image source, Getty Images
Brehme celebrates scoring against Argentina in the 1990 World Cup final
Former German national team defender Andreas Brehme, who scored the winning goal in the 1990 World Cup final, has died at the age of 63.
Brehme scored a late penalty in the 1990 tournament final, securing victory against Argentina in Rome.
He won 86 caps (including eight goals) and league titles for his country with Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.
Brehme's partner, Susanne Schäfer, told German news agency DPA that Brehme “died suddenly” from cardiac arrest.
A versatile left-back, Brehme played for Bayern from 1986 to 1988, winning the Bundesliga title with Bayern in 1987.
“FC Bayern is deeply shocked by the sudden death of Andreas Brehme,” the German club said.
“We will always hold Andreas Brehme in our hearts as a world champion and as an even more special person.
“He will always be part of the FC Bayern family. Rest in peace, dear Andy.”
Brehme played for Kaiserslautern from 1981 to 1986 and from 1993 to 1998.
During his time with the club, he won the Bundesliga in 1998 and the German Cup in 1996, and was also the manager from 2000 to 2002.
Kaiserslautern issued a statement: “FCK mourns the death of Andreas Brehme.''
“He wore the Red Devils jersey for a total of 10 years and became German champion and cup winner with FCK.
“In 1990, he led the German national team to the World Cup title with a penalty kick and finally became a soccer legend.”
Brehme helped Inter Milan win the Serie A title in 1989, and the Italian club will host Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 run, with players in attendance. He announced that he would wear a black armband.
“A great player, a true Interista,'' Inter said. “Ciao Andy, an eternal legend.”
Brehme was a “great team player”
Brehme also scored when his country defeated England on penalties in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Association, said: “Andreas Brehme is one of the greatest and best football players in German history. German football has a lot to be grateful to him for.''
Former Germany forwards Rudi Voller and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also paid tribute to their former teammate.
“Andy was our World Cup hero, but more than that to me he was a close friend and comrade,” Voller said.
Rummenigge added: “We played together at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and Andy was a great team player, extremely loyal and reliable.
“His love for life was contagious. The fact that he has already passed away at the age of 63 makes me very sad.”
Former Germany captain Philipp Lahm won the World Cup with his country in 2014 and the full-back made over 500 appearances for Bayern Munich during his glittering career.
He said Brehme was some of his earliest soccer memories, watching him score the famous penalty against Argentina at the age of six.
“Brehme became one of my idols at the Italy World Cup,” he said in a post on social media.
“There was a look of concentration and determination in his eyes as he began to take the decisive penalty kick in the final against Argentina…and when he took the shot, he couldn't have been more precise. That never happened.
“Andy Brehme was an early modern defender who played not only on the left but also on the right. This also made him a decisive part of my career.
“But there was no one stronger than him. This morning we received the news that Andy Brehme has passed away. It's a sad day for German football and for me. May he rest in peace.”
