There is great sadness not only in Frankfurt after the death of club legend Bernd Hölzenbein. The 1974 world champion is also remembered elsewhere.
Frankfurt - The death of Eintracht icon Bernd Hölzenbein shocks the German football republic. It's not just the flags at Eintracht Frankfurt that are literally flying at half-mast: after the loss of the former exceptional offensive player, who won the World Cup title with the German national team in 1974 and the DFB Cup three times and the UEFA Cup once with the Eagles, Expressions of mourning flutter from every corner of the country to the Main metropolis.
Bernd Hölzenbein |
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|---|---|
Born died: |
* March 9, 1946 in Dehrn / † April 15, 2024 |
Games (and goals) for Eintracht Frankfurt: |
420 (160) |
Achievements (among others): |
1 x football world champion, 1 x European runner-up, 1 x UEFA Cup winner, 3 x DFB Cup winner |
Great sympathy for the death of Bernd Hölzenbein
After the death of 78-year-old Bernd Hölzenbein, many former companions, opponents and various football clubs took the opportunity to pay homage to a great of German football and to express their condolences to his family.
Of course, another Eintracht luminary should not be missing. Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel writes on his Facebook channel about his former Eintracht teammate: “The Eintracht family mourns the loss of one of the greatest legends in our history. Bernd left us yesterday. He was certainly one of Eintracht's greatest players. I will never forget his cleverness, his big heart and his incredible football skills. Rest in peace, Bernd and with God’s blessing.”
“Rest in peace” – Bundesliga clubs bow to world champion Hölzenbein
VfB Stuttgart also conveys compassionate words via social media, noting on behalf of its chairman Alexander Wehrle under Eintracht's first Facebook post on Hölzenbein's death: “VfB mourns Bernd with the Hölzenbein family, Eintracht Frankfurt and the entire German football Hölzenbein, an outstanding striker and a unique person. He was an exceptional footballer, a legend and always a welcome guest at VfB Stuttgart. We will honor his memory."
Frankfurt's Bundesliga rival RB Leipzig also agrees with this tenor. He writes under the same post: “Rest in peace, Bernd Hölzenbein! Our deepest sympathy goes out to all family and friends.” And immediately below, second division team 1. FC Magdeburg declares: “Rest in peace! Our thoughts are with his relatives, his friends and the entire Eintracht family.”
Condolences also from Wiesbaden
However, the response from well-known people and associations on social networks to the Frankfurt mourning message is far from exhausted. The Hessian second division team SV Wehen Wiesbaden stated
via
: “A legend has passed away: our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to his family, his relatives and the entire Eintracht family. Rest in peace!"
The social media department of Borussia Mönchengladbach also commented: “Rest in peace, Bernd Hölzenbein! Our thoughts are with his family, relatives and the entire Eintracht family.” Hamburger SV states briefly: “Rest in peace, Bernd Hölzenbein!” And 1. FC Union Berlin writes: “Rest in peace, Legend!” Second division club FC St. Pauli joins the statements: “We would also like to express our sincere condolences.”
Rudi Völler: “Hölzenbein was a great footballer and wonderful person”
FC Bayern Munich, which had to say goodbye to a club and world football icon this year with the death of Franz Beckenbauer, has joined the ranks of the online mourning society. On his English-language
X
appearance, the German record champions wrote: “Together with the rest of the German football world, FC Bayern mourns the loss of Bernd Hölzenbein. As a world champion in 1974 and a club legend at Eintracht Frankfurt, he was a true great on and off the pitch. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and everyone who knew him. Rest in peace."
The official X
account of the DFB team
also speaks out : “Rest in peace, Bernd Hölzenbein!
Our 1974 world champion died on Monday at the age of 78. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family and friends.” DFB President Bernd Neuendorf is quoted on the DFB association channel on
X
as saying: “Bernd Hölzenbein was an outstanding footballer. His death leaves a big gap at Eintracht and the DFB. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude and will miss him greatly.”
Rudi Völler, director of the German national team, adds according to
kicker
: “Bernd Hölzenbein was a great footballer and wonderful person who won many titles and even more hearts. In terms of football, there was little he couldn't do. My deepest condolences go out to his family and loved ones.”
Online reactions to Hölzenbein's death continue
Further expressions of condolence online were made on the day Bernd Hölzenbein's death became known, among others, by local Frankfurt rivals 1. FSV Mainz, who
wrote
on
Rest in peace!" Frankfurt's former player and current football expert, the Norwegian Jan Åge Fjørtoft, regrets with similar words: "The world champion and a great Eintracht legend Bernd Hölzenbein has died. Rest in peace."
Further reactions and expressions of condolence can be found on the well-known social media networks from, among others, TSG Hoffenheim, SV Werder Bremen, Hertha BSC and the German Football League (DFL).
(chnnn)