Andreas Brehme

Andreas "Andi" Brehme (Template:IPA;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 9 November 1960 – 20 February 2024) was a German professional football player and coach. At international level, he is best known for scoring the winning goal for Germany in the 1990 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina from an 85th-minute penalty kick. At club level, Brehme played for several teams in Germany and also had spells in Italy and Spain.

A versatile attacking full-back with an eye for goal, Brehme was capable of playing anywhere along the flank on either side of the pitch, and was known for his crossing ability, ambidexterity, and his accuracy from free-kicks and penalties, possessing a powerful shot.

Club career

Andreas Brehme was born in Hamburg<ref name="Harding 2024 s964">Template:Cite web</ref> and started his career with the city's local side HSV Barmbek-Uhlenhorst.<ref name="Matz 2024 j727">Template:Cite web</ref>

Brehme played for 1. FC Kaiserslautern from 1981 to 1986, before moving to Bayern Munich, where he played from 1986 to 1988, winning the Bundesliga in 1987. After that, he joined Italian side Inter Milan, playing there from 1988 to 1992, alongside compatriots Lothar Matthäus and Jürgen Klinsmann, and winning the Serie A in 1989 – also being named player of the year – and the UEFA Cup in 1991.<ref name="FIFA Profile1"/><ref name="ESCLUSO IL LOOK"/><ref name="Maradona, Beckenbauer and the Premier League"/><ref name="NOI TEDESCHI UOMINI DURI"/> Brehme played the 1992–93 season at Real Zaragoza in La Liga,<ref name="Sastre 2024 e514">Template:Cite web</ref> before returning to Germany once again in 1993 to play for Kaiserslautern once again.<ref name="SWR 2024 m042">Template:Cite web</ref> He won the German Cup with the club in 1996, although they suffered relegation during the same season; nevertheless, Brehme remained with the team even when they were relegated, playing a key role in the side's immediate promotion the following season. After subsequently winning the Bundesliga with the club in 1998, Brehme ended his playing career as a footballer after having played 301 matches.<ref name="FIFA Profile1"/><ref name="Brehme – Matches and Goals in Bundesliga">Template:Cite web</ref>

International career

As a member of the (West) Germany national team, Brehme took part at UEFA Euro 1984, the 1984 Summer Olympics, the 1986 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1988, the 1990 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1992, and the 1994 World Cup; he was named in the team of the tournament at Euro 84,<ref name="TOTT">Template:Cite news</ref> and helped Germany to the semi-finals of Euro 88, on home soil, scoring a goal in the nation's 1–1 opening draw against Italy.<ref name="NOI TEDESCHI UOMINI DURI"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Euro 1992, he won a runners-up medal, as Germany lost out 2–0 to Denmark in the final; he was once again named to the team of the tournament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Brehme won a runners-up medal at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, as Germany lost the final to Argentina, yet he won the World Cup in 1990 against the same opponents, later being named to the competition's All-star team. In the 1986 World Cup semi-final he scored a deflected free-kick against France,<ref name="FIFA Profile1"/> and in the 1990 semi-final he also scored a free-kick goal against England, which also took a deflection off of English defender Paul Parker, however.<ref name="top10"/><ref name="When England were out of this world"/> In the 1990 edition of the tournament, en route to the final, he also previously set up Klinsmann's headed goal in Germany's opening 4–1 against Yugoslavia, and scored the second goal against the Netherlands with a right-footed curler in the second round.<ref name="top10"/> In the 1990 World Cup final, a 1–0 victory over Argentina, he scored the goal, a penalty kick with his right foot.<ref name="FIFA Profile1"/><ref name="Maradona, Beckenbauer and the Premier League"/><ref name="Double trouble"/> The only other penalty kick, taken in open play for Germany, was against England in a 1986 World Cup warm-up match in Mexico. Brehme scored in the victorious penalty-shootout against Mexico in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals with his left foot,<ref name="FIFA Profile1"/><ref name="Double trouble"/> while he scored his nation's first spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out victory against England in the 1990 World Cup semi-finals with his right foot.<ref name="When England were out of this world"/> Brehme's last of his 86 caps<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> for the national team came during the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which ended with a disappointing quarter-final exit for his team after a loss against Bulgaria.

