Franz Beckenbauer, the iconic German footballer and manager, died at 78. He captained West Germany to the 1974 World Cup title and managed the team to another triumph in 1990. Known for revolutionizing the sweeper role in defense, he was instrumental in both club and international success. His later years included a stint in football administration, where he faced ethics scrutiny from FIFA.

Franz Beckenbauer, a legendary figure in German football, passed away at the age of 78, as reported by the German news agency DPA. He is renowned for captaining West Germany to World Cup glory in 1974 and later managing the team to victory in 1990.

Beckenbauer was a formidable player for West Germany and Bayern Munich during the 1960s and 70s, known for his composed style and exceptional ball distribution. He is credited with essentially creating the central defensive sweeper role and earned 103 caps for his national team.

During his career, Beckenbauer won the 1972 European Championship and the World Cup, having previously lost in the 1966 final against England. His club, Bayern Munich, dominated European football in the mid-1970s, securing three consecutive European Cups and Bundesliga titles, while Beckenbauer was celebrated as European footballer of the year twice.

As the manager of West Germany, he saw his team reach the 1986 World Cup final, where they lost to Argentina, but claimed the championship in 1990 in Italy. Beckenbauer, affectionately known as “Der Kaiser” (The Emperor), is one of only three individuals to win the World Cup both as a player and coach.

Following his coaching career, Beckenbauer transitioned to football administration but faced a fine from FIFA’s ethics committee in 2016 due to non-cooperation with an investigation into corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup selections.

Original Source: www.france24.com