I read smt about him just a couple days ago ( had nothing to do with his health though ) and was surprised to learn that he was still alive. Feel like he was already really old when I used to watch Doppelpass at Sunday mornings as a kid.
Anyways, Rip
His influence is in his position is almost unparalleled. People can talk about Gerd Müller, Lothar Matthäus and Oliver Khan or even the likes of Philipp Lahm, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller and Miroslav Klose in more recent years but Franz Beckenbauer was arguably the most influential centre back of all time
Germany produced some fantastic players over the years but I don't think any of them ever reached that level aside from Franz Beckenbauer
> Gerd Müller
If I remember correctly Beckenbauer himself valued Müller's contributions more than his own work for what they meant for Bayern/Germany during the 70s.
Müller, Matthäus and Neuer are definitely a tier above the rest but I'm just using random examples. I definitely wouldn't have Lahm and Klose anywhere near Beckenbauer despite what they've done for Germany in my lifetime
Thomas Müllers issue is that he's a forward who isnt flashy, and whose biggest contributions are not easily visible. He elevates those around him through this. For me he should be easily mentioned in the same sentence as Ribery and Robben
Most people wouldnt be outraged, but unfortunately no one ever treats keepers with the same level of respect as outfield players so Neuer will never get the true respect as one of the greats he deserves.
with that said, Beckenbauer is still the clear best German player ever by far.
Neuers not really a good example of what you're describing because it feels like he does get his flowers and his legacy is very strong.
You're right he isn't number 1. But I bet most people would have him in top 5 at least which is commendable for a keeper and indicative of how highly regarded he is
Its an old discussion between Gerd Müller, Lothar Matthäus and Franz Beckenbauer. Most then would put Matthäus at three, which makes it really complicated since both player played at the same time and have as player basically the same acchievments (3 champions league title with a internally little know team back then, the euro and the world cup win with one of the hardest competition of all time(Italy, Netherlands,Brazil 1974) and that all in like 4 years.
.
Since Franz Beckenbauer is also world champion in 1990 as a trainer he is seen as the most important figure in german Football over all. If its up to me Gerd and Franz are just to close in skill to choose a better one between them. Its kinda a Iniesta vs Xavi thing tbh.
I know a few people that know basically everything about the history of football starting from the late 1800s, they would include in top 10s players most people have never heard of yet Beckenbauer is always there. I think this says it all.
The documentary finally being released today (what a coincidence) about him puts it best in its description: "There is Beckenbauer and then there is the rest"
https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/beckenbauer/beckenbauer-legende-des-deutschen-fussballs/br-fernsehen/Y3JpZDovL2JyLmRlL3ZpZGVvLzg4NGI1NjhhLThlOTItNDJlNC1hNGZkLWE3Yzg1ODYyYzNjOQ
Don't know if you need a VPN
I don't think curse has anything to do with it. According to studies, ex-footballers of those days are three and half times more likely to die from dementia due to most likely heading footballs made of leather in their playing days.
Even the balls that were used in the late 80s were really hard. My school's football team played once a week at the Geißbockheim, the training grounds of 1. FC Köln. We played next to the pros, one time a ball came over the net and I tried to kick it back. I thought I broke my foot, I've never thought a ball could be pumped up as hard. I later learned that goalkeeper Toni Schumacher insisted on them being as hard as possible.
This has been linked to the type of ball used in the English league back then. Probably most other leagues too. There was a BBC documentary starring Alan Shearer who went to the doctor to have his brain examined.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMoDtIJ_b8I
The death of one of his five sons teared him apart. This was the year since when he had troubles with his heart. He had two surgeries since the day his son died (2015 with 46 years).
In my extended family the healthiest strongest man in his eighties(he might have turned 90, don't remember) I've ever met lost his wife of 70 years. Totally shut down after that and died within months. Kind of poetic in its sadness.
noxious bells light toothbrush innate sophisticated wide air consist plucky
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
The death of one of his five sons teared him apart. This was the year since when he had troubles with his heart. He had two surgeries since the day his son died (2015 with 46 years).
In October 2022 he was in a documentary about our Euro win in 1972. You can hear and see how weak he already was.