Managerial career

After retiring from football, Brehme went on to become a coach. He managed his former club 1. FC Kaiserslautern from 2000 to 2002.<ref name="SWR 2024 m042"/> He then managed 2. Bundesliga side SpVgg Unterhaching.<ref name="NDR.de 2024 x010">Template:Cite web</ref> He was then assistant coach alongside Giovanni Trapattoni at VfB Stuttgart, but both were sacked after only a few months at the club.<ref name="NDR.de 2024 x010" />

Style of play

An efficient attacking full-back or wing-back, Brehme was regarded as one of the best left-backs of his generation; although he was usually deployed on the left side of his team's defensive line, he was a highly versatile player, who was capable of playing anywhere along the flank, on either side of the pitch, and could also play in a more offensive role. He was also used in the centre of the pitch on occasion, as a defensive midfielder.<ref name="FIFA Profile1"/><ref name="NOI TEDESCHI UOMINI DURI">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="BIONDO BREHME, CHE CAPOLAVORO">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="potenza">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="top10"/> Although he was not particularly quick,<ref name="Maradona, Beckenbauer and the Premier League">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="top10"/> he was known for his excellent technical ability,<ref name="ESCLUSO IL LOOK">Template:Cite web</ref> stamina, defensive skills,<ref name="top10">Template:Cite web</ref> anticipation, and tactical intelligence,<ref name="Maradona, Beckenbauer and the Premier League"/> as well as his ability to make attacking runs, which enabled him to cover the flank effectively and contribute at both ends of the pitch.<ref name="top10"/><ref name="È un' Inter solida">Template:Cite web</ref>

A set-piece specialist, Brehme is considered to be one of the greatest free-kick takers and crossers of all time, and was known for his ability to strike the ball with power and swerve.<ref name="FIFA Profile1"/><ref name="top10"/><ref name="When England were out of this world">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="potenza"/> However, Brehme's most distinctive skill was that he was one of the few players in the world who was genuinely ambidextrous, and could play with both feet equally well, making him very valuable as an outfield player; his ability with either foot led his national team manager Franz Beckenbauer to state: "I have known Andy for 20 years and I still don't know if he is right or left-footed".<ref name="FIFA Profile1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Maradona, Beckenbauer and the Premier League"/><ref name="Double trouble">Template:Cite web</ref> He was well known for taking penalties (although not exclusively) with his right foot and taking free kicks and corners with his left foot; this made him quite an unpredictable player to read during matches.<ref name="FIFA Profile1"/><ref name="Double trouble"/> Although he was reportedly naturally left-footed, it is believed that Brehme felt that his right foot was actually more accurate than his left, but that he had a more powerful shot with his "weaker" left foot.<ref name="Maradona, Beckenbauer and the Premier League"/><ref name="Double trouble"/> This was shown when, in the 1990 World Cup final, Brehme took the spot kick that won West Germany the trophy, with his right foot,<ref name="Maradona, Beckenbauer and the Premier League"/><ref name="Double trouble"/> but four years earlier, Brehme scored in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final penalty shootout against Mexico with a left foot piledriver.<ref name="FIFA Profile1"/><ref name="Double trouble"/> In addition to his abilities as a footballer, Brehme was highly regarded for his strength of character and composure under pressure, as well as for having the tendency to score "clutch" goals for his team in important games, as demonstrated by his ability to score decisive penalties in World Cup knockout matches, which led him to be considered a "big game player" in the media.<ref name="FIFA Profile1"/><ref name="NOI TEDESCHI UOMINI DURI"/>

Although he was known to be tenacious player, he also stood out for his professionalism throughout his career, both on and off the pitch.<ref name="FIFA Profile1"/><ref name="NOI TEDESCHI UOMINI DURI"/> Lothar Matthäus described Brehme as the best player he played with.<ref name="Maradona, Beckenbauer and the Premier League"/>

