- Former Werder manager Willi Lemke has died.
Willi Lemke has passed away. The long-serving football manager of SV Werder, former Bremen Senator for Education, and special advisor to the UN Secretary-General died on Monday from the consequences of a brain hemorrhage, according to his family. Initially, the "Weser Kurier" reported this.
Lemke was 77 years old and one of the most well-known personalities in Bremen. The SPD politician became Werder's manager in 1981 and, together with coach Otto Rehhagel, shaped the most successful period in the Bundesliga club's history. In 1988, the Bremen team became German champions, and in 1992, they won the European Cup Winners' Cup. The DFB Cup victories in 1991 and 1994 also came during this era.
"Willi Lemke's sudden and untimely death has brought SV Werder to a standstill for the time being," said Werder's CEO Klaus Filbry on Tuesday. "Willi Lemke is undoubtedly one of the greatest personalities in the history of German football. He pioneered many areas at SV Werder and left an indelible mark. Without his long-standing work, the club would not be what it is today."
In 1999, Lemke returned to politics. Until 2007, he was Senator for Education and Science in Bremen, and from 2007 to 2008, he was Senator for the Interior and Sport.
In 2008, the then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon appointed him as a special advisor for sport in the service of peace and development, a position he held until 2016. In parallel, he also served on Werder Bremen's supervisory board for a total of 17 years, chairing the board from 2005 to 2014.
Lemke's tenure as Senator for Education and Science in Bremen greatly influenced the city's educational landscape. His commitment to education continued even after his football management career, contributing significantly to the UN's sports initiatives for peace and development.
