The German football legend and income Franz Beckenbauer won the World Cup as both a player and a manager. He was also one of the greatest defenders of all time, and a key figure for Bayern Munich. Here are some facts about his remarkable career:
1. He was born on 11 September 1945 in Munich, Germany. He started playing football at the age of six, and joined Bayern Munich in 1959.
2.He made his debut for West Germany in 1965, and went on to play 103 times for his country, scoring 14 goals. He captained the team to their second World Cup title in 1974, and also won the European Championship in 1972. He was runner-up in both tournaments in 1966 and 1976.
3He played 582 times for Bayern Munich, winning four Bundesliga titles, four German Cups, and three European Cups. He was also the first player to win the Ballon d’Or three times, in 1972, 1976, and 1977. He is widely regarded as the inventor of the sweeper (libero) role, a versatile defender who could also initiate attacks.
4.He moved to the United States in 1977, and played for New York Cosmos until 1983, winning three NASL titles. He also had a brief spell with Hamburger SV in 1980-1982.
5. He became the manager of West Germany in 1984, and led them to their third World Cup title in 1990, becoming the second person to win the trophy as both a player and a manager, after Brazil’s Mario Zagallo. He also reached the final of the European Championship in 1988.
6.He was named in the World Team of the 20th Century in 1998, the FIFA World Cup Dream Team in 2002, the Ballon d’Or Dream Team in 2020, and the FIFA 100 of the world’s greatest living players in 2004. He received many awards and honors for his contributions to football, including the FIFA Order of Merit, the UEFA President’s Award, and the German Federal Cross of Merit.
Mr. Beckenbauer died on 7 January 2024 in Salzburg, Austria, at the age of 78. His family announced his death on 8 January, and tributes have been pouring in from the football world and beyond. He is survived by his wife Heidi, his five children, and his grandchildren.
