Honorary DFB President Egidius Braun is celebrating his 90th birthday today. Colleagues from the DFB, football legends, politicians and colleagues from the foundation sent their wishes. DFB.de has gathered quotes from IOC President Thomas Bach and Chancellor Angela Merkel to DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach and Germany head coach Joachim Löw.
Congratulants from politics
Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany: “I wish you a happy 90th birthday and would like to thank you for your contribution to football. I particularly remember your willingness to support youth projects in Germany.”
Dr. Helmut Kohl, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany: "This is a suitable occasion to remember the DFB President who didn’t go by “Mr. President”. You shaped an era, but are also remembered as an enthusiastic footballer who impressed with a passionate, humane and sensible approach. You were always ready to help others and support social causes. In that you set standards that are honoured by the football nation of Germany and that still serve as a role model today.”
Wolfgang Tiefensee, former Federal Minister: : "I wholeheartedly thank you for never being tired to support East Germany. I appreciate that developing that part of the country after the peaceful revolution was a matter of your heart.”
Congratulants from politics and the DFB board
Dr. Thomas Bach, IOC President: : "Today is another opportunity for you to look back on your life’s work with pride. However, knowing you, you’re probably making plans for the future. That’s what made you so successful and so likeable.”
Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA President: : "Dear Egidius, you’re one of the most important personalities in German football and winning the World Cup last summer can at least indirectly be credited to you. In the name of the entire football family, the FIFA and personally, I wholeheartedly wish you all the best for your 90th birthday.”
Honorary DFB President Egidius Braun is celebrating his 90th birthday today. Colleagues from the DFB, football legends, politicians and colleagues from the foundation sent their wishes. DFB.de has gathered quotes from IOC President Thomas Bach and Chancellor Angela Merkel to DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach and Germany head coach Joachim Löw.
Congratulants from politics
Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany: “I wish you a happy 90th birthday and would like to thank you for your contribution to football. I particularly remember your willingness to support youth projects in Germany.”
Dr. Helmut Kohl, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany: "This is a suitable occasion to remember the DFB President who didn’t go by “Mr. President”. You shaped an era, but are also remembered as an enthusiastic footballer who impressed with a passionate, humane and sensible approach. You were always ready to help others and support social causes. In that you set standards that are honoured by the football nation of Germany and that still serve as a role model today.”
Wolfgang Tiefensee, former Federal Minister: : "I wholeheartedly thank you for never being tired to support East Germany. I appreciate that developing that part of the country after the peaceful revolution was a matter of your heart.”
Congratulants from politics and the DFB board
Dr. Thomas Bach, IOC President: : "Today is another opportunity for you to look back on your life’s work with pride. However, knowing you, you’re probably making plans for the future. That’s what made you so successful and so likeable.”
Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA President: : "Dear Egidius, you’re one of the most important personalities in German football and winning the World Cup last summer can at least indirectly be credited to you. In the name of the entire football family, the FIFA and personally, I wholeheartedly wish you all the best for your 90th birthday.”
Lennart Johansson, former UEFA President: : "My longstanding companion, close trustee and dear friend! We got to know each other properly in 1988 when Germany hosted a tournament in Berlin, because Berlin wasn’t chosen as Euro Cup venue. It was us Swedes who won – I’m sorry, Egidius – 4-2 on penalties. We were both voted into the Executive Committee back then. With all your experience from working for the DFB, you were an important consultant in the run up to the 1992 Euro Cup that we hosted in Sweden. The tournament in Germany left big boots to fill, but with your selfless attitude you helped me carry that burden. Both you and your dear wife Marianne, who always helped you and supported you, are devout Catholics. So I looked it up online – yes us old people do that, too – and found out that Saint Egidius is one of the Holy Helpers in Catholic religion.
