German soccer league president Werner Hackmann died Sunday, according to the national soccer federation (DFB). He was 59.
Hackmann, who had headed the organization for the 36 first- and second-division clubs since 2000 and was also vice president of the DFB, died Sunday morning of unspecified causes.
"His death is a serious loss for German soccer and the league," DFB president Theo Zwanziger said.
Hackmann started his career in politics and served as Hamburg's state interior minister from 1988-94. In 1997, he joined the board of Hamburger SV.
He is survived by wife Ulla and two children.