RIP
German footballer Franz Beckenbauer has sadly died at the age of 78.
Beckenbauer’s family confirmed the news on Monday afternoon with their statement reading:
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that husband and father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family.
“We ask that you be able to mourn in silence and refrain from asking any questions.”
Nicknamed ‘Der Kaiser’, the defender was regarded as one of the best players in world football and is often credited as the person behind the sweeper role.
He spent a large portion of his career at Bayern Munich, playing for them over 400 times.
German football legend Franz Beckenbauer dies aged 78
There he won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1967 and three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976.
By doing so, he became the first player to win the European Cup three years in a row. He also won the Ballon d’Or on two occasions.
As well as Bayern, Beckenbauer also had spells at New York Cosmos and Hamburger SV.
Additionally, he is one of three players to win the World Cup as a player and manager, completing the former in 1974 as captain of West Germany before lifting the trophy as manager of the team in 1990.
Beckenbauer also managed Bayern Munich after a short spell as a sporting director at Marseille.
Towards the latter stages of his life, Beckenbauer had battled Parkinson’s disease and dementia and had underwent heart operations.
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