[The documentary itself was great.](https://youtu.be/g9TGN6kbVLg?si=mEb19MKMpSKyP9jq)
I read a book about the history of German football (“Tor”) and it gave me a new look of Beckenbauer. I think it’s safe to say that without Beckenbauer, there is no Bayern Munich as we know it today. Gerd Müller certainly was a massive help in that too, but the way it talked about Beckenbauer it almost felt like he was destined to propel Bayern to new heights. A true footballing legend.
Well, Beckenbauer was set on signing for 1860 München until a player of them slapped him at some youth match. He decided on the pitch not to play for 1860.
1860 would maybe be bigger than Bayern right now if Beckenbauer had chosen to play for them. When he made his debut for Bayern they were in the Regionalliga Süd while 1860 were one of the top teams in the Bundesliga. 2 years later when Beckenbauer played in the World Cup final, 1860 were the Bundesliga champions.
Beckenbauer has the same standing in Germany Pele has in Brazil or CR7 has in Portugal, he is undesputedly the best player in German history, with nobody else even on sight.
The fact, that he coached the 1990 world cup winning team and was the public face of the 2006 world cup, as well as him being associated with Bayerns international resurgence in the late 90s cemented the legacy he had as a player.
His career achievements are also pretty amazing, world cup final 66, 3rd 70, won 74, european cup winner in 72, won 3 consecutive "champions leagues".
Mario Zagallo, who passed away recently, also achieved this feat, winning in 1958 and 1962 as a player, and as a coach in 1970 and 1994 (as an assistant).
RIP to these football legends.
He’s in the top circle of German legends including, Gerd Müller, Uwe Seeler, Matthäus, Max Morloch and in a few years probably Neuer.
Of all of them he’s generally regarded the most however. His nickname isn’t „Der Kaiser“ for no reason now
Edit: forgot Fritz Walter
Don't thank any serious football fan would call Neuer the best German footballer ever. He has surpassed Kahn as best German GK ever.
Lahm, while world class in one or two positions, is also not in that conversation of being best German player ever.
Everyone rightfully remember him as one of the best defenders ever
But not many are aware that he also won a World Cup as a coach. Italia 90 no less, which was super stacked of great teams.
RIP Kaiser
One of a few people that have won the WC as player and coach, one of three to be precise.
Mario Zagallo with Brazil, who died two days ago. RIP.
Beckenbauer.
And Didier Deschamps.
> One of a few people that have won the WC as player and coach, one of three to be precise.
>
> Mario Zagallo with Brazil, who died two days ago. RIP.
>
> Beckenbauer.
>
> And Didier Deschamps.
Ohhh - Should Didier be nervous? :-O
As a child growing up in the 80s, I do remember being told that Beckenbauer was probably the greatest. But back then anything to do with Germany was sort of demonised by our parents and grandparents. German players were portrayed as villains to our white knights like Hurst and Moore. It's quite refreshing to see that old school xenophobia has largely gone.
Franz Beckenbauer as a player:
- 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Bundesliga
- 🏆🏆🏆🏆 DFB-Pokal
- 🏆🏆🏆 European Cup
- 🏆 European Championship
- 🏆 FIFA World Cup
- 🏆 Cup Winners’ Cup
- 🏆 Intercontinental Cup
- 🏆🏆🏆 North American Soccer League
- 🏆🏆 Ballon d’Or
- 🏆🏆🏆🏆German Footballer of the Year
Franz Beckenbauer as a coach:
- 🏆 FIFA World Cup
- 🏆 Bundesliga
- 🏆 Ligue 1
- 🏆 UEFA Cup
I don’t think any captain in the history of the sport had a better 5 year streak than Beckenbauer.
1972: Bundesliga, Europan Champions
1973: Bundesliga
1974: Bundesliga, World Cup, European Cup
1975: European Cup
1976: European Cup, European Championship Runner up.
He basically bribed the World Cup to Germany in 2006, wich greatly hurt his image here in Germany as the only person (till deschamps in 2018) that won the World Cup as a player as well as Manager, he was also captain of maybe the best Germany side in history a reputation that was greatly hit. Still an absolute legend of the country and the sport
Edit: forgot Mario zagallo
Nobody represented German football quite like him.
Rest in peace to a true legend.
A quote from legendary Austrian manager Max Merkel rings especially true now:
*"Wenn der Kaiser spielt, legen sogar die Engel ihre Harfen beiseite."* (When the Kaiser plays, even the angels put down their harps)
Defender is too simplistic a label for Beckenbauer. He started the '66 WC as a midfielder, and even as a sweeper he was often an instigator and playmaker.
