SV Werder Bremen are mourning the loss of Wilfried 'Willi' Lemke. Our former sporting director and long-serving chairman of the supervisory board passed away suddenly at the age of 77 in Bremen on Monday.
SV Werder Bremen are mourning the loss of Wilfried 'Willi' Lemke. Our former sporting director and long-serving chairman of the supervisory board passed away suddenly at the age of 77 in Bremen on Monday.
Over the course of his nearly three decades with the Green-Whites, Willi Lemke played a key role in shaping an extremely successful era at the club. He arrived in Bremen in 1981 as the club's new sporting director, having spent several years prior as the managing director of the Social Democratic Party's state association for Bremen. Lemke enjoyed a close relationship with former Werder head coach Otto Rehhagel, with the duo working closely together for many years. Together, they helped build SV Werder's reputation as one of the best teams in Germany during the 1980s and 1990s.
Following the end of his time as sporting director at SVW, Lemke returned to politics. First, he took up a position as Senator for Education and Science in Bremen (1999-2007), before becoming Senator for the Interior and Sport (2007-2008). He never truly left the Green-Whites, however, spending a total of 17 years as a member of the club's supervisory board.
Lemke was chairman of the supervisory board from 2005 to 2014. In April 2008, then UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon appointed Lemke to a position as Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace. In this role, Lemke was able to represent not only himself, but also the Hanseatic city of Bremen and SV Werder on the world stage. Through sport, he helped to build bridges and form connections between people, as well as advocate for peace. During his tenure, which lasted until 2016, he helped develop and support various projects as part of this role.
"Willi Lemke will be remembered as one of the biggest figures in Werder's history. The news of his sudden passing has left us all shocked and extremely saddened," said Dr. Hubertus Hess-Grunewald, president and chairman of the club's supervisory board. "We will remember Willi for his innovative, combative, passionate and ambitious nature. At the same time, he was always human and ready to build bridges. There are only a handful of people that are remembered for having such a close association with Werder as Willi Lemke. His work, which extended even beyond our club and Bremen, was extraordinary and exemplary. He was a true citizen of the world, but never forgot his Hanseatic roots. Our thoughts are with his family during this tough time."
Lemke was born in Pönitz (East Holstein) on 19th August 1946 and grew up in Hamburg. He moved to Bremen in 1971, which would go on to become his home. His appointment as sporting director by the Green-Whites was initially greeted with scepticism, not due to his Hamburg upbringing, but rather because he wasn't from within the footballing community.
Lemke remained a passionate Werder fan for the rest of his life, experiencing all the ups and downs that came with it, while also offering critical insight at times. Sport remained a key part of life for the former 4x100m relay schoolboy champion, who later became a passionate marathon runner. He also enjoyed combining this hobby with charitable initiatives.
"Willi Lemke was a prime example of the fact that it's possible to remain fit and active even late in life. His sudden and unexpected passing has stunned all of us at SV Werder," said Klaus Filbry, CEO of SV Werder Bremen. "There is no doubt that Willi Lemke will be remembered as one of the biggest figures in the history of German football. He was a pioneer in several areas while at SV Werder and his legacy will live on forever. Without his many years of dedicated service, our club wouldn’t be what it is today. His efforts for Werder, Bremen and global sport will never be forgotten. We will miss Willi Lemke dearly."
SV Werder Bremen will forever uphold the memory of our honorary member Willi Lemke.
