Just a few hours after the news of his death circulated on Thursday, Hamburg showed just how close he is to Uwe Seeler across all fan camps. For example, the Hamburg musician Jan Delay played in the Volksparkstadion, and although he is a self-confessed Werder-Bremen fan, he dedicated several songs to the football idol, including the title "Fun" - because that's exactly what Seeler stood for with his good mood.
Outside the stadium, on the other hand, Seeler fans gathered in front of the bronze foot dedicated to Seeler. They reverently lit candles and exchanged memories and thoughts. On a piece of paper was "Dear Uwe, our hero forever! Thanks. Eternal Example” to read. And so it continued on Friday, when active HSV professionals also came to the special memorial site and laid flowers. There were also many visitors in front of Ilka and Uwe Seeler's house in Norderstedt and in Hamburg City Hall, where a book of condolences was laid out. The upcoming funeral service should then be similar to how it was seven years ago after the death of Helmut Schmidt, when thousands of Hamburg residents lined the streets to say goodbye.
In Hamburg politics, the first considerations were quickly raised as to how Uwe Seeler could be honored in the cityscape in the long term. Is naming a street or a square enough? Are there other ways to remember the man who, like Heidi Kabel, Helmut Schmidt or Jan Fedder, stood for real, down-to-earth Hamburg? The Green State Chairwoman Maryam Blumenthal outlined this task as follows: “The honorary citizen leaves behind a sporting and human heritage that will continue to shape our city – and for which we must therefore find prominent contact.” SPD parliamentary group leader Dirk Kienscherf was more specific on Friday: "It would be conceivable to rename Sylvesterallee at the Volksparkstadion in close proximity to HSV, which Uwe Seeler loves so much," he says.
A specific proposal came from HSV investor Klaus-Michael Kühne, who owns the rights to the Hamburger SV venue until the end of the season and is said to have paid around three million euros for it. He is in favor of renaming the 57,000-seat arena: "If you want to rename the Volksparkstadion to the Uwe-Seeler-Stadion, I'll be there immediately, even if the traditional name would then no longer exist. As a Hamburg idol and monument, Uwe Seeler fully deserves the naming of the HSV stadium after his name,” said Kühne to the “Hamburger Abendblatt”.
Hamburg's Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) is certain: "With Uwe Seeler, our city loses a piece of itself - down-to-earth, honest, Hanseatic. He won people's hearts with his drive, fairness and straightforwardness and has become a sporting and human role model for many in Germany and beyond." Hamburgers to Schleswig-Holstein: "The close and long connection to Eiderstedt, the last place of residence in Norderstedt on the outskirts of his home town of Hamburg, made Schleswig-Holstein another important place in the life of Uwe Seeler." Park in Malente, the central educational facility of the Schleswig-Holstein Football Association, "his sportsmanship and values will live on and be passed on," he assured.
What is certain is that Hamburger SV's home game against Hansa Rostock on Sunday will be all about mourning the loss of Uwe Seeler. The team will wear black armbands and there will be speeches and a minute's silence. The organized fans are already preparing campaigns.