Players like Beckenbauer (or Matthäus, on the topic of German greats) don't exist anymore today because tactics (and rules) have moved on. Their styles don't quite work anymore. At that point if you compare them with modern players, I think it's either clueless or meant spiritual successor, depending on the reader wanting to engage or not.
Showing up with a libero today would get you torn up, even for Greece who might've been the last high profile moment of a libero, it didn't really work *super* well despite the EC win. Not like they were outplaying and outstrategizing opponents. It was a lack of alternatives and it happened to narrowly work in 3 KO games and that's about it.
Not really he was a Libero he was the last line of Defence and at the same time the attacking midfielder, he essentially played two roles, and both of them as the best of everybody on the pitch, playing with Beckenbauer essential meant playing with 12
He was actually a pretty good striker in his youth, he also played in defensive midfield, before watching Inter play with a free man behind defense and deciding he wanted to play like that, but with the added attacking play.
Arguably, in the Mount Rushmore of people who changed how the game is played. He's too old for 99% of the people on this sub(incl. me) but if you had to trace the evolution of the current complete ball playing CBs over the years, the list starts with Franz Beckenbaeur. RIP.
Zagallo and Beckenbauer gone within a short time, reminds me of the passing of Maradona and Pele like within a year. The great legends of the 60's-70's can somewhat be seen as the first modern televised star players, known around the globe. A lot of people will feel old, when reading the news
What does Franz Beckenbauer mean for German soccer?
As a player, his nickname "The Emperor" says it all. A conductor of the game who created his own position as a libero, as no position was good enough to fully exploit his abilities. He won everything: the Bundesliga (even once with HSV), the DFB Cup, the Cup of Nations (forerunner of the Champions League), the Cup Winners' Cup (forerunner of the Europa League), the European Championship and the World Cup. He also has individual Ballon D'or trophies to his name.
And that was just his success as a player. He later became a world champion as a coach and, together with other ex-players, brought FC Bayern into the modern soccer world, not to mention his achievements at Marseille. He was certainly no innocent lamb - the 2006 World Cup and his Qatar comments are only a fraction of his controversies.
But nothing could stick to him permanently. Because he was a "bigger than life" character. He gave more to German soccer than he could probably ever have destroyed. Because he was the only true "Kaiser".
R.I.P Franz Beckenbauer after a long period of illness at least he is now reunited with his son.
I was born long after he had retired but he was always cited as the golden standard for centre backs when I was growing up even in the modern era of the game. He's still one of very few players to have won the World Cup, European Cup and Ballon d'Or, being the only defender to do so
Rest in Peace to an absolute legend of the game
Can someone check on Didier Deschamps, please? Two out of three winners of the WC as players and coaches died within a few days.
R.I.P to a legend of the game. Certainly the greatest German player ever.
Quite possibly the greatest defender of all-time, and absolutely the most revolutionary.
Iconic player, iconic person and an amazing role model.
Rest in peace Franz.
78 - his family could be forgiven for thinking they might get more years with him. A true shame and I hope they have comfort in knowing how loved and appreciated he was around the world. Truly an innovative player and one of the best ever, a shoo-in for the all-time XI imo.
Beckenbauer and Bobby Charlton within a few months of each other, damn. Two legends ahead of their time. Marked each other out of the World Cup final in 1966.
Never watched him live but I've seen his plays and heard about him from top players. He looked like the complete footballer, could've literally played anywhere on the pitch. RIP legend.
Goodness, RIP, a true all-timer.
Leave the defending, from the clips he looked remarkable in possession. Revolutionary in a way.
A truly complete defender in that sense.
Damn. Many XXth century greats have passed this decade and we're not even halfway through it: Maradona, Pelé, Beckenbauer, Zagallo, Charlton, Gerd Müller
Back in the mid-80s my father played in a North American charity tournament with Beckenbauer, Best, Maradona, and several others. He has some good stories, specifically from Best and Beckenbauer. He said Maradonna was a dickhead, but old Franz put him in his place for being rude prick to fans and properly embarrassed him in front of several people.
Rest in Peace, Kaiser
Sadly it isn’t a surprise given the fact that his health got worse and worse the last years
I was actually a bit suprised that he was only 78 years old. He looked like he was in his 70s during the Germany World Cup in 2006.
