On Sunday, the legendary German football player and manager Franz Beckenbauer, affectionately known as ‘Der Kaiser,’ passed away at the age of 78 at his family home, as confirmed by his family.
Beckenbauer, a football icon, earned the Ballon d’Or twice and achieved the remarkable feat of winning the World Cup both as the captain of West Germany in 1974 and later as a manager in 1990. His managerial success made him one of only three individuals to secure the prestigious tournament as both a player and a manager. Additionally, he claimed victory in the European Championship in 1972.
In a statement to the German news agency DPA, Beckenbauer’s family announced, “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,” as reported by BBC.
Germany’s most successful football club, Bayern Munich, expressed their grief, stating, “The world of FC Bayern is no longer what it used to be — suddenly darker, quieter, poorer. Bayern would never have become the club it is today.”
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) paid tribute to Beckenbauer on their official account, describing him as “‘Der Kaiser,’ an extraordinary player, successful coach, and popular pundit who shaped German football like no other.”