Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Anton Beckenbauer (German: Franz Anton Beckenbauer, German pronunciation: [fʁants ˈʔantoːn ˈbɛkn̩ˌbaʊɐ], September 11, 1945 - January 7, 2024) was a former German men's football player, coach and team leader. He was nicknamed "Caesar" (der Kaiser), one of the most influential and respected figures in German football history. He was known for his technical prowess, leadership and intelligence during his career. Beacon Bower's agility and technical ability on the pitch allowed him to play an important role in different positions. He started out as a midfielder but later switched to a central defender and became a role model in this position. He possesses excellent defensive skills, precise passing and excellent tactical awareness, and performs well in the "libero" role in the midfield and backfield. Beacon Bower once represented West Germany and scored 14 goals in 103 games. He participated in three FIFA World Cups (1966, 1970 and 1974). In 1974, he led the West Germany team to win the championship on home soil. He was selected to the All-Star team in every tournament he participated in. So far, only he and Brazilian defender Jalma Santos (1954, 1958, 1962) have been selected as the starting 11 of the All-Star team in three World Cups. As the head coach, he led the West Germany team to participate in the World Cup in 1986 and 1990, reaching the finals in both cases and winning the World Cup championship in 1990. He became the second celebrity after Brazilian legend Mario Zagallo to win the World Cup as both a player and a head coach. As a player, he was recognized as one of the greatest players in world football history. As a coach, he was recognized as one of the most successful coaches. After retiring, he served as chairman of the German Football Association, chairman of the World Cup Organizing Committee, and vice president of FIFA. He is recognized by FIFA and world public opinion as "The Emperor of Football" (Der Kaiser). In 2004, he was ranked among the 125 best living players (FIFA 100) selected by football king Pele. On January 7, 2024, Beckenbauer passed away in his sleep in Salzburg, Austria, at the age of 78.