BERLIN, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) — According to the German Football Association (DFB) on Monday, German football legend Franz Beckenbauer has passed away at the age of 78. The family confirmed his death on Sunday and the DFB released a statement mourning his loss.
Beckenbauer made a lasting impact on German football, achieving the rare accomplishment of winning the World Cup as both a player in 1974 and as a coach in 1990. In 1972, he also won the European Championship title as a player, making him the first German footballer to have over 100 international appearances. He was also a runner-up in the World Cup in 1966 and the European Championship in 1976.
In addition to his international success, Beckenbauer had an impressive club career primarily with FC Bayern Munich, winning Bundesliga and DFB Cup titles multiple times. He also excelled internationally with FC Bayern, winning the European Cup three times and the European Cup Winners’ Cup once.
After retiring as a player, Beckenbauer transitioned to coaching, winning a French Ligue 1 title with Olympique Marseille in 1991 and securing Bundesliga and UEFA Cup victories with FC Bayern in 1994 and 1996. Throughout his career, Beckenbauer received numerous awards, including being named Europe’s Footballer of the Year twice and Germany’s Footballer of the Year four times. In 2000, he was voted as Germany’s Footballer of the Century.
Recognizing his immense contributions to the sport, the DFB honored Beckenbauer as an honorary member and captain, and he was also inducted into the German Football Museum’s “Hall of Fame” as one of the first 11 players.
