Franz Beckenbauer, German football legend dies at 78

Franz Beckenbauer, a German football legend and one of the all-time greats, passed away at the age of 78, according to a report from Sky Sports. Nicknamed “Der Kaiser,” Beckenbauer won World Cups for West Germany as a player in 1974 and as manager in 1990. He is remembered as a legend of Bayern Munich. He twice won the Ballon d’Or as a player.

Being one of only three people to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager, he is still regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Mario Zagallo of Brazil and Didier Deschamps of France also managed to do it. We regret to inform you that yesterday, Sunday, in the company of his loved ones, my husband and our father, Franz Beckenbauer, departed away quietly while sleeping. We request that you be allowed to grieve in private and that you not inquire about anything,” a family statement said, as cited by Sky Sports.

Initially a midfielder, Beckenbauer gained prominence as a central defender and was among the first ball players to be able to move the ball accurately while also defending. With the Bavarian powerhouse, Bayern Munich, the former player won three European Cups. In addition, he led Bayern to the UEFA Cup in 1996 and won the Bundesliga four times as a player and once as a coach. In addition, Beckenbauer won a plethora of individual honours, such as two European Footballer of the Year titles while playing defence, which was unprecedented back then and remains so now.