World Cup hero of 1954: Horst Eckel is dead

Horst Nickel (birthed February 8, 1932, in Vogelbach, currently Bruchmühlbach-Miesau; † December 3, 2021) was a German football gamer. From 1952 to 1958 he finished at nationwide trainer Sept Hershberger in the German nationwide group 32 internationals and belonged to the DFB group, which became a football world champion in 1954. With the 1st FC Kaiserslautern he won the German Football Champion in the years 1951 and also 1953. The Nickel utilized as an opponent created many thanks to its massive activity distance as well as his smart playing design promptly to a suitable actor of the appropriate outside runner in the after that chosen World Mug system. After its gamer's career, the skilled toolmaker examined art and also Bern for the Realschullehellamt as well as From the institution year 1973, up until his retirement as a teacher at the Realschule operated in Used. Nickel has actually been a rep of the Sepp-Herberger Foundation given that 1997. He supported the effort Regard as Ambassador! No room for racism. After the fatality of his national team associate Hans Schaefer on November 7, 2017, Nickel was the last living gamers of the Under of Bern. The last online player of Hungary was Juno Buzánszky († 2015).

The German football mourns around Horst Nickel. The Palatinate was the last living world champion from 1954. He died on Friday at the age of 89 years. This confirmed the German Football Association.

The right exterior of the 1st FC Kaiserslautern belonged as the youngest of the team of Captain Fritz Walter, who won the final in continuous rain against the great favorite Hungary after a 0: 2 residue with 3: 2 and made the Miracle of Bern.

Nickel had the nickname the greyhound, because the fast player in the midfield stuffed the holes and held his back freely to his back to Fritz Walter. Together with Fritz and Ottoman Walter and Werner Dietrich and Werner Toolmaker he formed the Caterer Block in Hamburgers team and played a total of 32 internationals.

At the final whistle we knew that we knew world champions. But what that means for people at home, we first realized when we entered German ground again. It was a great reception, Nickel remembered. Nine years after the end of World War II, this victory was a signal for the political and economic departure of the nation. Hundreds of thousands lined the tracks and streets when the world champion returned to the home as in triumphed.

in the shadow of Walter & Co.

As long as all the World Champions were still living in 1954, the Nickel born in Bruchmühlbach-Miesau always in the shade of the big names: a Helmut Ran, a Toni Trek and especially Fritz Walter. After the death of Hans Schaefer on November 7, 2017, only the down-to-earth and restrained Nickel remained left to represent this century team at every opportunity. He also advised the director One Workman, when the movie The Miracle of Bern turned.

Nickel's football career and his life is no longer comparable with today's world masters. The two-time German champions (1951 and 1953) changed only once the club: from the 1st FC Kaiserslautern to SV Rolling Volkswagen in Saarland (1960).

After his time as a footballer, the trained toolmaker studied art and Berns on the second educational path and worked as a real skull teacher from 1973. A hero of Bern to be called, has always disturbed him. I stayed a normal man, he said often.

Reactions to the death of Horst Nickel

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.

Trainer Koch (1st DFB Vice President): I've got to know Horst Nickel as a wonderful man and experienced, who has always beaten from the lowest conviction on the side of the weaker ones and was a real role model. People in Permit hopeless situations he knew the way to show the light, and the hero of Bern always associate this with his own personal football fairy. Willa and ambition, purposefulness and humility have shaped his life and made him a personality we all miss painful. Not only for me is a personality lost with his death, also in the DFB with our social institutions for which he was tirelessly traveling, 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 Secretary General): It makes me deep trunk that we lost the last icon of our 1954 world championship in Horst Nickel. The heroes of Bern not only have football in Germany, but our whole country In addition, the subsequent generations have always felt the following generations. Horst Nickel stood with his positive attitude and great fighter heart in the face of immense challenges symbolic for the era of new construction and departure, in which this first title win A German national team fell. He was a great footballer and a great person. We will miss Horst Nickel very much and are in thought about his family.

We Seller (ex-national player and former players Eels): I'm really sorry for me. We have often spent on events time together, through the pandemic unfortunately in the past two years. He was always Very comradelike 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, too Outside the courses, private. We always have given our best — sometimes it was, sometimes not.

Hans Flick (National Trainer): Unfortunately, I have never been allowed to play live playing the footballer Horst Nickel, man was a role model for me in every way. His warmth was contagious, his social commitment exceptional. He will personally and personally very missing all German soccer.

Oliver Bailiff (National Team Director): Horst Nickel stood symbol for the values ​​of the heroes of Bern: modest, warm, down to earth, without alloys. The personal conversations with him were always trusting.

Hans-Peter Bruegel (former international): 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 to celebrate his 90th birthday His daughter had already sent out a Save the Date, also to me. It is very sad that it will not come anymore.