German 1990 World Cup hero Andreas Brehme dies at age 63

Former German international Andreas Brehme (L) and Juergen Klinsmann run across the pitch of the Olympic Stadium in Rome, celebrating after Brehme scored a penalty to give Germany a 1-0 lead. Football World Champion Andreas Brehme died at the age of 63, as his family confirmed to the German Press Agency on 20 February. Frank Kleefeldt/dpa

Andreas Brehme, who scored the winning Germany goal in the 1990 World Cup final, has died at age 63 of cardiac arrest, his partner Susanne Schaefer confirmed to dpa on Tuesday on behalf of the family.

"It is with deep sadness that I announce on behalf of the family that my partner Andreas Brehme passed away suddenly and unexpectedly overnight following a cardiac arrest. We ask that you respect our privacy at this difficult time and refrain from asking questions," Schaefer's statement read.

Full back Brehme won 86 Germany caps and his successful penalty in the 1990 final in Rome against Diego Maradona's Argentina gave Germany a then third World Cup title.

Hamburg born Brehme played at three World Cups, losing the 1986 final in Mexico City against Argentina.

His best time as a club player came at Inter Milan where he won the Serie A in 1989 and the UEFA Cup in 1991. He won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and Kaiserslautern.

He later became a coach, with lesser success, at clubs including Kaiserslautern and Unterhaching.

Brehme's death comes a few weeks after that of German football icon Franz Beckenbauer, who coached the team at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups after winning it as a player in 1974.

Andreas Brehme from Team World Champion '90, in action during the "Game of Legends" in the Red Bull Arena. Soccer world champion Andreas Brehme has died at the age of 63, as his family confirmed to the German Press Agency on 20 February. Thomas Eisenhuth/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
Andreas Brehme, then team manager of 1. FC Kaiserslautern, at the photo session of the Bundesliga soccer club. Soccer world champion Andreas Brehme has died at the age of 63, his family confirmed to the German Press Agency on 20 February. Hannibal Hanschke/dpa

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