Franz Beckenbauer, an iconic figure in football and one of only three individuals to secure the World Cup as both player and coach, has passed away at the age of 78.
Beckenbauer, affectionately known as “Der Kaiser” (The Emperor), is celebrated as one of the greatest footballers ever. He shares the unique World Cup accomplishment with Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and France’s Didier Deschamps.
Beckenbauer’s football journey began at the age of nine with SC Munich ’06’s youth team in 1954. His outstanding leadership skills and versatility on the field quickly made him a standout in the sport.
He drew comparisons to Fritz Walter, a revered figure in German football and a key player in Germany’s 1954 World Cup victory.
National Team Career
Beckenbauer, a luminary in the history of the German national team, made his debut for West Germany at 20 and was appointed captain in 1972. He led the team to the European Championship in 1972 and the World Cup victory on home soil in 1974. In the 1974 final at the Olympiastadion in Munich, West Germany defeated the Netherlands 2-1. Beckenbauer scored 14 goals in 103 appearances for Germany.
Bayern Munich Tenure
Beckenbauer’s most significant club tenure was at Bayern Munich, where he played from 1964 to 1977. He participated in 396 games, winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1967 and three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976. Additionally, he won four Bundesliga titles and four DFB Cups.
In 1977, Beckenbauer joined the New York Cosmos, where he won the North American Soccer League three times alongside Pele. He returned to Germany in 1980 to play for Hamburg, leading them to a German championship in 1982. Beckenbauer was also the first defender to win the Ballon d’Or twice, in 1972 and 1976.
Managerial Career
Beckenbauer took over as manager of the West German team in 1984. His team reached the 1986 World Cup final in Mexico but lost to Argentina, led by Diego Maradona. However, they claimed the World Cup title in 1990 in Italy, avenging their previous loss to Argentina.
Beckenbauer later served as sports director at Olympique Marseille for a year, winning a Ligue 1 title. He had two brief stints as Bayern Munich’s head coach. Beyond his playing career, he played a crucial role at Bayern Munich as president of the club. He was vice president from 1991-1994 and president from July 1994 to November 2009.