A life-sized bronze statue of legendary soccer coach Werner Fuchs was recently unveiled at the Tivoli Stadium in Aachen, Germany, creating an emotional and memorable moment for thousands of fans of the traditional football club TSV Alemannia Aachen. The statue, erected in early November 2025 in front of the stadium on Krefelder Street, now greets fans in life-size as they arrive for home games.
The memorial honors Werner Fuchs, an unforgettable coach who tragically died suddenly in 1999, just five days before Alemannia's promotion to the second division. His unexpected death shocked the football community and left a lasting impact on the club and its supporters.
The bronze statue was created by sculptor Klaus Gehlen from Mützenich, who has established himself as a prominent artist in the region with numerous works throughout the area. Gehlen's artistic contributions extend far beyond this single memorial, as many of his sculptures can be found across the local landscape.
In Gehlen's studio in Mützenich, the clay model of the recently installed life-sized bronze statue still stands as a testament to the artist's creative process. However, this model will soon be destroyed, and the clay will be recycled for Gehlen's next artistic project, demonstrating the cyclical nature of the sculptor's work and his commitment to sustainable artistic practices.
The unveiling of the Werner Fuchs memorial represents not only a tribute to a beloved coach but also showcases the talent of local artist Klaus Gehlen, whose works continue to enrich the cultural landscape of the Aachen region.
