Andi Brehme dead at 63: Germany legend who scored winner in 1990 World Cup final passes away

GERMANY legend Andreas Brehme has passed away aged 63.

The former defender passed away on Monday night following a cardiac arrest.

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Andreas Brehme has died aged 63[/caption]

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The former Germany international, who scored the winner in the 1990 World Cup final, passed away on Monday night after suffering a cardiac arrest[/caption]

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Brehme is survived by his girlfriend Susanne Schaefer and his sons Ricardo and Alessio[/caption]

Brehme was admitted to Ziemssenstrasse clinic in Munich after suffering the heart attack.

But the medical help the Germany icon received, sadly, came too late.

Tributes from around the football world poured in after news of his passing.

One fan wrote: “RIP Andi Brehme.”

Another said: “Rest in peace, Andreas.”

And another said: “RIP Andreas Brehme.

One remarked: ” Another great taken way too early. RIP Andreas Brehme.”

Another chimed in: “Thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time.”

Brehme’s old club Bayern Munich issued a heartfelt statement after learning of their former midfielder’s passing.

The German champions said: “FC Bayern are extremely saddened by the sudden passing of Andreas Brehme.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

“Andreas Brehme will forever be in our hearts, as a World Cup winner and, more importantly, as a very special person.

“He will forever be part of the FC Bayern family.

“Rest in peace, Andi!

Breheme’s passing comes just over a month after the death of his mentor and fellow Germany icon Franz Beckenbauer.

The passing of Beckenbauer is said to have deeply affected Brehme.

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Andreas Brehme made 86 appearances for Germany during a ten-year stint[/caption]

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The versatile midfielder scored the winning goal in the 1990 World Cup final[/caption]

Brehme is survived by his partner Susanne Schaefer and his sons Ricardo and Alessio from his marriage to Pilar Martinez.

Brehme began his playing career in 19878 with HSV Barmbek-Uhlenhorst, who he left in 1980 for a single season stint with FC Saarbrucken.

A move to FC Kaiserslautern followed in 1981 and he spent five seasons in the south west of Germany before joning Bayern Munich for two seasons.

He enjoyed spells with Inter Milan and Real Zaragoza in the late eighties and early ninties before returning to Kaiserslautern to close out his playing career.

Brehme made his West Germany bow back in 1984 and scored eight goals in 86 appearances.

The most important of those goals came in the summer of 1990, when he scored the winning goal in the World Cup final from the penalty spot against Argentina with his right foot.

Interestingly, he scored in a quarter-final penalty shootout against Mexico at the 1986 World Cup with his LEFT.

In 2022, he told FourFourTwo: “I honestly don’t know [which is his strongest foot].

“In 1986, I was asked why I’d taken a penalty with my left foot, as the guy knew I often used my right. I hadn’t even noticed. It makes no difference.”