Franz Beckenbauer (English)

Franz Beckenbauer (Español)

Full Name: Franz Anton Beckenbauer
Date of Birth: September 11, 1945
Place: Munich, Germany
Position: Defender or Midfielder

National Team

Played in 3 World Cups: England 1966, Mexico 1970 and Federal Republic of Germany 1974
- Champion: Federal Republic of Germany 1974

Played in 2 Euros: Belgium 1972 and Yugoslavia 1976
- Champion: Belgium 1972

Franz Beckenbauer Copa Mundial — *Source: FIFA World Cup (Instagram)*

Teams and Achievements (player)

Bayern Munich (1964-1977):
- 4 German Cups (1966, 1967, 1969 and 1971)
- 4 Bundesliga (1969, 1972, 1973 and 1974)
- 1 European Cup Winners’ Cup (1967)
- 3 European Cups/UEFA Champions League (1974, 1975 and 1976)
- 1 Intercontinental Cup (1976)
New York Cosmos (1977-1980):
- 3 North American Soccer League (1977, 1978 and 1980)
Hamburger SV (1980-1982):
- 1 Bundesliga (1982)
New York Cosmos (1983)

Franz Beckenbauer FCBayern — *Source: FC Bayern (Instagram)*

Statistics

National Team: in September 26, 1965, Beckenbauer made his debut in a 2 – 1 victory against Sweden, in a qualifying match to the 1966 World Cup. In June 20, 1976, he played his last game, in a loss to Czechoslovakia in the Euro 76 final. In total, Franz Beckenbauer made 103 appearances and scored 14 goals.
Clubs: 396 games played in Bundesliga with 44 goals (Bayern Munich).

Teams and Achievements (coach)

Federal Republic of Germany (1984-1990):
- 1 World Cup (Italy 1990)
Olympique de Marseille (1990-1991):
- 1 French Division 1
Bayern Munich (1994):
- 1 Bundesliga
Bayern Munich (1996):
- 1 UEFA Cup

Franz Beckenbauer Entrenador — *Source: Andreas Brehme (Instagram)*

Personal Achievements

2-time Ballon d’Or winner (1972 and 1976)
4 times Best German Player of the Year (1966, 1968, 1974 and 1976)
Silver Ball (1974)
FIFA Order of Merit (2002)
Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)
German Football Hall of Fame (2018)
UEFA President’s Award (2012)
FIFA Presidential Award (2013)
FIFA Badge of Honor
Part of FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
Part of the World Team of the 20th Century
Second Best European Player of the 20th Century

«The Kaiser»

Franz Beckenbauer is one of the best football players in the history of the sport. He won titles in every team he played or coached.
When Beckenbauer was fourteen, he joined Bayern Munich. Bayern was not a successful club at the time, winning just two big titles in their history: German League (1932) and German Cup (1957).
In June 6, 1964, Franz made his debut with the first team, as a left winger against St. Pauli in the German Second Division. Bayern Munich were promoted to the top flight the year after, with Beckenbauer as one of their main players.
In the summer of 1966, he participated in his first World Cup, playing every match and scoring six goals as an offensive midfielder.
The Federal Republic of Germany went to the final against hosts England, losing 4 – 2. Franz had a defensive role, marking Bobby Charlton the whole game. Due to his amazing work, he won the Best German Player of the Year award.
In the following three years, The Kaiser won with Bayern: one Bundesliga, three German Cups and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
In 1970, he played in his second World Cup, this time losing to Italy 4 – 3 in the semifinals, in a match known as the «Game of the Century». Beckenbauer dislocated his right shoulder after Pierluigi Cera fouled him at minute 67. The German refused to leave his National team with ten men, playing with a sling in his right arm.
West Germany finished third, beating Uruguay one nil in the third place match.
1972 was a special year for Beckenbauer, winning his first trophy with the Federal Republic of Germany – UEFA Euro 72 – and the European Footballer of the Year award.

1974 was his most successful year. Franz Beckenbauer lifted as a captain: the Bundesliga, the European Cup (UEFA Champions League), and West Germany’s second World Cup, overcoming the Netherlands of Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and Wim Van Hanegem, two goals to one in the final.

Franz Beckenbauer Copa Europa — *Source: FC Bayern (Instagram)*

Franz kept increasing his accolades, lifting again the European Cup in two more occasions (1975 and 1976), and the Intercontinental Cup (1976). Individually, he won his second European Footballer of the Year award in 1976.

Beckanbauer’s last match with his National Team was the UEFA Euro 76 final, losing in a penalty shootout against Czechoslovakia.
In 1977, he decided to end his career at Bayern Munich, signing a contract with the New York Cosmos. In the United States, he joined two Brazilian stars, Pele and Carlos Alberto.

The German won three titles in New York, playing as a midfielder in certain matches.
In 1980, he returned to West Germany, but chose Hamburger SV as his new club. Franz did not disappoint, achieving the Bundesliga in 1982 and reaching the UEFA Cup final that same year.

*Source: Hamburger SV (Edited-Instagram)*

Beckenbauer briefly retired from football, but returned in 1983, playing once more for the New York Cosmos. He just stayed there for five months.
In 1984, Franz agreed to be West Germany’s coach, replacing Jupp Derwall. Two years later, he took his team to the World Cup final, losing three goals to two in a tight game against Argentina.
Germany again reached the 1990 World Cup final, but this time they won it, one nil versus Argentina. Beckenbauer became the second person to lift the World Trophy as a player and coach.

After this huge accomplishment, Franz decided to leave the national team and join Olympique de Marseille. In France, he only stayed for a year, winning the French Division 1 (1991) and finishing second in the European Cup.
Beckenbauer decided to return to Bayern Munich, serving as the President of the club from 1994 to 2009. As President, his biggest accomplishment was the Champions League won in 2001.
The Kaiser served as Bayern’s interim coach in two occasions: from December 28, 1993 to June 30, 1994; and from April 29, 1996 to June 30, 1996. He won two trophies: Bundesliga (1994) and UEFA Cup (1996).

He was also elected as: Vice President of the German Football Federation (1998-2010), Chairmanship of the Football Committee (2007-2011), Deputy Chairmanship of the Development and Technical Assistance Committee (2007-2009), and Deputy Chairmanship of the Fair Play and Social Responsibility Committee (2009-2011).
Franz Beckenbauer currently serves as an Honorary President of Bayern Munich.
He is widely recognized for revolutionizing the libero position, defending and attacking in an exceptional way.