Franz Beckenbauer is dead: Germany says goodbye

THE MIRROR Franz Beckenbauer is dead: Germany says goodbye 41 mins "Unique footballer", "lovable person", "luminous figure": Franz Beckenbauer's death caused great consternation. Politicians, companions and football players mourn the football legend. Germany and football mourn Franz Beckenbauer. Friends, long-time companions and even the Federal Chancellor paid tribute to the late "Emperor's" achievements; they were each shocked and yet united in great sadness. Franz Beckenbauer is dead. The “Emperor” died on Sunday at the age of 78. Beckenbauer became world champion in 1974 as a player and in 1990 as team boss. He had been struggling with health problems for a long time. Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on Beckenbauer's death: "World champion as a player and coach: Franz Beckenbauer was one of the greatest footballers in Germany and for many 'the emperor' - also because he inspired enthusiasm for German football for generations. We will miss him. My thoughts are with his family and friends.” Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) honored Beckenbauer as Bavaria's ambassador to the world. “Even as a world star, he never forgot his origins and always remained humble,” wrote Söder on Monday evening on the X platform (formerly Twitter). “Bavaria will forever preserve an honorable memory of this great son of the country.” The DFB shared a statement on its website with farewell texts from DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, DFB director of the senior national team Rudi Völler, national coach Julian Nagelsmann and other personalities. Companion Rudi Völler explained that he was “infinitely sad” and that the night had taken a toll on him. »I consider it one of the great privileges of my life to have known and experienced Franz Beckenbauer. Our time together with the national team was crowned with the 1990 World Cup title in Rome, a title that would never have been possible without his outstanding coaching performance." The "Kaiser" is an inspiration for more than one generation and he will "forever be that “Remain the shining light of German football.” German football is losing “its greatest personality” and Völler is losing a “good friend”. »The death of Franz Beckenbauer is a real turning point. We look back on his life's work with respect and great gratitude. With him we are losing a unique footballer and a lovable person," said DFB President Bernd Neuendorf. Neuendorf praised Beckenbauer as “one of the best players our sport has ever seen. With his lightness, his elegance and his overview, he has set standards on the field. His meticulousness and charisma as a team leader as well as his energy and drive as head of the World Cup OK are unforgettable." According to Neuendorf, Beckenbauer left behind "a great legacy for the DFB and football as a whole." Record national player Lothar Matthäus was also deeply affected; he was Beckenbauer's captain and confidant during the 1990 World Cup triumph in Rome. "The shock is deep, even though I knew that Franz wasn't feeling well," Matthäus told the "Bild" newspaper: "His death is a loss for football and for all of Germany. He was one of the greatest as a player and coach, but also off the field. Beckenbauer had become a shining light, even if a shadow fell on him due to the “Summer Fairy Tale Affair,” which was never fully resolved. He was a world champion as a player and coach, organizer of the 2006 home World Cup, and in between he was a farmer's president and an advertising icon. In an ARD documentary that was broadcast on Monday evening, his older brother Walter already indicated that things weren't going well for Beckenbauer. Beckenbauer had recently largely withdrawn from the public eye. The far too early death of his son Stefan at the age of 46, health problems including heart operations, but also the alleged bribery scandal surrounding the 2006 World Cup had "taken a lot of toll" on Beckenbauer in his final years, as he revealed.