Franz Beckenbauer, legendary footballer and coach of Germany, dies at the age of 78 after a long illness

Franz Beckenbauer led West Germany to the FIFA World Cup title in 1974. He also coached the national team to the 1990 World Cup trophy by beating Argentina in the final.

Munich: Legendary German footballer and coach Franz Beckenbauer, who helped his country win the World Cup both as a player and as a manager, died on Monday at the age of 78, the dpa news agency reported. Beckenbauer is one of three men on earth, after Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and France’s Didier Deschamps, to have won the World Cup as both a player and a coach.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that my husband and our father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family,” the family said in a statement to dpa, the German news agency.

“We ask that we may grieve in peace and be spared all questions.” The statement did not mention a cause of death. As a player and coach, Beckenbauer has done more than most to shape German football. He led West Germany to the World Cup title in 1974. He also coached the national team that won the World Cup final against Argentina in 1990.

In recent years, the former Bayern Munich has struggled with health problems. In addition to the World Cup, Beckenbauer had also won the European Championship in 1972 and represented his country 103 times. Beckenbauer won three European Cups for Bayern Munich from 1974 to 1976. With Bayern Munich he also won four Bundesliga titles and made 582 appearances.

He had also served as manager of Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title in 1994 and led them to UEFA Cup glory two years later. In terms of personal bests, Beckenbauer won two Ballon d’Or awards in 1972 and 1976.