1970 World Cup
Photograph by Sven Simon ©Imago
Published in When Saturday Comes 234, August 2006

Sven Simon’s life was far from simple. His father, Axel Springer, founder of the tabloid Bild, was Germany’s Rupert Murdoch. His publishing empire was controversial for its business practices and criticism of the Sixties student protests. His publications refused to recognise East Germany, always referring to the DDR in inverted commas.

Axel Jr married young and fell out with his father; with the family rift he changed his name and became Sven Simon, the photographer. Maybe he wanted to prove he could make it on his own, or perhaps he wanted to work without always being asked about his dad. His ability was obvious and by 1966 he started his eponymous photo agency. His early work presents him practically as Franz Beckenbauer’s personal photographer. Simon observed him as the future German captain gradually became the key figure in the national team, to the extent that he carried more influence than coach Helmut Schön by the 1974 World Cup.

Simon was probably at his creative peak in 1970 and, with a team of photographers around him, his material from this World Cup is of uniquely high quality. His photo of Pelé, held up by Jairzinho as he punches the air, is the most famous of that tournament. But he also recorded an intimate selection of material of the Brazilians and of course the West Germans, who went out in dramatic fashion in the semi-finals to Italy. Featured here, top left, is Beckenbauer receiving treatment for a dislocated shoulder. With both subs used he played on as the team lost gallantly 4-3. Below, back home in Frankfurt the team are fêted by the German public. Top right is Pelé in reflective conversation with Brito with the score 1-1 at half-time in the final. Beneath he is exultant and rarely more candidly shot as the World Cup-winning goals are celebrated.

Having photographed football’s most eulogised World Cups, Simon’s success reconciled him with his father and he returned to the family business, editing Welt am Sonntag, Springer’s non-tabloid Sunday paper. But their reunion did not bring lasting happiness. In 1980, aged 38, Sven Simon committed suicide. His archive survives in his name and the Sven Simon Prize goes to the German sports photo of the year. His son Axel Sven Springer heads the judging panel.

Doug Cheeseman
Football Photography Writing

See more of Sven Simon’s work