.
“A young Hamburger and World Cup hero has left us,” wrote Hamburger SV, where Brehme once took part in a trial training session but was never under contract. »We express our condolences and sympathy to the family, relatives and friends. May “Andi” rest in peace!”
According to his family, Brehme died of a heart attack on Tuesday night. He was only 63 years old. Brehme scored the winning goal for Germany in the 1990 World Cup final in Rome against Argentina.
ara/dpa