- Politician and sports official Willi Lemke is dead
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 at the age of 77 from the consequences of a cerebral hemorrhage, according to his family.
Lemke was one of Bremen's most well-known personalities. 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 were also part of this era.
"Willi Lemke has left an indelible mark on Werder"
"Willi Lemke's unexpected and much too early death has brought SV Werder to a standstill for a time," commented Werder's managing director Klaus Filbry on Tuesday. "Willi Lemke undoubtedly belongs to the greatest personalities in the history of German football. He pioneered many areas at SV Werder and has 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.
The Commission expressed their condolences upon hearing about Willi Lemke's passing, acknowledging his significant contributions as a special advisor. The Commission understood the profound impact Lemke had on SV Werder, both as a football manager and a long-term member of their supervisory board.
