It has been over a decade since the German national team has had a world-class striker. The situation has been so worse that the country would give anything to have a top striker at their hands right now.
This didn't always used to be the case though, as Germany once used to have one of the best strikers in world football at their disposal. That player is none other than Uwe Seeler, who is seen as one of the greatest strikers to have graced the game.
He was a hero for both his club Hamburg and Germany, with his contributions being of such importance that Seeler was the first football player to be awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Let us now rewind back his legendary footballing years.
Club career
Uwe Seeler followed in his father's footsteps and joined Hamburger SV's youth academy. He eventually made his first-team debut in a DFB-Pokal match that ended in a 8-2 victory against Holstein Kiel. A young Seeler who still didn't turn 18 stole the limelight, as he scored 4 goals in that match. It was just the sign of greater things to come from the young German.
He went on to become a world-class striker that had the pace, aerial ability, consistency, and leadership that was required at the top-level. Seeler's goalscoring record spoke for itself, as he scored 137 times in 239 Bundesliga games, 43 times in 72 international games for the German national team, and 21 times in 29 European club tournament games. His intriguing character and leadership skills also saw the German become captain of both club and country for several years.
The German striker and his teammates led Hamburg to the league title in 1960, and further silverware success followed with a DFB-Pokal title in 1963. Seeler was arguably the best striker in German football back then, as he was top scorer of the first Bundesliga season in 1963–64 and became German Footballer of the Year in 1960, 1964, and 1970.
Seeler came close to leading Hamburg to European glory on multiple occasions as well, but ultimately fell short. They had reached the 1960-61 European Cup semi-finals and 1967–68 European Cup Winners' Cup finals, only to lose against Barcelona and AC Milan respectively.
Despite the European shortcomings, Seeler left Hamburg as one of the greatest goalscorers ever seen in German football. His record of 406 goals in league games makes him the second-best German goalscorer behind Gerd Müller.
The legend who missed out on the ultimate prize
Seeler took part in 4 different World Cups for Germany (1958, 1962, 1966, and 1970), and yet ended up being unable to win the biggest trophy in football. Germany finished 4th in the 1958 edition of the tournament, while the 1970 World Cup ended with them earning 3rd place.
It was the 1966 World Cup where Germany and Seeler were on the verge of achieving greatness, as they only had to overcome England in the finals. However, The Three Lions beat the Germans 4-2 after extra-time on their home soil.
The aftermath of that result led to the picture of a dejected Seeler leaving the field in pain, with that moment even being named as Photo of the Century by German magazine kicker. Such was the love Seeler had from Germany, and everyone in the country wanted him to lift Football's greatest trophy.
Despite the 1966 World Cup heartbreak, Seeler was a magnificent presence during his participation in 4 different editions of the World Cup. He went on to set different records in terms of appearances, minutes, goals with his participation in the 4 competitions.
The former German striker is proof that one doesn't need to win it all to become a legend of the game, and his legacy is certain to live on in German football.
Also Read | Greatest German football legends of all time
