You could probably fill a large football stadium with all the people taking to social media to express their condolences over the death of Michael Zeman. And that’s no surprise, the “Bushman” of FC Bayern was one of the most famous football fans in the republic, if only because of his spectacular outfit.
He was also a bit of a fan for the fans, Buschmann was often asked by other fans, for example on the esplanade in front of the arena, if they could take a selfie with him. You could order autographs on his own website. In the past two years, however, the 57-year-old had hardly traveled at all. The pandemic had made it impossible for fans for a long time, and when it was allowed again, he still had a queasy feeling, according to friends.
Now it was finally time again, if not for a game, but for the World Cup draw, thanks to an invitation from the World Cup Committee. They also knew him well in Qatar, after all he had visited Bayern’s training camp there several times. He landed in Doha last Tuesday but never arrived at the hotel. Zeman died of a heart attack. “He carried FC Bayern in his heart – and out into the world, because he was closely connected to our supporters around the world. In him we are losing a very special person who we will always remember,” wrote Bayern- President Herbert Hainer. Zeman leaves behind a wife.
Buschmann was always there for home games, although he lived 565 kilometers away near Cologne
In the arena, he was one of those who were almost always there. And that despite the fact that he lived 565 kilometers away, in Erftstadt, southwest of Cologne. He also traveled to as many away games as possible, whether it was to Morocco for the Club World Cup, Madrid or Glasgow.
By his own admission, he tried to attend 40 of Bayern’s 50 or so games each season for more than 35 years. Over time, more and more luggage accumulated, in a certain way. This is exactly what he was known for: for the almost 200 patches on his jacket, pants and huge hat, for the around 40 scarves on his arms and around his neck. “Buschi” dragged around 15 kilos with him. In the home arena, he was mostly found in block 117, in the lower tier of the south stand.
“He waited so long for it to finally go on – like all of us,” says his fan club friend Michael Stefovic from Bayern Kings 1987 Selters. Since its inception, at least one member has always attended a home game. Buschmann usually traveled with the fan club, but sometimes also alone. Many in the fan club belong to the fan category of the so-called jack-of-all-trades, people who spend their entire lives orienting themselves on visits to the stadium. It is understandable that the sadness is all the greater when a like-minded person dies so unexpectedly.
At the moment he can’t even realize that Buschmann will never be in the stadium again, says Stefovic. We will say goodbye to him properly. At the same time, the chairman of the fan club announced that he would start a fundraiser for Zeman’s wife. Last year, her small house in Erftstadt was badly affected by the flood disaster.
In the FC Bayern Museum, Buschmann can be seen in a photo of himself standing in the desert in full outfit. The well-travelled man wasn’t just a fan in recent years, he also helped shape the club’s global image to some extent, sometimes as an interview partner when a fan opinion was needed. So it cannot be ruled out that one day it will take up even more space in the museum.
