In a statement to Danish TV2, his family said that "Sepp Piontek has passed away after a short illness."
He is now being praised by, among others, former Denmark international Morten Olsen:
Of course it's about him being able to create a good balance and make us play good football, but he was also a fantastic person.
As a player, Piontek had a career as a defender for Werder Bremen, mainly during the 1960s, but it was as a coach that the German became a respected name in the world of football. In 1979, he took over as Denmark's national team coach. Victory against Italy in the 1981 World Cup qualifiers was the first major success, but more were to come.
Made it to the European Championships
Under Piontek's leadership, Denmark made it to the 1984 European Championship, where they sensationally reached the semi-finals against Spain. After a penalty shootout in which Preben Elkjær missed the decisive penalty, the championship was over for the Danish side, but the national team and Piontek's popularity only grew.
"Danish Dynamite" became a term linked to the offensive play he advocated, the national team song "We are red, we are white" was a success and at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Denmark participated for the first time in a World Cup context. After, among other things, a 6–1 victory against Uruguay and a 2–0 victory against Piontek's home country, then West Germany, they faced Spain again, where they lost, 1–5.
Turned 85 years old
Piontek remained Denmark's national team coach until 1990 but left when they failed to qualify for the World Cup in Italy.
His national-team coaching career continued in Turkey and Haiti. He then returned to Denmark as coach of, among others, Silkeborg.
Sepp Piontek was 85 years old.
