Several Berlin football greats have expressed their dismay after the death of Andreas Brehme. The 1990 world champion died on Tuesday night at the age of 63. Berlin-born Thomas “Icke” Häßler told rbb|24: “He was the best left-back in the world, he played with both feet just as well with his right and left foot.”
Together with Brehme, Häßler won the 1990 World Championships in Italy. “Above all, he was a great person, a great character. I am very sad, Andi died far too early at the age of 63,” said Häßler.
The winning goal scorer from the 1990 World Cup final against Argentina died of a heart attack. His partner Susanne Schaefer confirmed this to the German Press Agency on behalf of the family. Brehme played 86 international matches for the German national team.
Berlin-born Pierre Littbarski was also affected. “I am infinitely shocked. I will miss Andi very much as a player and especially as a person,” said Brehme’s teammate at the 1990 World Cup to the sports information service. “Unfortunately, the sad news doesn’t stop. This is very, very sad for German football and especially for us, the 1990 world champions.”
Just a few weeks after the death of then team boss Franz Beckenbauer, German football lost another key figure from the national team that won Germany’s third World Cup title in 1990. Brehme was one of the outstanding players at the finals in Italy. In the final in Rome he scored the winning goal shortly before the end to make it 1-0 with a penalty.
The Hamburg native played in a total of three World Cup finals. In 1986 he also reached the final with Germany, losing to Argentina. He experienced his best time as a club player at Inter Milan, where he became champion (1989) and UEFA Cup winner (1991). In the Bundesliga he played for 1. FC Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern and Bayern Munich. He also won the German championship with Kaiserslautern and Bayern. After his career, the former full-back entered the coaching business, but was unable to build on his success as a player.
Union Berlin head coach Nenad Bjelica also remembered his deceased companion. “Rest in peace, coach,” the Croatian wrote on Instagram on Tuesday alongside a photo that showed Brehme with the championship trophy in his hands. As a professional, the 52-year-old Bjelica celebrated his Bundesliga debut for 1. FC Kaiserslautern under coach Brehme at the end of January 2001. In addition to Kaiserslautern, Brehme also coached SpVgg Unterhaching and was an assistant coach at VfB Stuttgart.
There were also expressions of sadness from the official Köpenick club website after Brehme’s death. “A great player, coach and person has left us,” the club announced on the X platform. You can also see a photo of Brehme and coach Bjelica together, who is quoted below with an expression of condolence.
Broadcast: The Day, February 20, 2024, 6 p.m