Beckenbauer, the death of a legend

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By: Manu Tournoux

Beckenbauer, the death of a legend

German football legend Franz Beckenbauer died on Sunday at the age of 78. He was part of the closed circle of world champions as a player and coach.

Germany mourns its legend. Two years after Gerd Müller, the other emblematic player of German football from the 1970s passed away. The “Kaiser” died on Sunday at the age of 78, as his family announced to German media on Monday.

Frequently considered the best defender in history, Beckenbauer was an elegant and talented player who marked his era. He was the captain of the FRG, world champions in 1974 against Johan Cruyff’s Netherlands. With Bayern Munich, whose colors he wore 567 times between 1964 and 1977, he won four German championship titles and three Champion Club Cups, the ancestor of the Champions League.

He won everything with Bayern and Germany, before a move to OM

The Munich native became coach in 1984, to take charge of the Nationalmannschaft, which he led to the roof of the world in 1990. Beckenbauer joined at that time, after the Brazilian Mario Zagallo (also recently deceased) and before the French Didier Deschamps, in the very closed circle of World Cup winners as a player and as a coach.

In the process, Beckenbauer joined Bernard Tapie’s OM, where he only stayed on the bench for four months. After a stint as sporting director at Marseille, he then returned home, to become an emblematic leader of Bayern for many years.

Health concerns in recent years

In recent years, the “Kaiser” has become rarer, affected by health problems: two heart operations undergone in 2016 and 2017, installation of a hip prosthesis in 2018 and surgery on the right eye in 2022. “ I had what they call a heart attack in one eye. Unfortunately, I can no longer see anything with my right eye and I have to pay attention to my heart,” he confided at the time of the World Cup in Qatar. He also suffered from Parkinson’s disease with associated dementia.

Contacted by Bild, Lothar Matthaüs reacted to this death. “The shock is profound, even though I knew Franz was not feeling well. His death is a loss for football and for Germany as a whole, confided the captain of the 1990 world champions. He was one of the greatest as a player and coach, but also off the field. Franz was an outstanding personality not only in football, but he enjoyed worldwide recognition. Everyone who knew him knows what a wonderful and generous person Franz was. A good friend has left us. I will miss him – we will all miss him! »

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Written by:

Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.

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