The world of football mourns the passing of Andreas “Andy” Brehme. The former Inter and Germany full-back died in Munich of cardiac arrest. Brehme he was 63 years old. According to what the Bild, the former footballer was rushed to an emergency room near his home on the night between Monday and Tuesday, but the doctors were unable to save him. Brehme leaves behind his partner Susanne Schaefer and two adult children from his marriage to his ex-wife Pilar.
The family’s pain: “He died unexpectedly”
“It is with deep sadness that I announce, on behalf of the family, that my Andreas Brehme he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly following a cardiac arrest. We ask (that you respect our) privacy during this difficult time and that you refrain from asking questions,” her partner Susanne Schaefer said in a statement.
Ambidextrous full-back with great character
He was born on 9 November 1960 in Hamburg and began playing football as a child: at the age of 5 he was already kicking the ball for the first time in a local team coached by his father. Technically he was an ambidextrous full-back very quick across the entire flank even though his natural foot was the left. The main characteristic of him, however, was the determination on the pitch. He was able to score a long-range goal with his fractured foot after he came onto the pitch taking off his cast and using a bandage. After the match, however, he was forced to undergo surgery.
Successes alongside Matthäus
Rejected from Hamburg’s youth team, he refused to play for the second team and played in the third division with Saarbrucken, also winning the Under 21 national team shirt of the then West Germany. Then Kaiserslautern (where he was later also coach). But the consecration arrives at Bayern Munich where he meets Lothar Matthäus: wins the German championship and Super Cup, and reaches the final of the then European Cup in 1987 (Bayern Munich-Porto 1-2).
The “record scudetto” with Inter and the Italia ’90 World Cup
He arrived in Serie A in 1988 to play for Inter. With Matthäus he contributes to victory of the “record scudetto” by Giovanni Trapattoni in the 1988-89 season. In Milan, in addition to the scudetto, wins an Italian Super Cup and a UEFA Cup. He wore the Nerazzurri shirt from 1988 to 1992, collecting 154 appearances and 12 goals. In the 1990 he won the World Cup in Italy with Germany scoring the decisive goal on a penalty kick against Diego Armando Maradona’s Argentina. With Germany 86 appearances in total and also second place at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and at the 1992 European Championships.
“A magnificent player, a great Inter fan. Bye Andy”
Inter recalled Andy Brehme. “Hello Andy, forever legend. FC Internazionale Milano and the entire Inter world join in mourning the passing of Andreas Brehme and, in remembering him, embrace his family”, added the club on its website. Inter will take the field against Atletico Madrid wearing the mourning on the arm”.
Bayern’s condolences: “Always in our hearts”
Bayern is also in shock due to “the sudden death of Andreas Brehme”. The German club remembers it like this. the champion in a post on social media. “We will always keep him in our heartsas a world champion and even more as a very special person. He will always be part of the Bayern family. Rest in peace, dear Andi.”
Zenga: “You shouldn’t have done this to me”
“Hello my friend, or as I called you ‘Shazzy’, You didn’t have to do this to me, you didn’t have to do this to all of us“. This is how Walter Zenga, historic goalkeeper and captain of Inter, wanted to greet his former teammate on Instagram. “You left too soon my friend but I know that from up there you will protect us and as usual you will stand there and take penalties, one with the right and one with the left… Have a safe journey my friend, Rest In Peace, I won’t tell you that I’m crying because I know that you would hug me and would you tell me ‘come on Walter, I’m here’ Hi Andy”, concluded Zenga.