Honored Hertha captain Uwe Witt died at the age of 86

Honored Hertha captain Uwe Witt died at the age of 86

Uwe Witt, the former captain of Hertha BSC, died in Berlin on May 22, 2025 at the age of 86. His journey into football history began in Brunsbüttel, where he was born on January 25, 1939. With a height of 182 cm, he played primarily in defense - as a libero or defender - and left a lasting impression on the German football landscape.

In the years between 1968 and 1972, Witt was a formative player for Hertha BSC and played in 158 competitive games for the Berliners, including 123 exciting Bundesliga appearances. The 1967/68 season was particularly important when he achieved promotion to the Bundesliga with Hertha BSC. But the talented defender's career came to a dramatic end in 1972 when the Bundesliga scandal revealed that his team had lost to Arminia Bielefeld after Bielefeld tried to influence the game through bribery. Witt and some of his teammates were implicated in this scandal, which resulted in a two-year ban for Witt and severe punishments for a total of 15 players and the manager Wolfgang Holst.

Uwe Witt decided not to pay the fine of 15,000 marks, which kept his ban in effect until today and thus meant the premature end of his football existence. After his active career, he ventured into the real estate industry and lived in Spain for many years, where he found new courage to live.

Football career in review

In addition to his 123 appearances in the Bundesliga, Witt also played 16 times in the UEFA Cup for Hertha BSC. He began his career at various clubs, including Hamburger SV (amateurs), SC Concordia Hamburg and FC St. Pauli. His time in the Oberliga Nord and Regionalliga Nord was formative for his football development. He was already active as a youth player for the DFB youth selection and gained valuable experience.

However, Witt is no stranger to the dark side of football. The Bundesliga scandal that rocked the league in 1970/71 is one of the darkest chapters in German football history. This represents just a part of the many scandals that have characterized football in recent decades, including manipulation and attempted bribery, as documented in the list of the biggest Bundesliga scandals.

Life after football

After the end of his active career and the associated ban, Witt found a new path in life and a successful foothold in the real estate industry. Despite all the ups and downs, he remained connected to his passion for football until his last breath. His life's work and his tireless fight for his place in sport were inspiring to many who knew him. Witt not only leaves his mark on the pitch, but also in the hearts of fans and his companions.

Witt's influence on German football will probably be remembered forever. His story shows how complex and complicated the life of a professional athlete can be. In retrospect, his life will remain an eventful journey through ups and downs in the world of football.

Uwe Witt will live on in the memories of many fans as the player who sparked debate both on and off the pitch and represented an important time in the history of German football.

For more information about Witt's career and his contribution to football, those interested can read here: T Online, Wikipedia, and find out more about the Bundesliga scandals Football fever.