“Us Uwe” took part in four World Cup tournaments, was runner-up in the 1966 World Cup in England and third in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. As one of the best center forwards of his time, he was the icon of the HSV club, for which he played during his active career.
The popularity of the former top scorer was not only based on his sporting fame with many head goals and overhead kicks, but also on his human qualities. “The best thing in the world is to be normal,” said Seeler before his 85th birthday in November 2021. “I’m perfectly normal and I like that.” He rarely turned down requests for a personal interview or autographs on his travels.
“Confident and Humble”
“We all want to be like ‘Us Uwe’: self-confident and modest. He will be missed,” wrote Chancellor Olaf Scholz. National coach Hansi Flick also called Seeler “a role model for generations of national players”. Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn said: “Anyone who thinks of German football and its greatest thinks of Uwe Seeler.” In honor of Seeler, the German women’s team wear a black ribbon in the quarter-finals of the European Championship against Austria. There will be a minute’s silence before the game, according to UEFA.
Shortly after Seeler’s death became known, fans at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion laid flowers on the bronze statue depicting a foot of the former HSV player and president (1995 to 1998). His down-to-earth attitude also included resisting an offer from Inter Milan worth millions in 1961. Inter coach Helenio Herrera, who negotiated with Seeler for three days and added more and more salary, was shocked. He confessed that he had never seen anyone give up so much money. Seeler preferred home and family.
Dream of world title remained unfulfilled
The dream of winning the world championship remained unfulfilled. “Nevertheless, everything was beautiful. I don’t miss anything,” he said. His track record: 507 goals in 587 competitive games for HSV, 72 international matches with 43 goals between 1954 and 1970, three times footballer of the year, German champion and cup winner.
As far as his health allowed, Seeler attended the home games of his HSV. Recently, he has often struggled with health problems. Since a car accident through no fault of his own in 2010, he has been deaf in his right ear and complained of problems with his balance. In addition, Seeler received a pacemaker and had to have a tumor in his shoulder removed. He recently fell several times in his house in Norderstedt near Hamburg. He once fractured his right hip and three ribs. He was less and less able to attend appointments and invitations.
“Everything done right”
Seeler has almost no regrets in his life. “I think I’ve done everything right so far. I’m happy and so is my family,” he said about his 85th birthday. He only described two things as a wrong decision: on the one hand, the unfortunate presidency at HSV from 1995 to 1998, when he failed due to finances and false friends, on the other hand, the construction of a swimming pool in his own garden. Both times, Seeler had not listened to his wife Ilka’s advice.
Source: Nachrichten