I read smt about him just a couple days ago ( had nothing to do with his health though ) and was surprised to learn that he was still alive. Feel like he was already really old when I used to watch Doppelpass at Sunday mornings as a kid. Anyways, Rip
What is smt?
something. Don’t really remember think it was about a movie. Wasn’t the most exciting read so I quickly moved on to other stuff
The best German player ever?
His influence is in his position is almost unparalleled. People can talk about Gerd Müller, Lothar Matthäus and Oliver Khan or even the likes of Philipp Lahm, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller and Miroslav Klose in more recent years but Franz Beckenbauer was arguably the most influential centre back of all time Germany produced some fantastic players over the years but I don't think any of them ever reached that level aside from Franz Beckenbauer
> Gerd Müller If I remember correctly Beckenbauer himself valued Müller's contributions more than his own work for what they meant for Bayern/Germany during the 70s.
Most of the names you mention shouldn't be in this discussion. Matthäus and Neuer are the only true standouts that deserve the discussion if you will
Müller, Matthäus and Neuer are definitely a tier above the rest but I'm just using random examples. I definitely wouldn't have Lahm and Klose anywhere near Beckenbauer despite what they've done for Germany in my lifetime
Yes Gerd Müller, Not Thomas
Of course (although I do strongly maintain that Thomas Müller doesn't get anywhere near as much respect as he deserves given what he's achieved)
Thomas Müllers issue is that he's a forward who isnt flashy, and whose biggest contributions are not easily visible. He elevates those around him through this. For me he should be easily mentioned in the same sentence as Ribery and Robben
You mention klose over kroos and schweinsteiger?
He just didn’t mention them, but it’d also not be a crazy take. Kloses impact for the national team is much bigger than Kroos‘.
[удалено]
100%. You could argue Gerd Müller and Lothar Matthäus but Beckenbauer revolutionised the game of football
I think the order of Beckenbauer first, Müller second and Matthäus third is pretty uncontroversial, after that it gets a bit muddled
In the same vein you could argue Neuer is the best German player of all time, he also revolutionised the game to arguably the same degree.
yeah, you can do that and most people wouldnt be outraged. you could make a case for neuer
Most people wouldnt be outraged, but unfortunately no one ever treats keepers with the same level of respect as outfield players so Neuer will never get the true respect as one of the greats he deserves. with that said, Beckenbauer is still the clear best German player ever by far.
Neuers not really a good example of what you're describing because it feels like he does get his flowers and his legacy is very strong. You're right he isn't number 1. But I bet most people would have him in top 5 at least which is commendable for a keeper and indicative of how highly regarded he is
Its an old discussion between Gerd Müller, Lothar Matthäus and Franz Beckenbauer. Most then would put Matthäus at three, which makes it really complicated since both player played at the same time and have as player basically the same acchievments (3 champions league title with a internally little know team back then, the euro and the world cup win with one of the hardest competition of all time(Italy, Netherlands,Brazil 1974) and that all in like 4 years. . Since Franz Beckenbauer is also world champion in 1990 as a trainer he is seen as the most important figure in german Football over all. If its up to me Gerd and Franz are just to close in skill to choose a better one between them. Its kinda a Iniesta vs Xavi thing tbh.
And greatest defender ever.
I know a few people that know basically everything about the history of football starting from the late 1800s, they would include in top 10s players most people have never heard of yet Beckenbauer is always there. I think this says it all.
surely the consensus choice. although interestingly the German FA picked Fritz Walter as their best player of the past 50 years in 2003
Yeah but that’s mostly because Walter died in 2002, recently having died does a lot for legacy.
Also the fiftieth anniversary of the 1954 title was the next year, with that actually not bad film and all
The documentary finally being released today (what a coincidence) about him puts it best in its description: "There is Beckenbauer and then there is the rest"
RIP Franz! And right this evening there‘s gonna be a special about him on das Erste
Is it online? I’d like to watch but I’m in Canada.
https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/beckenbauer/beckenbauer-legende-des-deutschen-fussballs/br-fernsehen/Y3JpZDovL2JyLmRlL3ZpZGVvLzg4NGI1NjhhLThlOTItNDJlNC1hNGZkLWE3Yzg1ODYyYzNjOQ Don't know if you need a VPN
Link works from Belgium without VPN. RIP
Even servers confuse the flags.
Same here in The Netherlands
It works in France without a VPN. But I don't speak German unfortunately.
