"Us Uwe" is dead. The news of the death of Uwe Seeler (1936-2022) hit the football world and all of Germany deeply. Many say goodbye to an idol, but above all to a person who became an icon with his down-to-earth attitude.
"Germany mourns 'Us Uwe'," writes Chancellor Olaf Scholz (64) on Twitter. "He will be missed." Seeler was "a role model for many, a football legend and of course an honorary citizen of Hamburg". Scholz gave the after-dinner speech for the former striker's 80th birthday: "We all want to be like 'Us Uwe': self-confident and modest."
Hamburger SV, to which he had always remained loyal, declared in a statement that the club had lost "the greatest athlete in its history". "Due to his very down-to-earth, fair and loyal demeanor, Seeler has acquired a reputation as an absolute man of honour". He is also "the greatest HSVer of all time".
"Uwe Seeler stands for everything that characterizes a good person: down-to-earth, loyalty, joie de vivre, and he was always approachable. He is the epitome of HSV," explains board member Jonas Boldt (40) in a statement. In particular, he will remember Seeler's last birthday last November. The deceased "talked shop, asked about his HSV, gave me tips and a few sayings. We will never forget him and will always cherish him."
National coach Hansi Flick (57) also emphasized in a statement that Seeler was a role model "for generations of national players. With his down-to-earth, modest and reserved manner, he also inspired people off the pitch and won them over. His name is a symbol of club loyalty and Loyalty [...] We all in the national team and in the DFB will miss him very much."
"We mourn the loss of an outstanding footballer, a special person. And a good friend," said DFB General Secretary Heike Ullrich. He was "outstanding" both as a person and as a footballer. Meanwhile, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf (61) describes him as "one of the best footballers Germany has ever had. [...] His death makes us incredibly sad. Uwe Seeler will be missed by the DFB and all of German football. We will 'Miss us Uwe' very much".
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (52) writes on Twitter that "German football and the entire sports world are losing an absolute icon". "The death of the fair sportsman and folk hero of integrity makes me very sad. He will be missed."
With Seeler, "the Hanseatic city of Hamburg is losing an exceptional footballer and a special person. Bye, Uwe," says the homepage of his hometown. Mayor Peter Tschentscher (56) also reported on Twitter: "Hamburg mourns the loss of its honorary citizen. With Uwe Seeler, our city loses a piece of itself - down-to-earth, honest, Hanseatic. Heartfelt condolences to his wife, family, relatives and friends. "
One is "separated in color, united in grief," says the FC St. Pauli Twitter account. The club also mourns the loss of Seeler, who was "an outstanding footballer and Hamburger, a role model for fairness and down-to-earthness".
"The news of Uwe's death caused me deep sadness, because we had a close, friendly relationship," explains Dr. Reinhard Rauball, President of Borussia Dortmund, in an obituary. "There is nobody who didn't like Uwe Seeler. That's why my heartfelt condolences go not only to Uwe's family, but to the entire HSV family."
"Anyone who thinks of German football and its greatest thinks of Uwe Seeler. His death is a painful loss for the whole football family," said Oliver Kahn (53), CEO of FC Bayern. "Seeler stood for honest football, for loyalty and humanity, he was a player with heart and for hearts - we will always remember him as one of the very special people in the sport."
Well-known names from the entertainment sector are also saying goodbye to Uwe Seeler. Musician and rapper Jan Delay (46) publishes a joint picture on Instagram and writes that Seeler was the "very great" who "GOA.T." ("Greatest Of All Time"). "A piece of Hamburg also died there."
"Someone left who was much more than a great footballer, a great sportsman and person! Always gave more than he took," says moderator Frank Buschmann (57) on Twitter and his colleague Nova Meierhenrich (48) shares how Delay a photo with Seeler on Instagram. She writes: "Take care, Uwe..."
