Didier Deschamps pays tribute to ‘giant of football’ Franz Beckenbauer

France manager Didier Deschamps has paid tribute to Franz Beckenbauer, who died at the age of 78 on Sunday, 7th January. Alongside, Mario Zagallo, who died just days before Beckenbauer at the age of 92 (Friday 5th January), they are the only players to have won the World Cup as a player and as a manager.

Two-time Ballon d’Or winner and Bayern Munich legend Beckenbauer won the World Cup with Germany as a player in 1974 before then going on to win the competition as a manager in 1990. The German defender also won the EUROs back in 1972.

Deschamps has also won the World Cup as a player and as a manager for France. He won as a player in 1998 before winning as a manager in 2018, with Les Bleus lifting the trophy in Russia. In a tribute, transcribed by L’Équipe, Deschamps paid his respects to Beckenbauer, who he has described as “a giant of football”.

“It is with great sadness that I have learned of the death of Franz Beckenbauer. It comes just days after Mario Zagallo’s death. It was an honour to meet both of them in 2018 – to be amongst those who have won the World Cup as a player and as a manager. My pain is equal to my happiness at having been invited to the table of these two giants of international football,” began Deschamps.

“Franz Beckenbauer was, above all, a world-class player, a talented and authoritative defender with his club, Bayern Munich, but also with the Germany national team, with whom he collected trophies. He exuded class and an assurance that many have tried to be inspired by.”

“Through all of his success and what he emitted, Franz Beckenbauer was an extremely respected personality, who incarnated expectations at the highest level. I express all of my support in this difficult and painful moment to his