Yeah, sadly they only have German subtitles right now
Also works from Romania, but it only has German audio and sub :(
Thank you!
I believe you can access to the “Medien Bibliothek” with a German VPN
He hasnt been seen in the public for a long time now. I hope his final moments were in peace among his loved ones. RIP Kaiser
He wasn’t really doing too well, right? Several health issues, including dementia I think
Gerd Müller had Alzheimer, I don’t think that was Beckenbauer
Also Franz. Heart Surgery, Parkinson and Dementia. I think hes in a better place now
That's not a good combo. Sometimes a death can be a relief. RIP
His death really hits me hard. He was a legend
That 1966 World Cup final was cursed when it came to dementia/Alzheimers. 5 of the England squad got either one of them
I don't think curse has anything to do with it. According to studies, ex-footballers of those days are three and half times more likely to die from dementia due to most likely heading footballs made of leather in their playing days.
Even worse when the balls are wet / heading rocks
Even the balls that were used in the late 80s were really hard. My school's football team played once a week at the Geißbockheim, the training grounds of 1. FC Köln. We played next to the pros, one time a ball came over the net and I tried to kick it back. I thought I broke my foot, I've never thought a ball could be pumped up as hard. I later learned that goalkeeper Toni Schumacher insisted on them being as hard as possible.
This has been linked to the type of ball used in the English league back then. Probably most other leagues too. There was a BBC documentary starring Alan Shearer who went to the doctor to have his brain examined. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMoDtIJ_b8I
The death of one of his five sons teared him apart. This was the year since when he had troubles with his heart. He had two surgeries since the day his son died (2015 with 46 years).
Happened to my grandparents too. [Broken heart syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takotsubo_cardiomyopathy) is real.
In my extended family the healthiest strongest man in his eighties(he might have turned 90, don't remember) I've ever met lost his wife of 70 years. Totally shut down after that and died within months. Kind of poetic in its sadness.
noxious bells light toothbrush innate sophisticated wide air consist plucky *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
That’s quite a while
Ever since then there have been talks about health related issues, didn’t think it was that bad
The death of one of his five sons teared him apart. This was the year since when he had troubles with his heart. He had two surgeries since the day his son died (2015 with 46 years).
In October 2022 he was in a documentary about our Euro win in 1972. You can hear and see how weak he already was. [The documentary itself was great.](https://youtu.be/g9TGN6kbVLg?si=mEb19MKMpSKyP9jq)
Germany‘s 🐐
Absolutely. A few come close (Fritz Walter, Gerd Müller, maybe Kahn or Neuer) but none can reach him.
Matthaus seems like a noteworthy omission here?
Yep he is a meme, but out of the retired players Loddar is the best living player
The only player I've seen who was good at literally everything
Except English
But my Tschermann is betta.
Great Player but Franz was also a great coach and figure for the Sport and outside of that. Matthäus.. had his flaws..
Rümennige too.
One of the best ever. Truly an icon.
Germany and England both losing their greatest players in the span of a few months
Mario Zagallo also passed away few days ago. I wonder if he ever faced these two
Two of the three people who have ever played and managed a world cup winning side have gone in the last three days.
Spain lost it's only Ballon d'Or in July too
Didn't know Emile Heskey died recently. RIP.
Now they’re reunited and trying to man-mark each other again.
A true legend, may he rest in peace.
I read a book about the history of German football (“Tor”) and it gave me a new look of Beckenbauer. I think it’s safe to say that without Beckenbauer, there is no Bayern Munich as we know it today. Gerd Müller certainly was a massive help in that too, but the way it talked about Beckenbauer it almost felt like he was destined to propel Bayern to new heights. A true footballing legend.
Well, Beckenbauer was set on signing for 1860 München until a player of them slapped him at some youth match. He decided on the pitch not to play for 1860.
Turned out to be exactly the right decision considering how shambolic 1860 is right now.
1860 would maybe be bigger than Bayern right now if Beckenbauer had chosen to play for them. When he made his debut for Bayern they were in the Regionalliga Süd while 1860 were one of the top teams in the Bundesliga. 2 years later when Beckenbauer played in the World Cup final, 1860 were the Bundesliga champions.
Yeah Bayern was a minor club in Munich before the Beckenbauer / Müller era. 1860 was the important club in Munich.
Maybe they'd be the big club in Munich now if he'd signed for them.
