Regrettably, the previous team representative Ronny Borchers has passed away.
Eintracht Frankfurt is bereft following the demise of their iconic figure, Ronald "Ronny" Borchers. The former offensive player succumbed to his mortal coil on Sunday, not long after celebrating his 67th birthday. Family members shared the unfortunate news on social media platforms, leaving the Eintracht family in deep sorrow and appreciation for the time they shared with Borchers. The reason behind his death remains undisclosed.
Borchers, who donned the Eintracht jersey from 1975 to 1984, was an integral part of the legendary Eintracht squad alongside Bernd Hölzenbein, Bruno Pezzey, Bernd Nickel, Karl-Heinz Körbel, and Cha Bum-kun. The team famously triumphed over Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 1980 UEFA Cup final and secured the DFB-Pokal the following year in Berlin. Borchers scored the interim goal in the 2:0 lead that ultimately translated to a 3:1 victory against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Borchers later graced other Bundesliga squads such as Arminia Bielefeld and Waldhof Mannheim before retiring.
"The title is a piece of my essence"
Following the demise of a fellow great from the Eintracht Frankfurt squad of the 1980s, Bernd Hölzenbein, last April, and the passing of World Cup champion Jürgen Grabowski earlier in March, another Eintracht legend, Bernd Nickel, also left this world a few years back. Borchers, speaking at Hölzenbein's funeral, talked about the profound impact of his friends' untimely departures. "It's all happening too fast, and it's so sad," said Borchers, leaving Eintracht's remaining teammates and the entire club in grief.
Borchers' athletic legacy made him a source of pride for the Frankfurters. During a conversation with newspapers from the Rhine-Main publishing group, Borchers shared, "As I age, I often reflect on the thought that a piece of me remains through this title. Someone, perhaps passing by my grave in the cemetery, might remember me as part of Eintracht Frankfurt's 1980 European Cup victory."
After an accomplished career, Borchers went on to coach teams such as FSV Frankfurt and Kickers Offenbach. In his most recent stint, Borchers served as one of eight brand ambassadors for Eintracht Frankfurt and regularly played in the club's traditional team. In addition, Borchers represented Germany six times on the national team.
Despite Borchers' contributions to Eintracht Frankfurt's soccer success, including scoring the interim goal in the 1980 UEFA Cup final, the team is now facing a new challenge without their iconic figure. In a tribute to Borchers, his former teammate Bernd Hölzenbein once said, "Soccer was more than just a game for Ronny. It was a part of his identity, a piece of his essence."
