Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer

1945-09-11

Biography

Franz Anton Beckenbauer (11 September 1945 - 7 January 2024) was a German former professional footballer and manager. In his playing career he was nicknamed Der Kaiser ("The Emperor") because of his elegant style, dominance and leadership on the field, and also as his first name "Franz" is reminiscent of the Austrian emperors. He is widely regarded to be one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. A versatile player who started out as a midfielder, Beckenbauer made his name as a central defender. He is often credited as having invented the role of the modern sweeper (libero). Twice named European Footballer of the Year, Beckenbauer appeared 103 times for West Germany and played in three FIFA World Cups and two European Championships. He is one of three men, along with Brazil's Mário Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps, to have won the World Cup as a player and as a manager; he lifted the World Cup trophy as captain in 1974, and repeated the feat as a manager in 1990. He was the first captain to lift the World Cup and European Championship at international level and the European Cup at club level. He was named in the World Team of the 20th Century in 1998, the FIFA World Cup Dream Team in 2002, the Ballon d'Or Dream Team in 2020, and in 2004 was listed in the FIFA 100 of the world's greatest living players. At club level with Bayern Munich, Beckenbauer won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1967 and three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976. The latter feat made him the first player to win three European Cups as captain of his club. He became team manager and later president of Bayern Munich. After two spells with the New York Cosmos he was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame. Beckenbauer led Germany's successful bid to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup and chaired the organizing committee. He worked as a pundit for Sky Germany, and for 34 years as a columnist for the tabloid Bild, both until 2016. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Also appears in

Germany: A Summer’s Fairytale

Germany: A Summer’s Fairytale

6.8

The Team

The Team

6.6

The Art of Football from A to Z

The Art of Football from A to Z

4.8

Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer

7.2

Servus Uli – A Life for FC Bayern

Servus Uli – A Life for FC Bayern

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Der Ball war mein Freund - Zum 75. Geburtstag von Franz Beckenbauer

Der Ball war mein Freund - Zum 75. Geburtstag von Franz Beckenbauer

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Libero

Libero

1.3

Ein Leben wie im Flug

Ein Leben wie im Flug

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Abschied vom Kaiser - Trauerfeier für Franz Beckenbauer

Abschied vom Kaiser - Trauerfeier für Franz Beckenbauer

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Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos

Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos

7.1

Goal!

Goal!

8.2

Big-Time Soccer: The Remarkable Rise & Fall of the NASL

Big-Time Soccer: The Remarkable Rise & Fall of the NASL

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World Cup 1966: Alfie’s Boys

World Cup 1966: Alfie’s Boys

7.0

Eusébio: Um jogador de todos os tempos

Eusébio: Um jogador de todos os tempos

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Das Wunder von Wien

Das Wunder von Wien

6.8

Fußball – Ein Leben: Franz Beckenbauer

Fußball – Ein Leben: Franz Beckenbauer

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Schwarz, Rot, Gold und Fußballfieber

Schwarz, Rot, Gold und Fußballfieber

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Gib mich die Kirsche! – Die 1. deutsche Fußballrolle

Gib mich die Kirsche! – Die 1. deutsche Fußballrolle

6.0

Wir haben den Pokal

Wir haben den Pokal

10.0

Die Franz Beckenbauer Story

Die Franz Beckenbauer Story

4.5