Football icon, revolutionary Franz Beckenbauer dead at 78
Franz Beckenbauer, one of football’s iconic figures and a rare World Cup winner as both player and coach, revolutionised the way the game is played.
Born in Munich in 1945, he helped establish Bayern as Germany’s strongest club. At international level, he played a key role in Germany becoming a footballing powerhouse.
Known in Germany as “the Kaiser”, Beckenbauer played a central role in some of the country’s greatest sporting achievements.
Beckenbauer, a commanding figure on and off the pitch, was named European footballer of the year in both 1972 and 1976.
His legacy was later tarnished for his involvement in scandals surrounding Germany’s successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup, but he remained football-mad Germany’s most celebrated player.
As a player, Beckenbauer revolutionised the role of a defender as a creative playmaker, kick-starting a fundamental tactical shift which remains in force in modern football.
Alongside Brazil’s Mario Zagallo, who passed away on Friday aged 92, and France’s Didier Deschamps, Beckenbauer is one of only three men to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager.
Debuting for his country in 1965, Beckenbauer played at the 1966 World Cup as an attacking midfielder. He scored four times as West Germany made it to the Wembley final, where they lost 4-2 to England.
Four years later in Mexico, Beckenbauer scored West Germany’s first as his side came from 2-0 down to defeat England 3-2 in the quarter-finals.
In the semis, Beckenbauer dislocated his shoulder after a tackle from Italian defender Pierluigi Cera. Demonstrating his toughness, he returned to the field, playing the remainder of the game in a sling as West Germany lost 4-3 in extra time.
His World Cup disappointment would
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