Franz Beckenbauer, widely known by his legendary nickname “Der Kaiser,” was a famous German footballer, manager, and executive, regarded as one of the greatest defenders in football history. He earned 103 caps for the West Germany national team and served as team captain on 50 occasions. In 1976, he was named European Footballer of the Year, further cementing his status as a global football icon.

Franz Beckenbauer was born on September 11, 1945, in Munich, in post-war Germany. He began playing football at the age of nine and joined the youth academy of Bayern München in 1958. His talent was evident from an early age, and he quickly stood out with his intelligence, composure, and technical quality. In 1964, he made his professional debut, initially playing as a left winger before soon establishing himself in midfield and later redefining the defensive role.

Beckenbauer became an indispensable figure at Bayern München and rose to prominence in the West Germany national team. During the 1966–1967 season, as team captain, he led Bayern to victory in the German Cup and, in the same year, helped the club defeat Rangers in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final. In 1968, he won his first Bundesliga title with Bayern. His international breakthrough continued at the 1970 World Cup, after which he became captain of the national team in 1971.

Following the 1972 European Championship, Beckenbauer developed and personalized the concept of the modern libero, transforming the role into a creative and commanding position. After West Germany defeated the Soviet Union 3–0 in the final to win the European Championship, he was honored as Footballer of the Year. In 1974, he played a key role in the team that brought the World Cup to Germany. Two years later, his hat-trick performance in the European Championship helped West Germany reach the final, and in the same year, he was once again named European Footballer of the Year.

In 1977, Beckenbauer accepted a $2.5 million offer to play for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League, a club previously associated with Pele. During his four-year spell with the Cosmos, he won three league titles. After a brief return to Bayern München, he left the club in 1979 and went back to the United States, eventually retiring from professional football. Following his retirement, he transitioned into management.

Succeeding Jupp Derwall as national manager of West Germany, Beckenbauer led the team to the final of the 1986 World Cup despite having no prior coaching experience, finishing as runners-up to Argentina. In 1990, he guided Germany to World Cup victory in Italy, defeating England on penalties after a 1–1 draw in normal time. He later served successfully as president of Bayern München.

Renowned for his leadership, authority on the pitch, and tactical intelligence, Franz Beckenbauer earned the nickname “Der Kaiser.” He is widely recognized as the creator of the contemporary libero role. He remains the only individual to have won both the World Cup and the European Cup as a team captain and as a head coach. In 2006, he served as President of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup hosted in Germany.

Throughout his playing career, Beckenbauer won four league titles, four domestic cups, and three European Champion Clubs’ Cups with Bayern München. With the national team, he won the European Championship in 1972 and the World Cup in 1974.

Beckenbauer married for the first time in 1966, a marriage that lasted until 1990 and produced two sons. He also had a son, Stephan Beckenbauer, from a previous relationship. Between 1977 and 1988, he was in a relationship with photographer Diana Sandmann. In the late 1980s, he had another child with a Bayern München club secretary. In 1990, he married his second wife, Sybille Beckenbauer, a marriage that ended in 2002. On June 23, 2006, he married for the third time; this marriage resulted in two children. Franz Beckenbauer was married to Heidi Burmester at the time of his death.

Since 1982, Beckenbauer had been living in Obendorf, Austria. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on January 7, 2024, at the age of 79.

Source: Biyografiler.com