Franz Beckenbauer, one of the greatest footballers of all time and a World Cup winner as both a player and a coach, has died at the age of 78, his family confirmed on Monday.
Beckenbauer, who was nicknamed “Der Kaiser” (The Emperor) for his elegance and leadership on and off the pitch, had been suffering from deteriorating health for several years.
He passed away at his home in Munich, surrounded by his loved ones.
Beckenbauer was a versatile player who started out as a midfielder, but made his name as a central defender and a pioneer of the modern sweeper role.
He won two Ballons d’Or, the most prestigious individual award in football, and was named in the World Team of the 20th Century, the FIFA World Cup Dream Team, and the Ballon d’Or Dream Team.
He played 103 times for West Germany, captaining them to their second World Cup title in 1974 on home soil. He also won the European Championship in 1972 and finished as runner-up in 1966 and 1976.
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He is one of only three men, along with Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and France’s Didier Deschamps, to have won the World Cup as both a player and a coach.
He led West Germany to their third World Cup triumph in 1990 in Italy, beating Argentina in the final.
At club level, he spent most of his career at Bayern Munich, where he won four Bundesliga titles, four German Cups, and three consecutive European Cups in the 1970s.
He also played for New York Cosmos and Hamburger SV, winning trophies with both teams.
He later returned to Bayern Munich as a manager and a president, overseeing their rise to become one of the most successful clubs in Europe.
Beckenbauer was widely admired and respected in the football world and beyond, for his skill, vision, intelligence, and charisma.
He was also involved in various humanitarian and social causes, such as UNICEF and Laureus.
He was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit, the UEFA President’s Award, and the German Federal Cross of Merit for his contributions to football and society.
However, his reputation was tarnished by allegations of corruption and fraud linked to the 2006 World Cup, which he headed the organising committee for.
He was accused of making two payments totalling £8.4m to former FIFA executive Mohamed bin Hammam in 2005, in exchange for votes to secure Germany’s hosting rights.
He denied the charges, but was banned by FIFA for 90 days in 2015. His trial in Switzerland was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and ended without a verdict in 2020, as the statute of limitations expired.
Beckenbauer is survived by his wife Heidi, his five children, and his grandchildren. According to sources, his funeral will be held in a private ceremony, followed by a public memorial service at the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich’s stadium.
Tributes have poured in from around the world, from former teammates, opponents, managers, officials, fans, and celebrities, who have expressed their sadness and gratitude for his legacy.