Now, I can’t say whether they’ll canonise you one day, but you always helped those who needed it the most. Be it in Mexico or in Eastern Europe, you were always there for them. “Football is more than a 1-0 score,” you personified that notion. We spent our worst hours together in 1998. I lost the FIFA presidential election. You wanted to remove the German national team from the competition after a Hooligan attack in Lens. We supported each other, cheered each other up, instilled courage in the other and gave advice. I’ll never forget that. The other thing I’ll always remember are those evenings when you played the piano like a semi-pro and I tried to keep up with your melodies and harmonies using my voice. Dear Egidius, for your 90th birthday I’d like to summarise all that we’ve been through in four words. You are truly human.”
Wolfgang Niersbach, DFB President: : "Dear Mr. Braun, together we’ve gone through so much in the world of football! We shared wonderful memories, unforgettable games and amazing anecdotes. I would’ve never thought I’d follow your footsteps one day and become DFB President though. It was you who established social commitment as a third objective next to professional and amateur football and officially included it in the statutes. As DFB Treasurer you already put a solid financial basis in place to ensure that the DFB could step up and become a socially committed association.
You’ve always been a friendly father figure to our internationals like Rudi Völler, Pierre Littbarski, Andreas Brehme and Lothar Matthäus. Germany’s successful bid for the 2006 World Cup can also be credited in large parts to your involvement and your reputation. It’s no coincidence that you are still internationally renowned and appreciated. That is also reflected in the fact that Lennart Johannson and other contemporaries travel to Germany to celebrate your birthday. In the name of the DFB and personally, I wish you all the best, happiness and health for your 90th birthday.”
Reinhard Grindel, Member of German Parliament, DFB Treasurer: : "That’s my life’, you’d say when we visited Aachen. Saying that, you’d not just point at all the trophies that honoured your life’s work in football, but also at the photos that showed you life beyond the 1-0 scoreline. You never forgot that football has a social responsibility to get involved across the world, be it in Querétaro or Katowice. I thank you for that with all my heart!”
Helmut Sandrock, DFB Secretary-General: : "When it came to football, you’ve always been one to think outside of the box. The fact that football enjoys such close ties with society and is widely appreciated nowadays is mostly a product of your work.”
Stefan Hans, DFB Deputy Secretary-General: : "During your time as DFB Treasurer between 1977 and 1992 you laid the foundations for the economic development and solid financial situation of the DFB. I appreciate and admire you for that achievement.”
Dr. Hans-Georg Moldenhauer, last President of the GDR Football Association: : "It was fortunate that the DFB began planning the 2006 World Cup bid shortly after reunification and supported the redevelopment of the NOFV (North-East German Football Association, editor’s note) stadia. Egidius Braun was never tired to push for the development of projects, secure their finances and implement them. Stadia in Leipzig, Dresden and Magdeburg are proof of that.”
Congratulants from football
Joachim Löw, Germany head coach: : "Dear Egidius Braun, happy 90th birthday. Thank you for everything you’ve done for football, the people and all the children. That’s amazing.”
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, FC Bayern München Executive: : "I’m delighted to wish you a happy 90th birthday in the name of the entire FC Bayern München! We wish you happiness and health. You’ve accomplished great things in your day. Your nine-year stint as President was a good and prosperous time for the DFB.”
Daniel and Lorette Nivel: : "What happened to Daniel shocked you immensely. You were always involved in his condition and we’ve always kept in touch. You came to visit us although we didn’t know each other. Our eyes said more than our words when we met for the first time.”
Klaus Allofs, 1982 World Cup runner-up: : “Remembering our first meeting fills me with joy and pride. The 1986 World Cup in Mexico was a particularly great experience. I wish you a happy 90th birthday.”
Thomas Berthold, 1990 World Champion: : "I will always remember our travels to Mexico. Your taking the initiative established a sustainable relationship that provides young people with a perspective.”
Pierre Littbarski, 1990 World Champion: : "You helped me to have a successful career in football. I learned a lot from you, especially how to treat other people. Your friendly and relaxed attitude and generosity were inspirational.”
Stefan Kuntz, 1996 European Champion: : "You had a knack for selecting the right squad for the 1996 Euro Cup. After 1994 you knew that team spirit had to be the base for success. Under your guidance the coaching staff, the officials, the team, the WAGs and to some extent even the media became one. And together we were able to celebrate our nation winning a great title.”
