20.12.2020
Eintracht

Eintracht Frankfurt mourn Dietrich Weise

Eintracht Frankfurt are mourning the passing of double cup-winning coach Dietrich Weise, who died on Sunday in Heilbronn at the age of 86.

Weise was appointed Eintracht coach in 1973 and lifted the DFB Cup in his very first year in charge with a 3-1 win over Hamburger SV in the final. Weise defended the title in 1975, this time beating MSV Duisburg 1-0. The following year, he led Eintracht to the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, where his side narrowly lost to West Ham United. At the end of that season, Weise moved to Fortuna Düsseldorf. From 1978 to 1983, he was a successful youth coach for the German Football Association, winning the European Championship and FIFA Youth World Championship with the U18 team in 1981. After another coaching stint at 1. FC Kaiserslautern, he returned to a relegation-threatened Eintracht in 1983 and kept them up.

Weise’s coaching career ended with a spell in Egypt and then as the coach of the Liechtenstein national team. Football remained a part of his life, and he regularly attended Eintracht matches and kept an eye on the Eagles’ youth team. “Dietrich Weise was one of Eintracht’s great coaches,” said club president Peter Fischer in tribute. “We mourn the loss of a person who lived for football and was recognised as a specialist everywhere he went. He always paid close attention to the development of youth, and there are lots of former players at the club who are grateful for everything he did for them. We’ve not only lost a football expert but also a good friend, whose humanity we will miss.”