Memorial Page for Max Lorenz

Max Lorenz (born 19 August 1939 in Bremen; died 24 October 2025 in Bremen) was a German footballer. He won the German championship and the DFB-Pokal with Werder Bremen, played 19 matches for West Germany and was part of the World Cup squads in 1966 and 1970.

Bremen, Hemelingen and Werder

Lorenz grew up in the Bremen district of Hemelingen and began playing football at SV Hemelingen. In 1960 he joined Werder Bremen. The club became the centre of his sporting life: Lorenz played there in the Oberliga, Bundesliga and European competition, first as a young Bremen player from nearby, later as a reliable figure in defence and midfield.

Cup win and the start of the Bundesliga

On 13 September 1961 Werder Bremen won the DFB-Pokal final 2-0 against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Lorenz was part of that team and soon experienced the transition into the new professional league. On 24 August 1963 he played on the first matchday of the Bundesliga at the Weserstadion. Werder beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2; Lorenz was therefore one of the players who knew the league's beginning from the pitch.

The 1965 championship

In the 1964/65 season Werder Bremen became German champions. Lorenz belonged to a side that played with defensive stability and conceded only 29 goals, the best defensive record in the league. For Lorenz, the title was the sporting high point of his Bremen years. Werder later described him as a player who remained connected with the club over many decades and became a familiar contact for former professionals, fans and staff in Bremen.

National team and World Cups

Lorenz made his West Germany debut on 24 April 1965 in a 5-0 win over Cyprus in Karlsruhe. Between 1965 and 1970 he played 19 international matches and scored one goal. At the 1966 World Cup in England he was part of the German squad but did not play. In 1970 in Mexico he appeared in the tournament and came on in the third-place match against Uruguay, which West Germany won 1-0.

Braunschweig and later years

In 1969 Lorenz moved to Eintracht Braunschweig, where he played until 1972. Afterwards he remained close to football and especially to Werder Bremen. In later years he appeared at club events, supported social and intergenerational initiatives and was a familiar presence in Bremen football. The memorial service in November 2025 showed how far that connection reached beyond statistics.

Farewell

Max Lorenz died in Bremen on 24 October 2025 at the age of 86. Werder Bremen remembered him as a cup winner, championship player, international and long-time companion of the club. His name remains especially connected with Werder's first major successful period in the 1960s.