World Cup winner Andreas Brehme dies aged 63

Andreas Brehme, who won the World Cup with Germany in 1990, has passed away.

German newspaper Bild has reported Brehme died of a cardiac arrest on Monday night at his home in Munich.

Bild’s report continued, claiming Brehme was rushed to a nearby medical clinic to receive emergency care but he could not be saved.

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Brehme’s death comes just two months after Franz Beckenbauer’s, who died in early January of this year.

Beckenbauer and Brehme will be forever linked due to the 1990 World Cup triumph, with Beckenbauer coaching the side and Brehme scoring the decision penalty to win the tournament for Germany.

Bild reported that Brehme had been “deeply affected” by Beckenbauer’s death as the two had remained close following their time working together. Brehme even worked with the Franz Beckenbauer Foundation.

Brehme’s partner, Susanne Schaefer told the German news organisation DPA, “It is with deep sadness that I announce on behalf of the family that my partner Andreas Brehme died suddenly and unexpectedly tonight as a result of a cardiac arrest.”

Brehme is survived by Schaefer and his two sons from his first marriage.

Whilst his World Cup-winning moment is the standout, Andreas Brehme’s career spanned over 20 years, three countries and well over 500 appearances, including 86 caps for Germany.

Most of Brehme’s professional career was spent at the Rhineland club, 1. FC Kaiserslautern where they shocked the world by winning the Bundesliga in 1998 just a year after their promotion to the top tier.

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1. FC Kaiserslautern released a statement saying: “He wore the Red Devils’ shirt for a total of 10 years and became German champion and German Cup winner with FCK. In 1990 he fired the German national team to the World Cup title with his penalty and became a football legend. The FCK family is in deep mourning.”

Like most elite German footballers, Brehme spent some time with the Bavarian giants, Bayern Munich, who released a statement on X following the news of his death. It read: “Andreas Brehme will forever be in our hearts, as a World Cup winner and, more importantly, as a very special person. He will forever be part of the FC Bayern family.”

Brehme spent five years in Milan, winning Serie A and a UEFA Cup, perhaps the most successful spell of his career.

Following his spell in Italy, Brehme played a season in La Liga for Real Zaragoza. He left after a year to return to 1. FC Kaiserslautern where he would spend the remainder of his career.

Brehme was an adapt set-piece taker, feared for his accurate crosses and free kicks. The Daily Mail reports Lothar Matthaus believed Brehme was the most talented player he had ever played with.

Following his playing career, Brehme moved into coaching, managing both 1. FC Kaiserslautern and SpVgg Unterhaching. His managerial career proved less successful than his playing as he never stayed longer than three years in a job.

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