Uwe Seeler

Lore & Background

Seeler participated in four FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970). He was the first player ever to score in four World Cups, beating Pelé by only a few minutes. He was also the first player to appear in 20 World Cup matches, retiring with 21 matches played. He scored nine goals across those four World Cups. The 1966 West German side reached the final, losing 4–2 to England. In 1970, West Germany finished third after a 4–3 extra-time loss to Italy in the semi-finals, a match known as the 'Game of the Century'. In the previous round, a backward second-half header by Seeler against England tied the score 2–2, a game West Germany won 3–2.

Reader's Guide

Seeler was a gifted, powerful, and prolific striker renowned for his leadership, consistency, overhead kicks, and aerial ability. He scored 137 times in 239 Bundesliga games, 43 times in 72 international games for West Germany, and 21 times in 29 European club tournament games. He was captain of both Hamburger SV and the national team for many years. He won the German championship in 1960 and the DFB-Pokal in 1963. His 404 goals in German Oberliga and Bundesliga league games is a record that stands as of today.

Did You Know?

• A photo of a dejected Seeler leaving the field after the 1966 World Cup final was voted Photo of the Century by kicker magazine.
• He was the first sportsman to become an honorary citizen of Hamburg, in 2003.
• His grandson Levin Öztunalı is also a professional footballer.