Renowned German footballer Bernd Holzenbein, a World Cup winner in 1974, has sadly passed away at the age of 78. Holzenbein, who was born in March 1946, died on Monday evening after battling a serious illness for some time.
The football legend, who had recently been suffering from severe dementia, passed away surrounded by his family.
Holzenbein was a key player for the West Germany team before it unified with East Germany. His goal during the 1974 World Cup final against the Netherlands helped secure the victory for his team. He also scored a crucial equaliser in the 1976 European Championship final against Czechoslovakia, setting a record at the time for being the oldest goalscorer in a Euro final.
Off the pitch, Holzenbein was a qualified merchant. However, he was best known for his impressive playing career with Eintracht Frankfurt. During his time with the club, he scored an incredible 160 goals in the Bundesliga and made 420 appearances between 1967 and 1981. Holzenbein’s contributions also helped Eintracht Frankfurt lift the Uefa Cup in 1980 and three German Cups in 1974, 1975, and 1981.
After retiring from professional football, Holzenbein took on various roles at Frankfurt, including serving as a vice-president and manager. He also worked as the club’s chief scout until 2014. His passing has been met with an outpouring of tributes from Bundesliga clubs and fans, emphasizing his lasting impact on German football.
