Borussia Dortmund mourns the loss of Wolfgang de Beer. © AFP / PATRIK STOLLARZ

“His death leaves us speechless”: Mourning in Dortmund

Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund was surprised by tragic news on New Year’s Day.

01 January 2025

From: dpa/det

Former Bundesliga goalkeeper Wolfgang de Beer has died at the age of just 60. As his long-time club Borussia Dortmund announced on New Year's Day, de Beer died suddenly and unexpectedly on December 30. He would have turned 61 this Thursday.

"His death leaves us all speechless," said the BVB statement: "The Borussia family is shocked and deeply saddened." De Beer was most recently still employed as a fan representative at the Westphalians, and he was one of the figureheads of BVB over the past decades.

"'Teddy' was one of the good ones. On the pitch, but especially off the green grass" Borussia Dortmund

De Beer moved from MSV Duisburg to Dortmund in the summer of 1986. He ended his career in 2001, during which he also played one game for the German U21 national team.

De Beer was a figurehead of Dortmund. © DPA / MARIUS BECKER

De Beer was part of nine of BVB's major successes, as first or second goalkeeper or as goalkeeping coach, the club explained. "'Teddy' was one of the good ones. On the pitch, but above all off the green grass," the club wrote: "A man you could relate to. Deeply grounded. With his pulse, his heart and his full attention, always very close to people, a good, positive listener. Someone you always wanted to have around."