German football legend Franz Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as a player and manager, has died at the age of 78.
- Franz Beckenbauer led West Germany to the World Cup title in 1974
- He is one of three men to have won the World Cup as both a player and manager
- Kai Havertz is chained as Arsenal’s number 9, the weight of that shirt is too heavy It all starts
German football legend Franz Beckenbauer has died at the age of 78.
The World Cup winner died on Sunday, his family confirmed, as tributes poured in from the football world.
Beckenbauer’s health has gradually deteriorated since his son Stephan died in 2015.
Since then, the iconic former player and manager has struggled with Parkinson’s disease, dementia and undergone heart surgery.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that husband and father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family,” a statement said.
“We ask that you grieve in silence and not ask questions.”
Beckenbauer, nicknamed ‘Der Kaiser’, is unanimously regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever.
He was part of the West Germany team that lost to England in the 1966 World Cup final.
Beckenbauer is in an exclusive club because he is one of only three men, including French manager Didier Deschamps and Brazilian icon Mario Zagallo, who died last week, to have won a World Cup as a player and manager.
Beckenbauer was born in 1945 in post-war Munich as the son of postman Franz Beckenbauer Sr. and his wife Antonie.
He joined Bayern Munich in 1964 and would play over 400 games, establishing himself as their greatest ever player.
The former player, who started as a striker in his youth, would win four league titles and three European Cups in Bavaria before winning the World Cup as a player in 1974. He would lift the trophy again as manager of Germany. in 1990.
Beckenbauer is credited with creating – and mastering – the sweeper role for the defense.
A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, which is awarded to the best player in the world for a calendar year, he started his career in the youth ranks at Bayern, an old-fashioned setup at the time.
He was originally a striker and was later deployed as a left winger when he made his debut in 1964.
Beckenbauer slowly returned to the pitch and moved into midfield, where he would play the key role in helping Bayern achieve promotion to the Bundesliga.
He was made captain ahead of the 1968-69 season and was inspiring to lead them to the Bundesliga at the first time he asked.
More to follow.