His warmth was contagious : reactions to the death of Horst Eckel

We Seller: I'm really sorry for me. We often spent on events together, through the pandemic unfortunately in the past two years no longer. He was always very comradely and human simply a perfect guy with heart. He was always a good colleague, combined the down-to-earth. Furthermore, he was a very offensive player, that was always very pleasant to play with him. We did a lot together, even outside the courses, private. We always have Our best given — sometimes it was, sometimes not.

Hans-Peter Bruegel (at t-online.DE): The loss of Horst Nickel is insane sad — for all football fans in Germany, but especially for the louder followers and soccer community. In February, he wanted his 90, Celebrate birthday (...). It is very sad that it will not come anymore.

Thomas Hen gen (Managing Director 1. FC Kaiserslautern): The entire 1st FC Kaiserslautern is in deep grief today. With Horst, a FCC legend gone from us. We want our sincere to the family and the relatives of Horst Nickel our sincere Pressing condolences. Humanity, modesty, victory will and team spirit — these are values ​​that Horst Nickel has embedded time life and which still have a great meaning today for the FCC. Horst was fetched through and thoroughly, was closely linked to the club. And has always supported the red devil. We would therefore like to take the tomorrow's home game against Viktoria Cologne as a reason to pay the greatest respect for our world champion of 1954.

1. FC Nuremberg (via Twitter): Calm in peace, Horst Nickel! Greetings to our Mail and all the other world champions from 1954. Without you, the football here in Germany would never become what he is for many people today.

FC Schalke 04 (via Twitter): A very big of German football has gone from us: peace in peace, Horst Nickel!

Young Boys Bern (Via Twitter): The last World Champion of 1954 has died. Horst Nickel was with Germany in 1954 in our Stadium Waldorf world champion.

Hans-Joachim Wake (Managing Director Borussia Dortmund): Horst Nickel was one of the great German football — not only because he has become a world champion in 1954, as the youngest player, but because he is absolutely luminous example of modesty And integrity was. Every conversation with him was enriching because it was simply very pleasant to experience such a modest and sympathetic people.

Hans Flick (national coach): I still remember what Horst Nickel and Hans Schaefer us in 2014 at the Feast of the World Champion in Düsseldorf have given the best wishes for the tournament in Brazil on the way. You have us who wanted to become a world champion, supported, they were lucky and ultimately brought us luck. Unfortunately, I have never been able to see the footballer Horst Nickel, who has never been able to play live, man Horst Nickel was a role model for me in every way. His warmth was contagious, his social commitment exceptional. He will be very missing personally and the entire German football. The news of his death makes me very sad.

Oliver Bailiff (DFB Director National Teams and Academy): The World Champions of 1954 are sporty and last but not least due to historical circumstances for the history of the national team of paramount importance. The attention and enthusiasm today around the games of ours Team prevail, would be unthinkable without them. Horst Nickel stood symbol for the values ​​of the heroes of Bern: modest, cordial, down to earth, without alloys. The personal conversations with him were always enriching. To know that Horst Nickel and thus none of the 54s More lives, me all with the national team with great grief.

Male Dreyer (Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, SPD): Horst Nickel was soccer players with heart and soul and was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding footballers of our country as a German international, he led his team in 1954 into an unforgettable 'Miracle of Borne'. His naturalness and team readiness made him a model for an entire nation. With his exceptional enthusiasm and dedication he inspired the masses. Can rightly say that Horst Nickel embodied in post-war-torn Germany hope and confidence. The sporting successes of his team helped our country to hard times again an international reputation. The Rhineland-Palatinate interior and Rhineland-Palatinate have always been proud that his international career incorporated herein its beginning, and he has always remained loyal Rhineland-Palatinate. Despite his celebrity and his incomparable success remained Horst Nickel always a down to earth person Who has never forgotten where he comes from.

Dr. Trainer Koch (first DFB vice-president): I Horst Nickel know as a wonderful person and experienced, who has always struck deep conviction out on the side of the weak, and was a true role model them hopeless people in supposedly. Situations he knew the way to the light show, and the hero of Bern always combined this with his very own football fairy tale. Willpower and ambition, determination and humility have his life shaped and made him a personality that we all sorely missed. Not only for me is lost with his death a personality, even us in the DFB with our social institutions, for which he was traveling tirelessly Horst Nickel is missing.

Peter Peters (1st DFB Vice President): The news of the death of Horst Nickel has hit me deeply. I have worshiped Horst Nickel not only as one of our football heroes, but also appreciated him personally about all the dimensions. He has me In 1991, after my entry into football at the 1st FC Kaiserslautern helped to meet this club and his people. Because they all loved him. Because he was an outstanding footballer, but above all because of his so positive and incoming beings, because of his great Character. He has made every appreciation and respect, he has broadcast honesty and down to earth. I am very proud that I was allowed to meet Horst Nickel. He was a great companion. He will all be missing very much.

Hake Ulrich (Deputy DFB General Secretary). It makes me deeply sad that we lost the last icon of our 1954 world champion team in Horst Nickel The heroes of Bern have not only football in Germany but our whole country coined. Their significance beyond the mere action on the pitch, also the future generations have far always felt. Horst Nickel standing with his positive attitude and his great fighting spirit in the face of immense challenges emblematic of the era of reconstruction and new beginnings, in this first title win a German national was. He was a great footballer and a great person. We will greatly miss Horst Nickel and thoughts are with his family.

Dirk Janette (DFB vice-president and chairman of the Sept Hershberger Foundation):. Horst Nickel never wanted to be the 'hero of Bern' His modesty and his friendliness distinguished him together with his family, we mourn the loss of a great personality of German football. We have lost a friend, a role model and a true football legend. We bow in deep gratitude to him and his life's work. Furthermore, we are Horst Nickel never forget.

Dr. Stephan Osnabrück (DFB treasurer):. Great remember the different encounters with Horst Nickel He was an extraordinary person, enthusiastic with his warmth and was very proud representative of the DFB-Stiftung Sept Hershberger I particularly remain his stories When he talked about how he won with his team-mates the world Cup final against Hungary over the miracle of Bern in memory., his eyes lit up. This lighting will be missed. The football world is now a piece become poorer.

Tobias Brzezinski (Managing Director of the DFB Foundation Sept Hershberger, STV. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Horst Nickel Foundation): I do for the 'boss' — with these words Horst Nickel once answered my question, why He is committed to the Sepp-Herberger Foundation. His respect for Sept Hershberger, his modesty, his cordiality and his peace have very impressed me in all the years in which I was allowed to accompany him at different events. Horst Nickel always had an open ear, was facing humans and recovering despite all his great successes. In a special memory, I reserve our joint dates in prisons, our talks on his 1st FC Kaiserslautern and his tips on joint car rides on the younger driver. In 2017, we were allowed to accompany the emergence of the Horst Nickel Foundation. It is our privilege that we can continue his legacy with this foundation. The greyhound will not be forgotten!

Gianni Infantino (FIFA President): Nickel's team was a lighthouse of hope for the young West German nation. The victory in the 'Miracle of Bern' against such a brilliant Hungarian team made the German people proudly and wore for the rewriting of the Nation at. We remember Eels contribution to German football and our condolences is valid to his family and friends, the 1st FC Kaiserslautern and the entire German football family.

Audi Roller (sports chief Bayer Leverkusen): Samples for all 54er world champions he stood as a down-to-earth person for great modesty. Horst was absolutely without alloys and a very pleasant conversation partner. With our personal meetings it was always wonderful, with him talk about old times. He will be very missing to German football.

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