Member of the Legendary Eleven
Erzgebirge Aue Mourns Club Icon Mothes – Second-Highest Scorer in Club History
FC Erzgebirge Aue is grieving the loss of one of its greatest-ever players. Harald Mothes passed away at the age of 69, as the third-division club announced on Saturday after consulting with his family. “FC Erzgebirge Aue extends its deepest condolences to his wife, his family, and all friends and relatives. We will always honor the name Harald Mothes and remember this great sportsman,” the club wrote on its website.
Mothes was among the finest footballers and most influential figures in the club’s 80-year history. He made over 350 competitive appearances for the Saxony side and scored 103 goals, making him the second-highest scorer in the club’s history. He was also a beloved ambassador and a symbol of goodwill for FCE.
Having played for the club for 15 years (1975–1990), Mothes was part of the “golden generation” alongside Holger Erler, Jürgen Escher, Volker Schmidt, and Jörg Weißflog, with two qualifications for European competitions. In the UEFA Intertoto Cup and UEFA Cup, Mothes scored seven goals in 27 matches.
Just last year, Mothes moved back from Bavaria to his native Erzgebirge region. On March 4, during the ceremony for the club’s 80th anniversary, he was inducted into the all-time best eleven.
