Andreas Brehme: A Legend of German Football

The world of football is mourning the loss of Andreas Brehme, one of the greatest left-backs of all time and the hero of Germany’s 1990 World Cup triumph. Brehme, who died at the age of 63 from a cardiac arrest, was a versatile and attacking defender who could play on either flank and score with both feet. He was also a leader and a winner, who lifted trophies with Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Kaiserslautern.

The 1990 World Cup Hero

Brehme’s finest moment came in the 1990 World Cup final in Italy, when he calmly converted an 85th-minute penalty with his right foot to give West Germany a 1-0 victory over Argentina and their third world title. It was a fitting reward for a player who had been instrumental in his team’s campaign, scoring in the semi-final against England and providing several assists. Brehme was also part of the West Germany side that lost the 1986 World Cup final to Argentina, as well as the teams that reached the semi-finals of Euro 1984 and Euro 1988.

A Star in Europe

Brehme’s club career was equally impressive, as he played for some of the biggest teams in Europe. He started his career with HSV Barmbek-Uhlenhorst, before joining 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 1981. He moved to Bayern Munich in 1986, where he won the Bundesliga in 1987 and formed a formidable partnership with Lothar Matthäus. In 1988, he followed Matthäus to Inter Milan, where he won the Serie A in 1989 and the UEFA Cup in 1991, under the guidance of Giovanni Trapattoni. He also played for Real Zaragoza in Spain, before returning to Kaiserslautern in 1993. He helped the club win the German Cup in 1996 and the Bundesliga in 1998, becoming the first team to win the league title after being promoted from the second division.

A Respected Coach and Person

Brehme retired from playing in 1998, having made 509 club appearances and scored 65 goals. He also earned 86 caps for West Germany and Germany, scoring eight goals. Later he became a coach, managing Kaiserslautern, SpVgg Unterhaching and VfB Stuttgart as an assistant. And he was widely respected and admired by his peers, fans and the media, who praised his skill, professionalism and character. He is survived by his partner Susanne Schaefer and his two sons, Pascal and Fabian. He will be remembered as one of the legends of German football and a true gentleman of the game.