Andreas Brehme, scorer of the 1990 World Cup, dies

BERLIN:

Andreas Breme, whose 85th-minute penalty sealed West Germany’s victory over Argentina in the 1990 World Cup final, died on Tuesday night at the age of 63, his former club Bayern Munich said.

“FC Bayern is deeply shocked by the sudden death of Andreas Brehme,” the club said in a statement.

“We will always hold Andreas Brehme in our hearts. As a world champion and as a very special person.”

A versatile left-back, Bremen spent two seasons with Bayern Munich between 1986-1988, winning the Bundesliga in 1987.

As well as his World Cup heroics at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, Bremen has also had spells at club level, playing for Kaiserslautern and Inter, as well as Bayern, Saarbrücken and Real Zaragoza.

Bremen spent 10 years at Kaiserslautern, impressively captaining the team to the league title in 1998 as a newly promoted side.

Over two spells at the club as a player, Bremen also lifted the German Cup and went on to coach the Red Devils for two seasons in the early 2000s.

In Italy, Brehme will be remembered for his partnership with compatriots Juergen Klinsmann and Lother Matthaeus at Inter.

“A great player, a true Interista,” the Nerazzurri said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“Ciao Andi, forever a legend,” said Inter, for whom Brehme made over 150 appearances and won the Serie A title.

Inter said their players would wear black armbands in honor of Bremen during their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid later on Tuesday at the San Siro.

Bremen’s World Cup teammates have reacted with shock to the death of the national team hero.

“Andi was always positive and radiated pure life. He was a wonderful person, a wonderful friend,” defender Guido Buchwald told AFP’s sports news affiliate SID.

Bremen’s death comes shortly after the death of another German football legend, Franz Beckenbauer.

Beckenbauer, who died in January, was the coach when West Germany won their third World Cup title.

“Unfortunately, the sad news doesn’t stop,” midfielder Pierre Littbarski told SID.

“This is very, very sad for German football and especially for us, the 1990 world champions.”

Rudi Voeller, another of Brehme’s colleagues in the national team, said the death left him “infinitely saddened”.

“Andy was our hero at the World Cup, but for me even more — he was my close friend and partner,” Voller said in a statement released by the German Football Association (DFB).

Bremen played 86 times for his country, although nothing could top his exploits against Diego Maradona’s Argentina in Rome.

Bremen scored the only goal in the 1990 final, stepping up to take the penalty instead of team captain Matthias, who did not want to take responsibility after changing his boots at half-time.

“No matter where I am, at the airport, out shopping, I’m always asked about it,” Brehme had told SID.

“I didn’t think about the significance of that penalty. I didn’t think about anything,” said Breme, who calmly slotted the ball into the corner to the keeper’s right.

“Andreas Brehme is one of the greatest and best footballers in German history,” said DFB president Bernd Neuendorf.