German football mourns 'sublime' Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer, a World Cup winner as both a player and a coach, died on Sunday at the age of 78, with news of his death not announced until Monday evening. Beckenbauer had largely withdrawn from public life in recent years as he battled a number of ailments. His family said the former midfielder died "peacefully" surrounded by his family in the Austrian city of Salzburg.

Known as 'Der Kaiser', the German word for Emperor, Beckenbauer was revered as an icon of the game in post-World War II Germany. "We'll miss him" German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday. "Franz Beckenbauer was one of the greatest footballers in Germany" Scholz said, saying the former midfielder "inspired enthusiasm for German football for generations".

Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder Lothar Matthaeus echoed the Chancellor's words, telling Bild "we will miss him". "The shock is deep, even if I knew Franz wasn't well." Matthaeus was Germany's captain and talisman when Beckenbauer coached the side to victory at the 1990 World Cup. "His death is a loss for football and for all of Germany. He was one of the greats as a player and a coach, but also off the pitch."

"Everyone who knew him knew what a great and generous person Franz was. A good friend has left us." Fellow 1990 World Cup winner and current German FA (DFB) sporting director Rudi Voeller expressed his "immense sadness", saying "he will forever remain a luminous figure." "German football loses a great personality" Voeller said. "I lose a great friend."

Current Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann credited Beckenbauer for "changing the game" as a 'libero', or free central defender. "His friendship with the ball made him a free man. "Franz Beckenbauer could float across the pitch. As a footballer and later as