Willi Lemke is dead. The politician and former manager of Werder Bremen died at the age of 77. His family and his club are in mourning.
Willi Lemke is dead. The politician and former manager of the Bundesliga football club Werder Bremen died on Monday, August 12th, in Bremen. His family has now announced this in an obituary. Lemke was 77 years old. His relatives stated that the cause of death was a brain hemorrhage. “His death makes us very sad and stunned, but we were very lucky that we were able to accompany him together in his final hours of life,” the obituary says. Willi Lemke leaves behind a wife and four children.
“After an eventful professional life as Werder manager, senator and UN special ambassador, Willi will remain in our memory above all as a loving, caring husband, father, grandfather and family man who loved and cherished life and friendships,” the relatives said.
Wilfried “Willi” Lemke was born on August 19, 1946 in Pönitz in Schleswig-Holstein and grew up in Hamburg. There, as a high school student, he became German schoolboy champion in 1965 with the 4 x 400 meter relay team.
Willi Lemke: Between SPD and Werder Bremen
Lemke later studied educational and sports science in Hamburg, and after his first state examination he moved to the University of Bremen. There he joined the SPD and was active in its youth organization Jusos. In 1974 he became managing director of the SPD regional association in Bremen.
But alongside politics, his love of sport remained. In 1981, he became manager of Werder Bremen. With coach Otto Rehhagel (86), he built a team that became German champions in 1987 and won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992. Lemke’s public feud with his Munich counterpart Uli Hoeneß (72) during this time is legendary.
After ending his work as a manager in 1995, Lemke stayed with Werder Bremen as chairman of the supervisory board, among other things. At the same time, he started his career in state politics. In 1999, he became Senator for Education and Science. In 2005, Lemke wanted to become head of government of the Hanseatic city, but did not receive enough votes. In 2007, he became Senator for the Interior and Sport instead.
But Bremen was not enough. From 2008 to 2016, Willi Lemke was “UN Special Advisor on Sport for Peace and Development”
“Green-white world stands still” Werder Bremen mourns Willi Lemke
Not only his closest relatives, but also his sporting family mourns Willi Lemke. “The green and white world stands still,” .
“The former manager and long-time chairman of the supervisory board died on Monday in Bremen at the age of 77,” the statement said. And: “A busy and eventful life has come to an end. Willi Lemke shaped SV Werder for almost two decades and played a decisive role in shaping an exceptionally successful era.”
Even the big northern rival, Hamburger SV, did not miss the opportunity to offer their condolences. “A figurehead of German football is leaving the stage of life. Our thoughts are with his family and relatives. May Willi rest in peace,” commented HSV on Instagram.
Source: Stern
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