Death

Brehme died from a cardiac arrest on 20 February 2024 at the age of 63.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club<ref name="DFB Datencenter s117">Template:Cite web</ref>	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Super cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1. FC Saarbrücken	1980–81	2. Bundesliga	36	3	2	0	—		—		38	3
1. FC Kaiserslautern	1981–82	Bundesliga	27	4	—		7	1	—		34	5
	1982–83	Bundesliga	30	3	1	0	5	3	—		36	6
	1983–84	Bundesliga	33	8	2	1	2	0	—		37	9
	1984–85	Bundesliga	33	11	1	0	—		—		34	11
	1985–86	Bundesliga	31	8	4	2	—		—		35	10
	Total		154	34	8	3	14	4	—		176	41
Bayern Munich	1986–87	Bundesliga	31	4	2	0	8	0	—		41	4
	1987–88	Bundesliga	28	3	4	0	6	1	1	0	39	4
	Total		59	7	6	0	14	1	1	0	80	8
Inter Milan	1988–89	Serie A	31	3	7	0	6	0	—		44	3
	1989–90	Serie A	32	6	4	0	2	0	1	0	39	6
	1990–91	Serie A	23	1	4	1	9	0	—		36	2
	1991–92	Serie A	30	1	4	0	2	0	—		36	1
	Total		116	11	19	1	19	0	1	0	155	12
Real Zaragoza	1992–93	La Liga	24	1	2	1	5	2	—		31	4
1. FC Kaiserslautern	1993–94	Bundesliga	26	3	3	1	—		—		29	4
	1994–95	Bundesliga	27	4	3	2	4	0	—		34	6
	1995–96	Bundesliga	30	2	5	0	4	0	—		39	2
	1996–97	2. Bundesliga	32	0	—		2	0	1	0	35	0
	1997–98	Bundesliga	5	0	1	0	—		—		6	0
	Total		120	9	12	3	10	0	1	0	143	12
Career total			509	65	49	8	62	7	3	0	623	80

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Germany	1984	11	1
	1985	9	1
	1986	8	1
	1987	5	0
	1988	9	1
	1989	5	0
	1990	13	4
	1991	6	0
	1992	8	0
	1993	3	0
	1994	9	0
Total		86	8

Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Brehme goal.

List of international goals scored by Andreas Brehme

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	28 March 1984	Hanover, West Germany	Template:Fb	2–1	2–1	Friendly
2	17 November 1985	Munich, West Germany	Template:Fb	1–0	2–2	Friendly
3	25 June 1986	Guadalajara, México	Template:Fb	1–0	2–0	1986 FIFA World Cup
4	10 June 1988	Düsseldorf, West Germany	Template:Fb	1–1	1–1	UEFA Euro 1988
5	24 June 1990	Milan, Italy	Template:Fb	2–0	2–1	1990 FIFA World Cup
6	4 July 1990	Turin, Italy	Template:Fb	1–0	1–1 (a.e.t.), 4–3 (pen.)	1990 FIFA World Cup
7	8 July 1990	Rome, Italy	Template:Fb	1–0	1–0	1990 FIFA World Cup
8	10 October 1990	Stockholm, Sweden	Template:Fb	3–0	3–1	Friendly

Coaching record

Team	From	To	Record					Template:Tooltip
			Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
1. FC Kaiserslautern	6 October 2000	25 August 2002	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
SpVgg Unterhaching	1 July 2004	10 March 2005	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Total			—

Honours

1. FC Kaiserslautern<ref name="FIFAProfile-French">Template:Cite web</ref>

• Bundesliga: 1997–98
• 2. Bundesliga: 1996–97
• DFB-Pokal: 1995–96
• DFL-Supercup: runner-up 1996

Bayern Munich<ref name="FIFAProfile-French"/>

• Bundesliga: 1986–87
• European Cup: runner-up 1986–87
• DFL-Supercup: 1987

Inter Milan<ref name="FIFAProfile-French"/>

• Serie A: 1988–89
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1989
• UEFA Cup: 1990–91

Real Zaragoza<ref name="FIFAProfile-French"/>

• Copa del Rey: runner-up 1992–93

Germany<ref name="FIFAProfile-French"/>

• FIFA World Cup: 1990; runner-up 1986
• UEFA Euro: runner-up 1992

Individual

• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1990
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1984,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 1992<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 1985–86<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Onze Mondial: 1987, 1990<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Guerin d'Oro (Serie A Footballer of the Year): 1989<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Pirata d'Oro (Internazionale Player of the Year): 1989<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ballon d'Or – Third place: 1990<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Fussballdaten
• Template:WorldFootball.net
• Template:NFT player
• FIFA Profile