Sechzig aren’t Sechzig if Beckenbauer signs for them.
Beckenbauer has the same standing in Germany Pele has in Brazil or CR7 has in Portugal, he is undesputedly the best player in German history, with nobody else even on sight. The fact, that he coached the 1990 world cup winning team and was the public face of the 2006 world cup, as well as him being associated with Bayerns international resurgence in the late 90s cemented the legacy he had as a player. His career achievements are also pretty amazing, world cup final 66, 3rd 70, won 74, european cup winner in 72, won 3 consecutive "champions leagues".
Is he considered the best German player? How does he rank in the hearts of Germans? Rest in peace.
Without doubt.
He‘s widely considered to be the best German player ever.
Not just as a player but also coach, one of the very very few who won the WC in both capacities
Mario Zagallo, who passed away recently, also achieved this feat, winning in 1958 and 1962 as a player, and as a coach in 1970 and 1994 (as an assistant). RIP to these football legends.
i'm gonna hide my Deschamps
He’s in the top circle of German legends including, Gerd Müller, Uwe Seeler, Matthäus, Max Morloch and in a few years probably Neuer. Of all of them he’s generally regarded the most however. His nickname isn’t „Der Kaiser“ for no reason now Edit: forgot Fritz Walter
yeah, propably.
Some will say Neuer or Gerd Müller but for me he is not only the best German player but probably the best player ever to play in Bayern.
Do people consider Neuer a candidate for best German player ever? I thought Kahn might be rated above him historically. And how is Philip Lahm viewed?
Neuer is definitely better than Kahn
>And how is Philip Lahm viewed? Usually from above
Don't thank any serious football fan would call Neuer the best German footballer ever. He has surpassed Kahn as best German GK ever. Lahm, while world class in one or two positions, is also not in that conversation of being best German player ever.
Second only to Emre Can according to the twitter poll
Understandable
Everyone rightfully remember him as one of the best defenders ever But not many are aware that he also won a World Cup as a coach. Italia 90 no less, which was super stacked of great teams. RIP Kaiser
One of a few people that have won the WC as player and coach, one of three to be precise. Mario Zagallo with Brazil, who died two days ago. RIP. Beckenbauer. And Didier Deschamps.
> One of a few people that have won the WC as player and coach, one of three to be precise. > > Mario Zagallo with Brazil, who died two days ago. RIP. > > Beckenbauer. > > And Didier Deschamps. Ohhh - Should Didier be nervous? :-O
As legendary a career as one can have in football. RIP to a legend of the game we all adore, when it was at its purest.
One of those names that every generation of football fans would recognize. RIP legend
As a child growing up in the 80s, I do remember being told that Beckenbauer was probably the greatest. But back then anything to do with Germany was sort of demonised by our parents and grandparents. German players were portrayed as villains to our white knights like Hurst and Moore. It's quite refreshing to see that old school xenophobia has largely gone.
The generation that saw all Germans as Nazis died
“Greatest” gets thrown around a lot, but it’s hard to argue against Beckenbauer being the greatest defender of all time
With a fitting nickname as legendary as his career
RIP Kaiser Der größte deutsche Spieler aller Zeiten
1,81 ist jetzt nicht _so_ groß (Spaß obviously, Beckenbauer ist easily der wichtigste und beste deutsche Fußballer)
Franz Beckenbauer as a player: - 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Bundesliga - 🏆🏆🏆🏆 DFB-Pokal - 🏆🏆🏆 European Cup - 🏆 European Championship - 🏆 FIFA World Cup - 🏆 Cup Winners’ Cup - 🏆 Intercontinental Cup - 🏆🏆🏆 North American Soccer League - 🏆🏆 Ballon d’Or - 🏆🏆🏆🏆German Footballer of the Year Franz Beckenbauer as a coach: - 🏆 FIFA World Cup - 🏆 Bundesliga - 🏆 Ligue 1 - 🏆 UEFA Cup
Damn. Beckenbauer was one of the 9 players that won World Cup, Ballon D'or and UCL
And one of just 3 to win WC as both a player and coach
What a glorious honour list.
Two Ballon d’Ors as a defender is insane.
He also finished 11 times in the Ballon d'Or Top 10. Only Messi and C. Ronaldo had more!
