German Football Legend Franz Beckenbauer Dies at 78

Franz Beckenbauer, a legendary figure in German football as a player, captain, and coach, has died at the age of 78, as announced by the German football association on Monday.

“Franz Beckenbauer was definitely the biggest German footballer of all time, and above all one of the greatest men who I have known,” said DFB vice president Hans-Joachim Watzke.

Beckenbauer, one of only three men to win the World Cup as both a player and as a coach, passed away on Sunday, according to the DFB. The former captain of the German team in the 1970s had been suffering from health problems in recent years and lived a mostly private life in Salzburg, just across from the German border.

Known as ‘the Kaiser’ (the Emperor) in football-obsessed Germany, Beckenbauer played a central role in some of the country’s greatest sporting achievements. However, his legacy was later marred by his involvement in scandals surrounding Germany’s successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

Born in Munich in 1945, Beckenbauer helped establish Bayern as his country’s strongest club. Alongside Mario Zagallo and Didier Deschamps, Beckenbauer is one of only three men to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager. He captained West Germany to the 1974 World Cup title on home soil and managed the team that won the trophy at Italia 90.

A commanding figure on and off the pitch, Beckenbauer was named European footballer of the year in both 1972 and 1976. He made 424 appearances in the Bundesliga, scoring 44 goals during his 13-year spell for Bayern before concluding his playing career in 1983 with stints at Hamburg and New York Cosmos.

Beckenbauer transitioned to managerial roles at Bayern and Marseille, achieving success in the French league in 1991 and the Bundesliga in 1994. In 1996, he retired from coaching and assumed the role of president at Bayern, eventually joining FIFA’s Executive Committee.

However, Beckenbauer’s off-field achievements were shadowed by a scandal in 2015, when allegations emerged of a cash-for-votes scandal involving the German Football Association’s bid to host the 2006 World Cup. Despite maintaining his innocence, the football icon’s reputation was tarnished.

Beckenbauer underwent heart surgery in 2016 and 2017. In recent years, his health had been a cause for concern, leading to his absence from public events. The football community mourns the loss of a true legend, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.

Source: AFP