Franz Beckenbauer nicknamed ‘Der Kaiser’ was a player, who revolutionized football in West Germany and became an iconic figure. Born in Munich, on the 11th of September 1945, in a post-war period. His father Franz Sr. was a senior secretary at the post office and his mother was a homemaker.
When Beckenbauer was just 8 years old, West Germany won the 1954 World Cup by defeating Hungary in the Final match. Inspired by this, Franz joined SC 1906, which was just across the road from where he lived. After 5 years, aged 13, he joined Bayern Munich. Franz was brilliant at the sport and moved through the ranks to the senior team. In 1965, Bayern Munich was promoted to the Bundesliga. At 20 years of age, Franz Beckenbauer was a role model for many as he was called to play for the national team.
The West German coach Helmut Schon made a bold decision by allowing the young talent to play in the qualifiers, which paid off as West Germany defeated Sweden by a score of 2-1 to qualify for the 1966 World Cup in England.
Franz Beckenbauer made his FIFA World Cup debut in a match against Switzerland at Sheffield. Beckenbauer scored 2 goals in a 5-0 win over the Swiss team. West Germany finished their group stage to face Uruguay in the Quarterfinals. Beckenbauer scored again in the 4-0 quarterfinal win of West Germany over Uruguay. He was becoming the star attraction.
In the semifinals, West Germany faced the mighty Soviet Union in Liverpool. Beckenbauer scored against the legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin in a 2-1 victory. The final match of the tournament was against the host England at the Wembley Stadium. Fraz Beckenbauer was given the task of man-marking Sir Bobby Charlton.
The West Germans were able to take an early lead as Hala scored in the 12th minute, but Geoff Hurst equalized for England just after 6 minutes. In the second half, England came forward due to a goal from Martin Peters, but Volkan Wober levelled for Germany. A controversial goal in the extra time and Geoff Hurst’s hattrick resulted in a 4-2 win for England. Franz Beckenbauer ended his first World Cup tournament as the runner-up.
In club football, Beckenbauer captained Bayern for the 1968-69 season and led Bayern to the Bundesliga title. He also won the German footballer of the year. He is credited for revolutionizing a defensive position in football “the Libero”, which focused on scoring goals and developing the game from the Defence.
In the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, West Germany won all their group matches due to a top-notch performance from ‘Der Bomber’ Gerd Muller. In the Quarterfinals, West Germany faced England. West Germany went 2-0 down but, goals from Franz Beckenbauer and Uwae Seelar and Gerd Muller saw a comeback and West Germany won 3-2.
The semi-finals were against Italy and the match s still regarded as one of the best games in the history of the World Cup. Italy opened the scoring and went ahead 1-0. Franz Beckenbauer dislocated his shoulder, after a foul from the Italian defender Pierre Luigi Serre. Beckenbauer refused to get substituted and continued to play with the injury, with a sling supporting his shoulder. The West German side put up a stiff competition but the Italians won by a score of 4-3.
After the 1970 World Cup, Beckenbauer became the captain of the national team. The 1972 European Championship was a turning point as the West German team won the tournament for the first time.
In the Group stage of the European championship, they were unbeaten in their group which had teams like Poland, Turkey and Albania. In the quarter-finals, the West German team defeated England 3-1 in the first leg at the Wembly stadium and the second leg ended in a goalless match, which saw West Germany advancing to the semi-finals for the first time. West Germany defeated Belgium 2-1 in the semi-finals and defeated the mighty Soviet Union 3-0 in the finals to become the European champions. This was Beckenbauer’s first trophy for West Germany.
In club football, under Beckenbauer’s captaincy, FC Bayern won the 1971-72 season of Bundesliga and also the next two seasons of 1972-73 and 1973-74, setting a new german record of winning 3 consecutive titles.
In the 1974 FIFA World Cup, The hosts, West Germany were in Group-1, along with Chile, Australia and East Germany. West Germany lost just one match in the group against their communist neighbours and won the rest to secure qualification to the second round. In the second round, they won the match against Yugoslavia by 2-0, the following match against Sweden resulted in a 4-2 victory and in the last group match against Poland, Gerd Muller’s lone goal gave the host nation a victory and secured a place in the finals.
In the 1974 World Cup final the host, West Germany conceded an early goal, but goals by Paul Breitner and Gerd Muller saw West Germany win the finals by a score of 2-1.
The Captain of the West German team, Franz Beckenbauer lifted the brand-new World Cup trophy after Brazil won the right to keep the Jewels riemate trophy in the 1970s.
West Germany became the first team to win the European championship and the World cup simultaneously.
In club competition, Bayern Munich beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the European cup final in 1974. The next year, Bayern were again the finalists and defeated Leeds United by a score of 2-0. In 1976, Bayern were in the finals for the third time in a row against Saint Etienne. Beckenbauer lifted the European Cup for the third successive time as captain of FC Bayern Munich.
The 1976 European Championship was Franz Beckenbauer’s last major tournament, West Germany beat Yugoslavia to face Czechoslovakia in the final. The match against Czechoslovakia ended with a score of 2-2 and was decided in a penalty shootout, which West Germany lost.
Franz Beckenbauer retired from international football the following year. He also left Bayern soon after and signed for the New York Cosmos and went to the United States.
The arrival of Beckenbauer and Pele increased the popularity of New York Cosmos. Beckenbauer won 3 NASL Titles and along with Pele helped popularize soccer in the United States. After 4 years in New York, he returned to Europe and joined the North German club Hamburg, but he was injured for 2 seasons.
After having an outstanding career as a player for 20 years, he retired and took over the role of manager of the West German team in 1984.
In 1990, Beckenbauer won the FIFA World Cup again as the manager, when West Germany defeated Argentina in the finals. He became the second man to win FIFA World Cup as a player and a manager.
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