Renowned football figure Franz Beckenbauer, who made an indelible mark on German football as a player, captain, and coach, passed away at 78, as announced by the German football association on Monday.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, DFB vice president, expressed, “Franz Beckenbauer was unquestionably the greatest German footballer of all time, and, above all, one of the most remarkable individuals I have ever known.”
Beckenbauer, distinguished as one of the only three individuals to achieve World Cup victories both as a player and coach, breathed his last on Sunday, according to the DFB.
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The former captain of the German team during the 1970s, Beckenbauer, faced health challenges in recent years and had chosen a more private life in Salzburg, located just across the German border.
Known as ‘the Kaiser’ (meaning ‘the Emperor’) in football-crazed Germany, Beckenbauer played a pivotal role in some of the nation’s most significant sporting triumphs. However, his legacy was later marred by his involvement in scandals related to Germany’s successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.