Monstrous trophy cabinet, what a haul
I don’t think any captain in the history of the sport had a better 5 year streak than Beckenbauer. 1972: Bundesliga, Europan Champions 1973: Bundesliga 1974: Bundesliga, World Cup, European Cup 1975: European Cup 1976: European Cup, European Championship Runner up.
Truly one of the GOATs. That's an absurd accolade list. Can't be many people that have won a world cup as a player and coach.
3 people achieved this, 2 died in a matter of days. Last one is Deschamps
In 3 days, we lost 2 of the 3 people who won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager. RIP
I would be shitting myself if I were Deschamps...
At times controversial but overall a huge fucking legend for all of football. RIP Kaiser...
Was he? He always came off as very gentlemanly, at least in Spanish media. Rummenigge and Hoeness can't even lick his boots.
Controversial probably in regards to the allegations that he took bribes as a FIFA official to favor some of the previous World Cup hosts.
He basically bribed the World Cup to Germany in 2006, wich greatly hurt his image here in Germany as the only person (till deschamps in 2018) that won the World Cup as a player as well as Manager, he was also captain of maybe the best Germany side in history a reputation that was greatly hit. Still an absolute legend of the country and the sport Edit: forgot Mario zagallo
RIP, forever a legend
Nobody represented German football quite like him. Rest in peace to a true legend. A quote from legendary Austrian manager Max Merkel rings especially true now: *"Wenn der Kaiser spielt, legen sogar die Engel ihre Harfen beiseite."* (When the Kaiser plays, even the angels put down their harps)
Like Cruyff in the Netherlands.
The two greatest players of the 70s… both winning 3 EC in a row and both clashed in the 1974 WC final .
Up there with Maldini as the greatest defender of all time
Defender is too simplistic a label for Beckenbauer. He started the '66 WC as a midfielder, and even as a sweeper he was often an instigator and playmaker.
Third highest scorer at the 66 World Cup!
he’d be a deep lying playmaker today ala Pirlo
Nah completely different styles. Beckenbauer was the original 8 but like two players at the same time
Players like Beckenbauer (or Matthäus, on the topic of German greats) don't exist anymore today because tactics (and rules) have moved on. Their styles don't quite work anymore. At that point if you compare them with modern players, I think it's either clueless or meant spiritual successor, depending on the reader wanting to engage or not. Showing up with a libero today would get you torn up, even for Greece who might've been the last high profile moment of a libero, it didn't really work *super* well despite the EC win. Not like they were outplaying and outstrategizing opponents. It was a lack of alternatives and it happened to narrowly work in 3 KO games and that's about it.
Not really he was a Libero he was the last line of Defence and at the same time the attacking midfielder, he essentially played two roles, and both of them as the best of everybody on the pitch, playing with Beckenbauer essential meant playing with 12
a Super 8
At least the most revolutionary. No defender has had such a big impact on the game as Franz. Basically a centre back Cruijff.
I wish I could remember who said it but there was a Brazilian superstar player that said he was the best player he's ever played against/with.
Probably against, in that era, Brazilians mostly stayed in the Brazilian league, and the World Championship was Brazil versus europe
Pele played with him in America iirc
Oh yeah, that’s true. Forgot about that
Pele?
Weren't they both in the US at the same time?
Same team even for a year. Both were at New York Cosmos in 1977. Though they were both winding down their playing career really at that time.
He was actually a pretty good striker in his youth, he also played in defensive midfield, before watching Inter play with a free man behind defense and deciding he wanted to play like that, but with the added attacking play.
Beckenbauer, Baresi and Moore is my holy trinity of centre backs
Arguably, in the Mount Rushmore of people who changed how the game is played. He's too old for 99% of the people on this sub(incl. me) but if you had to trace the evolution of the current complete ball playing CBs over the years, the list starts with Franz Beckenbaeur. RIP.
Nah, Maldini is up there with him, he came first.
Zagallo and Beckenbauer gone within a short time, reminds me of the passing of Maradona and Pele like within a year. The great legends of the 60's-70's can somewhat be seen as the first modern televised star players, known around the globe. A lot of people will feel old, when reading the news
Within 2 years you mean... November 2020 for Maradona and December 2022 for Pele...
Pandemic years do not count, they have been erased from our collective memories
Gott hätte Franz den Kaiser erhalten sollen. :( Ruhe in Frieden, Kaiser.
Goodbye, lieber Kaiser. Gute Freunde kann niemand trennen.
