Pele, the Brazilian soccer nice, included Seeler in his checklist of the world’s biggest residing gamers in 2004.
“His dealing with of the ball was excellent, his shot exact, and what actually amazed me was his means to move the ball,” Pele mentioned.
In a particular complement to have a good time Seeler’s eightieth birthday in 2016, the Hamburg membership wrote: “If Uwe Seeler laced up his boots, then the opposing goalkeeper may costume up warmly and ideally placed on a second pair of gloves, as a result of Seeler scored from in every single place and in each attainable approach. Whether or not overhead kicks, flying headers, photographs from distance, volleys, lobs, opportunist strikes — he at all times discovered a approach to get the ball over the road.”
Seeler gained the German championship in 1960 and the German Cup in 1963 with Hamburg, however he additionally endured heartbreak with close to misses within the European Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Hamburg misplaced to Barcelona within the European Cup semifinals in 1961 and to Milan within the Cup Winners’ Cup last in 1968.
Seeler, who was born in Hamburg on Nov. 5, 1936, suffered repeated well being setbacks in recent times. In Could 2020 he underwent an operation to restore a damaged hip after a nasty fall at house. He misplaced his listening to in his proper ear and had issues with stability after a automobile accident in 2010. He additionally had a pacemaker fitted and needed to have a tumor faraway from his shoulder, the information company DPA reported.
Seeler and his spouse, Ilka, have been married for greater than 60 years. That they had three daughters. His grandson Levin Öztunali performs for the Bundesliga membership Union Berlin. Seeler’s older brother, Dieter, additionally performed for Hamburg. His father, Erwin, labored on a barge in Hamburg’s port and was additionally identified for enjoying soccer in that metropolis.
Full info on survivors was not instantly accessible.
