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The FC Bayern world is no longer what it used to be – suddenly darker, quieter, poorer. The German record champions are mourning the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, the unique Kaiser, without whom FC Bayern would never have become the club it is today. Beckenbauer died yesterday, Sunday, at the age of 78, surrounded by his family in Salzburg. FC Bayern stands in mourning alongside his family, friends and companions, above all his wife Heidi and his children Thomas, Michael, Joel Maximilian and Francesca Antonie.
Herbert Hainer, FC Bayern president, said, “There are no words to express how great our grief is, and the gap that Franz Beckenbauer leaves behind. As a player, he brought a sense of effortlessness, elegance and magic to the pitch. Franz Beckenbauer brought the glamour. Even after his playing career, he left an indelible mark on FC Bayern and football, and his legacy cannot be measured in titles. The FC Bayern family is eternally grateful to him, and I personally mourn the loss of a friend.”
Uli Hoeneß, FC Bayern honorary president and former teammate, said, “Franz Beckenbauer is the greatest figure FC Bayern has ever had. As a player, coach, president, man – unforgettable. Nobody will ever equal him. People can say that they watched football in the days of Franz Beckenbauer. He was a friend to me, a unique companion, and a gift to us all. Dear Franz, rest in peace.”
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, long-time FC Bayern CEO and former teammate, said, “I am deeply shocked. Franz Beckenbauer rewrote the history of German football and left a lasting mark on it. He was my captain at FC Bayern, my coach with the national team, our president at Bayern – and in all these roles he was not only successful but unique. As a person, he impressed with his great respect for all people, because everyone was equal in Franz’s eyes. German football has lost the greatest figure in its history. We will miss him more than sorely. Thank you for everything, dear Franz.”
Jan-Christian Dreesen, FC Bayern CEO, said, “This is one of the saddest days in the history of this club. The history of FC Bayern and German football cannot be told without Franz Beckenbauer. We mourn the loss of one of this country’s great figures. His influence on FC Bayern was unparalleled. Whether as a player, coach or president, Franz Beckenbauer was unrivalled in everything he did. He will forever be remembered and remain in our hearts as the only Kaiser of German football.”
Born in Munich, Beckenbauer moved from SC München 1906 to FC Bayern at the age of 13 and made his mark on the team as a young player, earning promotion to the Bundesliga in 1965. Over time, he matured into a captain and won the European Cup three times in a row with Bayern, the Bundesliga four times, the DFB Cup four times, and the Intercontinental Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup once each. He scored 74 goals in 582 games. In 1977, he moved to the New York Cosmos, where he won three North American Soccer League crowns alongside Pelé. He ended his career at Hamburger SV in 1982, where he also won the Bundesliga again. He captained the Germany national team to World Cup glory in 1974 against the Netherlands in his home city of Munich and also won the 1972 European Championship. In total, he played 103 times for the national team, scoring 14 goals. Beckenbauer was honoured with the Ballon d’Or in 1972 and 1976, as well as being named German Footballer of the Year four times. After his playing career, he led FC Bayern as coach to the Bundesliga in 1994 and the club’s only UEFA Cup win in 1996. Members also elected him vice-president in 1991, and he served as president of the club from 1994 to 2009. As national team manager, Germany again won the World Cup in 1990, having lost the previous final in 1986 to Argentina.
In sad news out of #Germany, the legendary Franz #Beckenbauer is no more.
I have had the pleasure of meeting the #Kaiser a number of times over the years.
He was my first-ever #interview for #DW.#RIP Franz…
— Arunava Chaudhuri | arunfoot (@Arunfoot) January 8, 2024
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