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Borussia Dortmund mourns Wilhelm Burgsmüller

He shaped an era. The man with the turban is dead. Borussia Dortmund mourns Willi Burgsmüller. The champion of 1956, 1957 and 1963 passed away peacefully and with dignity this Tuesday at the age of 93. 

Wilhelm Burgsmüller was born in Dortmund on 18th January 1932 and played for BVB from 1951 to 1964. He stayed loyal to the club as a youth coach and member of the old boys' team, and was a member of the council of elders until the end of his life. He always maintained that: "I'm a Borussian, through and through." There are only five players who have won the Championship three times with BVB - Burgsmüller was also captain of the '63 team. 

"Willi was a great captain of our team and an incredible person. Always modest, and open towards other people. I enjoyed every second with him. My thoughts are now with his wife Bruni and their family," said Hans-Joachim Watzke, chairman of the board. BVB president Dr. Reinhold Lunow emphasised: "Willi was a calm, friendly person who dedicated a lot of his time to our club. 13 years as a player, and then as a youth coach and a member of the council of elders, where his voice carried a lot of weight. Our thoughts are with his wife Bruni, who has suffered a great loss today." (br)

 

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