Published on 09.01.2024
Franz Beckenbauer, widely regarded as one of the greatest football players in history, has passed away at the age of 78.
Beckenbauer, affectionately known as ‘Der Kaiser’, achieved great success both as a player and as a manager. He captained West Germany to victory in the World Cup in 1974 and later guided them to another triumph in 1990 when he was serving as their manager.
Notably, Beckenbauer is among a select group of individuals who have won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager. The other members of this exclusive club are Mario Zagallo from Brazil – who unfortunately recently passed away – and France’s Didier Deschamps.
RIP Franz Beckenbauer... 'Der Kaiser of Trivela'
— Pythagoras In Boots ⚽️ (@pythaginboots) January 8, 2024
Bit late to the news but another GOAT leaves us... Der Kaiser, Franz Beckenauer. What better way to pay tribute to him than paying homage to his favourite type of pass... the 'Trivela'.
There was a reason why I started the… pic.twitter.com/SORIG6dTog
In addition to his international achievements, Beckenbauer also tasted success at club level. He is considered an iconic figure at Bayern Munich where he won three consecutive European Cups between 1974-76 along with four Bundesliga titles. In total, he made an impressive 582 appearances for Bayern during his playing career.
After hanging up his boots, Beckenbauer transitioned into management and led Bayern Munich to further domestic triumphs. In 1994, he guided them to win the Bundesliga title and two years later secured victory in the UEFA Cup.
A statement released by his family expressed their deep sadness over his passing: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved husband and father Franz Beckenbauer yesterday on Sunday while surrounded by our family.”
The family requested privacy during this difficult time: “We kindly ask you to respect our need for silence and refrain from any inquiries.”
Beckenbauer gained fame by creating his own unique position as a sweeper, which is now commonly referred to as a “Libero”. He would sit just behind his team’s defensive line and swiftly deal with any opponents or balls that managed to get through.
Additionally, Beckenbauer achieved numerous individual accolades during his career, notably winning two Ballon d’Or awards in 1972 and 1976. This was quite rare for a defender at the time and continues to be an exceptional achievement even today.