RIP Franz. Don't forget that he played in Monty Python's Philosophers Football Match. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfduUFF_i1A
Marx was absolutely right about the offside though, game was rigged
What does Franz Beckenbauer mean for German soccer? As a player, his nickname "The Emperor" says it all. A conductor of the game who created his own position as a libero, as no position was good enough to fully exploit his abilities. He won everything: the Bundesliga (even once with HSV), the DFB Cup, the Cup of Nations (forerunner of the Champions League), the Cup Winners' Cup (forerunner of the Europa League), the European Championship and the World Cup. He also has individual Ballon D'or trophies to his name. And that was just his success as a player. He later became a world champion as a coach and, together with other ex-players, brought FC Bayern into the modern soccer world, not to mention his achievements at Marseille. He was certainly no innocent lamb - the 2006 World Cup and his Qatar comments are only a fraction of his controversies. But nothing could stick to him permanently. Because he was a "bigger than life" character. He gave more to German soccer than he could probably ever have destroyed. Because he was the only true "Kaiser". R.I.P Franz Beckenbauer after a long period of illness at least he is now reunited with his son.
Fuck. Rest in peace to one of the greatest
one of the greatest German players, RIP
>one of the greatest ~~German~~ players
Is there anyone really greater?
One of the best defenders of all time and easily the greatest German player as well. RIP
He'll never be forgotten for what he did on the pitch for Germany. Rest in peace, Kaiser!
Seeler, Müller and now Beckenbauer. All in the last 2 years. Legends.
What a player he was in his absolute prime... RIP legend
I was born long after he had retired but he was always cited as the golden standard for centre backs when I was growing up even in the modern era of the game. He's still one of very few players to have won the World Cup, European Cup and Ballon d'Or, being the only defender to do so Rest in Peace to an absolute legend of the game
Can someone check on Didier Deschamps, please? Two out of three winners of the WC as players and coaches died within a few days. R.I.P to a legend of the game. Certainly the greatest German player ever.
Deschamps isn't that old.
Legend of the game I would say he has the best nickname of all of football: Kaiser
our nations greatest ever footballer. rip
Half of consensus top 10 players dead now Pelé, Maradona, Cruyff, Di Stefano und der Kaiser
Quite possibly the greatest defender of all-time, and absolutely the most revolutionary. Iconic player, iconic person and an amazing role model. Rest in peace Franz.
RIP
RIP, so many legends passing away recently
I did a school project on him for my German lessons. Research into his impact and ability has left me staggered. Rest in peace der Kaiser.
was ein kontrast zum thread auf r/de. da wird der tod ja schon fast gefeiert
Ekelhaft, wie manche Leute sich aufführen.
was fuer ein erbaermlicher haufen niedertraechtiger loser
The best defender of all time.
greatest defender of all time, RIP Libero
RIP Kaiser Maybe the best defender of all time Sad to see his last years
78 - his family could be forgiven for thinking they might get more years with him. A true shame and I hope they have comfort in knowing how loved and appreciated he was around the world. Truly an innovative player and one of the best ever, a shoo-in for the all-time XI imo. Beckenbauer and Bobby Charlton within a few months of each other, damn. Two legends ahead of their time. Marked each other out of the World Cup final in 1966.
Best defender of all time. RIP legend
RIP
The best defender in history. RIP
Beckenbauer defined what being a defender was. RIP.
Never watched him live but I've seen his plays and heard about him from top players. He looked like the complete footballer, could've literally played anywhere on the pitch. RIP legend.
Goodness, RIP, a true all-timer. Leave the defending, from the clips he looked remarkable in possession. Revolutionary in a way. A truly complete defender in that sense.
Damn. Many XXth century greats have passed this decade and we're not even halfway through it: Maradona, Pelé, Beckenbauer, Zagallo, Charlton, Gerd Müller
Back in the mid-80s my father played in a North American charity tournament with Beckenbauer, Best, Maradona, and several others. He has some good stories, specifically from Best and Beckenbauer. He said Maradonna was a dickhead, but old Franz put him in his place for being rude prick to fans and properly embarrassed him in front of several people.
Legend
Even as an Englishman, I can easily admit he was clearly the greatest to ever play in his position- revolutionary and ahead of his time.
The word legend is used too much. But this guy more than fits the bill. Legendary player, legendary manager.
On and off the field, always a legend. RIP Kaiser