One of Germany's most popular personalities is no longer with us: the honorary captain of the Germany national football team, Uwe Seeler, died today at the age of 85.

"The news of Uwe's death has deeply saddened me, because we had a close, friendly relationship. As a member of Uwe Seeler's veteran's team, I was with him in Brazil and in Mexico when we played for the earthquake victims. You won't find anyone who didn't like Uwe Seeler. That's why my heartfelt condolences go out not just to Uwe's family, but also to the entire HSV family," said BVB President Dr Reinhard Rauball.

Borussia Dortmund's CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke, emphasised: "Uwe Seeler was an extraordinary footballer, but above all an extraordinary person. Without a doubt, he was one of the best strikers that Germany has ever produced. Uwe Seeler was a man with deep roots in his hometown of Hamburg. All this, coupled with a modesty that was unparalleled, made him an idol and a role model for millions of people."

Uwe Seeler won the German Championship with Hamburger SV in 1960 and the DFB-Pokal in 1963, beating Borussia Dortmund in the final. He scored a total of 404 goals in 476 games for HSV from 1953 to 1972 and was the top scorer in the Bundesliga in the 1963/64 season. He was voted Germany's "Footballer of the Year" by sports journalists three times - in 1960, 1963 and 1970. From 1995 to 1998, Seeler was President of HSV, and since 2003 he has been an honorary citizen of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The centre forward made 72 international appearances for Germany and scored 43 goals. He was runner-up in the 1966 World Cup and came third in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. In light of his services to German football, the DFB appointed him honorary captain of the national team in 1972.