Uwe Seeler

There were times when spectators at Germany’s international matches would chant “Uwe, Uwe!” at the top of their voices, even when Uwe wasn’t actually on the pitch. The support from the stands was directed at the whole team, born of a collective affection for the footballing idol par excellence: Uwe Seeler. Hardly any other player in the history of German football has been shown as much unreserved affection by the fans as the Hamburger SV player. Why might that have been?

First and foremost, he did what a centre-forward is particularly valued for exceptionally well. He scored goals. Lots of them, beautiful ones, decisive ones. Mostly with the instep, occasionally with a bicycle kick – and once even with the back of his head. That was in the 1970 World Cup quarter-final against England. Ever since, any goal scored in a similar manner has been described as: ‘Just like Uwe Seeler used to’.

Moreover, the fans appreciated his down-to-earth nature and his loyalty to the club. He resisted the lure of big money from abroad just as much as he withstood the relentless – and not always fair – man-to-man marking of his opponents. His worst injury, however, was sustained without any contact from an opponent. A ruptured Achilles tendon sidelined him in February 1965. But only temporarily, even though such a diagnosis effectively meant the end of his career at the time.

Yet the ‘little fat one’, as he was affectionately known due to his modest height of 1.68m, was a true fighter. Both on and off the pitch. He made his comeback after just four months and, on his return to the national team, played a key role in securing qualification for the World Cup in England. There, he celebrated his greatest international success by finishing as World Cup runners-up. Seeler was captain of a team whose fair play helped to correct the image of Germany – which was still perceived with hostility at the time – in the host country.

In 1970, he became the first sportsman ever to be awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Uwe Seeler is one of the greatest role models in German football. “Our Uwe”, as they say.