GERMANY
German legend Andreas Brehme dies at 63: what was the cause of death?
The 1990 World Cup winner with the German national team passed away in the late hours of Monday in his apartment in Munich.
Andreas Brehme passed away at the age of 63 after suffering a cardiac arrest in Munich. The former German international, World Cup champion, and former player of Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Zaragoza, among others, was admitted to the emergency room at the Ziemssenstrasse clinic near his home after an emergency call at 11:30 p.m. local time on Monday 19 February 2024 (5:30 p.m. ET). Unfortunately, despite resuscitation efforts on the way to the hospital, help arrived too late, and he lost his life, as reported by the German newspaper Bild.
Brehme: a World Cup hero for Germany
His wife, Susanne Schaefer, issued a statement. “With deep sadness, I announce on behalf of the family that my partner Andreas Brehme passed away suddenly and unexpectedly tonight due to cardiac arrest. We ask for privacy and refrain from asking questions during this difficult time.”
Brehme is remembered for scoring the winning penalty against Argentina in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He played for Real Zaragoza in the 1992/1993 season, appearing in a total of 31 matches for the club and scoring 4 goals. Both Bayern and Inter will not forget this left-back, who many consider one of the best in history.
Born in Hamburg, Brehme began his career at HSV Barmbek-Uhlenhorst. His best years came at Kaiserlautern, where he played for five seasons before moving to Bayern for a couple of years. His excellent performance as a full-back led him to Inter alongside his compatriots Lothar Matthaus and Jurgen Klinsmann.
At the pinnacle of Italian football, he conquered the Serie A and the UEFA Cup. Simultaneously, he was a World Cup champion with Germany and secured the winning goal in the 1990 World Cup final by converting a penalty against Argentina. After three more seasons in Italy, he returned to Kaiserslautern and won the German Cup in 1996.
Following the Bundesliga victory with the club in 1998, Brehme concluded his footballing career with a total of 301 matches played. He is considered a true legend of German football. As an international player, he was one of the most significant figures in the history of German football, having played 86 matches for the national team and scoring eight goals.
These are challenging days for Bayern as an institution, and now they are even more so. Brehme had already expressed his condolences a few months ago when Franz Beckenbauer, a close friend and teammate, passed away. Today, Bayern mourns once again.