On 12 August 2024, Willi Lemke died at the age of 77. The long-time Werder manager had been part of the legendary triumvirate with Franz Bohmert and Otto Rehhagel under whose leadership Werder enjoyed the most successful era in club history. Lemke later served as a UN special adviser, senator for education and science, and Bremen’s interior senator. His death marked the end of an era.
His public feuds with Uli Hoeness were as much part of his legacy as the invention of VIP boxes in German football, which had their beginnings at the Weserstadion.