In his first World Cup as player in 1966, Franz Beckenbauer chased England’s Bobby Charlton after he was given the task of marking the England standout. West Germany lost to England that year. But four years later, Beckenbauer and his team returned with World Cup aspirations as they faced Italy in the semifinal. ‘Der Kaiser’ played with his arm strapped to his body because of a shoulder injury, but his efforts did not pay off until 1974. In 1974, Beckenbauer was the caption of West Germany and led his team to winning the title.

Coming from a working-class background in war-torn Munich, ‘Der Kaiser’ became one of the only three people to win the World Cup as a player and as a manager. In fact, he also coached West Germany into winning the title in 1990. It was a symbolic moment for Germany because it happened amidst the reunification and just months after the Berlin Wall fell. Beckenbauer’s death has been a great loss to the world of soccer.

Franz Beckenbauer: Son of a post official to the greatest player

Born on September 11, 1945, Beckenbauer was the son of a post official from the Munich district of Giesing and started playing soccer as a 14-year-old. In 19621, he even resigned from his trainee insurance salesman position so that he could follow his dream: Soccer. At club level, Beckenbauer was a Bayern Munich legend. He led his team to winning three successive European Cups from 1974-76 and four Bundesliga titles. He also managed the team to Bundesliga glory in 1994 and a UEFA Cup triumph in 1996.

His family released a statement upon his death. “It is with deep sadness that we announce that my husband and our father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family… We ask that we be allowed to grieve in peace and be spared any questions.” The statement did not share a cause of death. But as per information available, the 78-year-old was struggling with health problems in recent years.

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Beckenbauer’s death news comes two days after Mario Zagallo’s death. The Brazilian was the first person to win the World Cup as a player and coach and passed away at 92. The only other person with this achievement is France’s Didier Deschamps.

Beckenbauer was famous for his role as a sweeper. Situated right behind the team’s defensive line, he would sweep for any man or ball that broke through. However, his achievements don’t end there. He also won several awards, including two prestigious Ballon d’Or awards in 1972 and 1976 as a defender. He was the first defender to win the award. Indeed, he was German soccer’s central figure.

He was also an avid traveler and visited all 31 countries that had qualified for the World Cup in Germany in 2006. “There are many who travel but who see nothing because they are too busy. I was always curious,” he once said after sharing he never thought he would have the opportunity to do so.

Soccer colleagues and fans remember the legend!

The iconic player was born months after Germany’s surrender in World War II. But situations surrounding him could not stop him. After all, his moniker ‘Libero’ was more than just a name; it was applicable to his life as well.

“Franz Beckenbauer, one of European football’s greatest sons, has passed away aged 78. ‘Der Kaiser’ was an extraordinary player, successful coach and popular pundit who shaped German football like no other,” the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) shared in a statement.

Rudi Voller, World Cup winner in 1990, had the pleasure of working with Beckenbauer. Upon learning about his death, Voller stated, “Our time together with the national team was crowned with the 1990 World Cup title in Rome, a title that would never have been possible without his outstanding coaching… I am losing a good friend.”

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Berti Vogts, Beckenbauer’s 1974 World Cup-winning teammate shared, “Germany has lost the best player that Germany ever had, and the best in the world alongside Pelé. That makes me very sad, that we have to part ways so early. We played together in the under-18s, in the national team, and were together at the World Cups. I was always in touch with his family. I’m lost for words.”

Fans were equally devastated. A fan simply wrote, “Passed away. RIP legend” and another one wrote, “RIP Der Kaiser.” There are interesting stories about how he got ‘Der Kaiser’ as his nickname. As per one story, he was once asked to pose beside the bust of an emperor and that’s how he got that name. The other story claims that Beckenbauer once elegantly got the better of a German opponent, who was known as the King.

Numerous fans also recognized his brilliance as a defender and one passionately stated, “RIP godfather of defense.” Another passionate supporter went so far as to declare him the ‘Greatest of All Time’ and wrote, “RIP – a real GOAT for sure.” 

In 1977, Der Kaiser ventured across the Atlantic to join forces with the New York Cosmos in America. It was here that he played alongside another late legend – Pele. However, in 1984, after bidding farewell to his playing days, Beckenbauer transitioned into management with West Germany. Truly, without a doubt, Franz Beckenbauer’s career is nothing short of legendary.

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