Franz Beckenbauer, ‘Der Kaiser’ of West German football, dies at 78

Franz Beckenbauer, a towering figure in football who led West Germany to the World Cup as a player in 1974 and as a coach in 1990 and earned a reputation as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, died on Sunday. He was 78.

He died at his home, his family confirmed in a statement, but did not indicate where he lived or what the cause of death was. His relatives were quoted for months in German media reports saying Beckenbauer, who underwent heart surgery in 2016, was in poor health.

A cerebral player whose technical skills and tactical awareness revolutionized his position in central defense, Beckenbauer was nicknamed ‘Der Kaiser’ for his ability to control matches and score goals from a position largely in charge of preventing of it. He led West Germany to two World Cup finals as a player: in 1966, when they lost to England in extra time, and in 1974, when he led the team to victory on home soil.

As team coach during the 1990 tournament in Italy, he won his second world title with a victory over Argentina led by Diego Maradona.

His CV is littered with team and individual accolades: world and European championships with West Germany; four German club titles; three European cups; twice winner of the Ballon d’Or as European player of the year.

Beckenbauer spent most of his professional career with Germany’s biggest club, Bayern Munich, before making a lucrative move to the ambitious North American Soccer League. As a member of the New York Cosmos, he was part of three more championship teams, including one in 1977 that included Pelé of Brazil.

Later, as football director, Beckenbauer helped his now united country secure hosting rights for the 2006 World Cup, but his actions – and those of others linked to the German bid – brought accusations of corruption and a criminal case in Switzerland. home to football’s global governing body. Beckenbauer was not convicted, but only because the court ran out of time to complete a prosecution under Swiss law.

Before that case went to trial, his reputation came under renewed scrutiny when he was part of the tainted vote to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

Beckenbauer, along with Brazil’s Mário Zagallo and France’s Didier Deschamps, was one of only three people to win the World Cup, football’s biggest prize, both as a player and as a coach. Zagallo died on Friday at the age of 92.

A full obituary will be published soon.