When Josef Masopust, one of the best Czech footballers in history, holder of the Golden Ball for the best footballer in the world in 1962 and vice-champion of the world from Chile, spoke about German football, which he has great respect for, he said: Germans have many footballers who extraordinary, but the other three are superior and world-class – Fritz Walter, Uwe Seeler and Franz Beckenbauer.”

Only then did he form other personalities such as Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bernd Schuster, Jürgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matthäus, Matthias Sammer or Miroslav Klose.

He admired the captain of the 1954 world champions (Walter) as a young boy, he faced the captain of the world champions of 1974 (Beckenbauer) in the 1986 World Cup qualifiers as coach of the national team. He had a close friendship with Uwe Seeler over the years.

In February 2011, the grand celebration of Josef Masopust’s 80th birthday had been planned in advance. Many of his team-mates from Dukla Prague and the Czechoslovak national team, as well as from abroad, were invited to the evening of celebration, which the Tyl theater in Prague promised to host, giving it a social shine of the highest luminosity. The 1962 Czech Golden Ball transcended the boundaries of the socialist state with its art, conquering the whole world.

Confirmation of participation poured in from all corners of the old continent, but the sad answer came from Hamburg, Germany: Júzef, I can’t, I have an operation planned in February, says German football legend Uwe Seeler.

When the famous torjäger couldn’t make it to Prague, Czech slalom runners had to follow suit. In November 2011, thanks to the Club of Friends of Josef Masopust, who cared for the Czechoslovakian international at the end of his life, and especially to its chairman Jiří Hora, a small Czech expedition went to the Hanseatic city.

The meeting of two old friends from the soccer field is unforgettable. “I hoped it would be beautiful, but I had no idea that it would be so sincere and wonderful,” Masopust allowed himself to be heard. “I am very happy that I can still see Júzef and show him my beloved club,” said Seeler, who made an indelible mark in Hamburger SV’s history as a player and then as a top man.

Czechoslovak socialist envoys, representatives of the hated Germany, who unleashed the most terrifying and brutal war conflicts in the history of mankind – a very weak premise for building lifelong friendships. However, it happened. It was made on the field – during a mutual duel at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, which ended 2:2. “It was a lucky draw for us in the end, but maybe to keep the friendship going,” recalls Uwe Seeler with a smile.

The Iron Curtain did not close their relationship. “War was unbearable for me from a young age, it meant nothing to me,” admits the Hamburg native. “Neither me nor Júzef are interested in politics, we sit down on people and football,” he said. “So we didn’t realize we were each from a different side of the border,” he added.

He recognized the skills of the Czech players. “Júzef is the Pele of Czech football, and at our first meeting, as they say, sparks flew between us. We are very happy every time we meet, although not very often,” he stressed.

Little do they know that November 2010 was the last time they met…

Also thanks to his friendship with Masopust, Seeler became an expert and admirer of Czech football. “I spoke to him privately several times and he always said that he liked the Czech mentality, the Czech approach to the game,” said former Milan international Fukal, a 2000 European Championship entrant, who played for Germany’s Hamburger SV in 2000-2004.

He meets the legend of the Seeler club on a regular basis. “He lives not far from our training center in Norderstedt, he came to see us,” he said. “He was no longer in the chairmanship, but he was still interested in what was happening at the club, who played for him,” recalled Fukal.

What he appreciates most about the club legend from Germany’s biggest port is humility. “He had an amazing career, he was the darling of the whole country, and he treated me as if I had achieved the same result,” Fukal recalled. “He asked how I was doing, how I liked him in Hamburg, what about the family,” said the subject. “And he always reminds me that Czech football has a very good level,” he said.

Fukal’s words were confirmed by another Czech representative, David Jarolím, who left a much more significant mark on the German club. He wore the jersey for ten years (2003–2012), rising from a leader to a captain’s position. In 2015, the German club even held a spectacular farewell for him, which is something that is unheard of for foreigners.

He also met Seeler regularly. “He went to all the matches, the fans greeted him with banners and shouts of Uns Uwe (Uwe Us),” the Czech midfielder recalled. “When he analyzes the game, I admire him, unlike other old players who didn’t even achieve that kind of fame, he never criticizes, always praises and tries to be positive,” said Jarolím.

At the end of her engagement, she senses that Seeler’s health is not the strongest. “He had several operations, sometimes he falls, he is very sorry to miss the Hamburg game,” said Jarolim. “But it doesn’t look serious.” He didn’t see it as anything life-threatening.

When the Czech international learned that the famous Uwe would never come to his beloved Hamburg game, it hit him hard. “German football has lost a great figure in its history, Hamburg has probably lost its most loyal fan,” assesses Seeler’s legacy.

Seeler’s name is indelible at the Hamburg club. His father Erwin, the team’s famous goalscorer in the period between the two wars, stood out in the halls of fame, his brother Dieter, who is five years his senior, also plays for the club, the continuation of the family is his grandson Levin ztunali, who grew up as a student in Hamburg, now he is involved in Union Berlin.

The famous shooter’s dreaded right-footed goal is commemorated by the bronze statue of Seeler’s feet in front of the Volksparkstadion.

In 2003, the former captain of the German national team published his memoir under the title Danke, Fussball! (Thank you, football!). However, the book Uns Uwe (Uwe Kita), written by Jens Meyer-Odewald, is much more popular with fans. His signed copy is a rare treasure for all fans of the club.