Former Schalke technical director and club legend Rudi Assauer, who spent 18 years with the German Bundesliga club, passed away on 6 February. Mr Assauer, who publicly revealed he had Alzheimer’s disease in 2012, was 74 years old. He was already a well-known and respected footballer in his own right, having played 307 games as a defender for two clubs, Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen, between 1964 and 1976. He won the 1965 German Cup and the 1966 European Cup Winners' Cup with Dortmund. Mr Assauer was, however, better known for his more recent role at FC Schalke 04, AKA the “Royal Blues”. He held this position from 1981-1986 and from 1993-2006 and during his second stint, the club won three trophies: two German Cups and the 1997 UEFA Cup.