By Andrew Lord
20 February 2024
Andreas Brehme, who scored the winning goal in the 1990 World Cup final against Argentina, has died aged 63.
His partner Susanne Schaefer said he died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack in Munich.
His passing comes just 44 days after the death of his friend and mentor Franz Beckenbauer, who once called Brehme the best player Germany had.
His ex-club Bayern Munich released the following statement:
“FC Bayern is deeply shocked by the sudden death of Andreas Brehme. The German record champion is united in mourning with his relatives and friends.
We will always keep Andreas Brehme in our hearts – as a world champion and even more so as a very special person. He will always be part of the FC Bayern family. Rest in peace, dear Andi!”
Cool-headed World Cup winner
Brehme earned 86 caps for West Germany, scoring eight goals. His greatest moment and most nervewracking test came when he stepped up to take the 85th-minute penalty in the 1990 World Cup final as teammate Lothar Matthäus had issues with one of his boots and didn’t feel confident enough to take the spot kick with boots he had only worn in training. Brehme slotted the ball past keeper Sergio Goycochea with his right foot to avenge Germany’s loss to the Argentinians in the 1986 World Cup final in Mexico.
The left-back, who also operated in the left midfield and central midfield positions, began his professional career at Saarbrücken in 1980. He signed for Kaiserslautern for 65,000 Euros in 1981. In 1986, he signed for Bayern Munich and won his first Bundesliga title in 1987. In 1988, he joined Lothar Matthäus and Jürgen Klinsmann at Inter Milan and celebrated the second national title of his career when Inter won Serie A in 1989 followed by the UEFA Cup in 1991.
The Italian club paid tribute to their former player: “A magnificent player, a true Interista. Ciao Andi, forever a legend.”
After a short spell at Real Zaragoza, he returned to Kaiserslautern in 1993.
From tears of sorrow to tears of joy
In 1996, Kaiserslautern won the German Cup, but the Red Devils were also relegated from the Bundesliga. Brehme was inconsolable when the demotion was confirmed and cried when interviewed after the final whistle.
Brehme, who viewed it as his duty to right the wrong and stay with Kaiserslautern in the second division, was rewarded when the club bounced back to the Bundesliga at the first attempt, 10 points ahead of VfL Wolfsburg and Hertha Berlin. In the 1997/98 season, Kaiserslautern faced Bayern Munich in their first game of the season and shocked the reigning champions with a 1-0 win at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. The result was no flash in the pan as Kaiserslautern went on to win the Bundesliga as rank outsiders, the first time a German team had ever won the second division title and follow by the Bundesliga title in the subsequent season.
Kaiserslautern paid a special tribute to Brehme: “The FCK mourns the loss of Andreas Brehme. He wore the Red Devils jersey for 10 years and became German champion and cup winner with FCK. In 1990, he shot the German national team to the World Cup title with his penalty and finally became a football legend.”
Ex-teammate Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said on the Bayern Munich website: “I’m deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Andi Brehme’s death. We played together at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and Andi was a great team player, who was extremely loyal and reliable. His love of life was infectious. The fact he’s already gone at the age of 63 makes me very sad.”
After retiring as a player, he was the trainer of Kaiserlautern and SpVgg Unterhaching and was co-trainer of VfB Stuttgart.
© Andrew Lord 2024
German Football 