Horst Eckel, the last of the German heroes of the ‘Miracle of Bern’, the first World Cup title won by West Germany in 1954, died this Friday aged 89, announced the German Football Federation.
Kaiserslautern player, he was the youngest member of the team he surprised by beating super favorite Hungary in the World Cup final, 3-2.
This unexpected victory was a founding element of postwar German identity, as Germans had a source of pride for the first time since the shame of Nazism and military defeat.
Rest in peace, Horst Eckel.
The DFB is mourning a wonderful person and a World Cup winner from 1954. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/9ITACCx947
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) December 3, 2021
Two-time German champions with Kaiserslautern, Horst Eckel had been included in the German football ‘Hall of Fame’ in Dortmund last week, along with other big names such as Uwe Seeler, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and Sepp Maier.
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