Franz Beckenbauer in six key dates
From his first trophy with Bayern Munich in 1966 to the organisation of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, AFP looks back at six key dates in half a century of soccer.
1970: Fighting on with a dislocated arm in the World Cup
On June 17, 1970, Germany faced Italy in the World Cup semi-finals in Mexico City. Shortly after the hour, in an attempt to force a penalty (he only won a free kick), Beckenbauer dived into the Italian box but landed badly on his right arm, dislocating it. West German coach Helmut Schoen had already made his two permitted changes, and the Kaiser carried on. After Karl-Heinz Schnellinger's added-time equaliser, Beckenbauer played on through extra time, his arm in a sling. Gerd Mueller scored twice but Italy scored three times and won 4-3.
1972: Historic Ballon d'Or
USSR goalkeeper Lev Yashin (in 1963) had been the only non-attacker to win the Ballon d'Or since its creation in 1956. Beckenbauer, a libero by that stage of his career, changed that when he won in 1972 after leading West Germany to the European title in Belgium in the summer. He edged West Germany team-mates Gerd Mueller and midfielder Guenther Netzer, who tied for second two votes behind. Four years later he won the award for the second time. In the history of the trophy, only two other defenders have won: Germany's Matthias Sammer (1996) and Italy's Fabio Cannavaro (2006).
1974: World title on home soil
Born in Giesing, a working-class district in the south of Munich, Beckenbauer first played in the city's Olympic Stadium, built for the 1972 Games, in the 1974 World Cup. Despite a humiliating loss to East Germany in the group stage, the West Germans reached the final against Johan Cruyff's Netherlands and won 2-1. Captain Beckenbauer lifted the
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