Another big name in the world of football, Franz Beckenbauer, has left us. The German legend who revolutionised the role of a central defender with his ‘libero’ style was as legends go, right there at the top in terms of eminence. “A true legend” was how FIFA chief, Gianni Infantino hailed him. We had Pele and we had Beckenbauer, both who had contributed enough to make football, the most beautiful game in the world. Slowly the legends have begun to leave. Maradona, then Pele, Johan Cruyff, Bobby Charlton and now the man who had his own spectacular tale to speak of and something that will live on, has bid farewell.
They called him Der Kaiser, the Emperor not just because he resembled the Bavarian king Kaiser Ludwig II, but also for the way he ruled the football pitch with his refined ‘total football’ theory that he put in practice with such telling effect. Add to that his natural leadership. “He just oozed class,” was what his teammate at Bayern Munich Karl Heinz Rummenigge had to say. Old timers would recall his exploits, the way he revolutionised the defender’s role. The knick-name Kaiser got tagged on with him throughout his career as he rose to captain West Germany to World Cup triumph in 1974 and then winning again as Manager in 1990. Beckenbauer that way was one of only three players to have won the World cup both as a player and later as Coach, the other two being Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and France’s Didier Deschamps.
There have been very few big timers in the game of football who left such an indelible mark and Beckenbauer is certainly one, both as player and manager. That way he was a rare gem and perhaps Germany’s first truly global star with a hugely successful career for over half a century. Apart from the two World cups, Beckenbauer had a big role in establishing Bayern Munich as Germany’s strongest club and one of Europe’s finest. With Bayern he had won three consecutive European cups between 1974 and 76, four Bundesliga titles including a hat trick (1972-74), two Ballon d’Ors (1972 and 76) and a host of other honours as a player. Additionally towards the end of his career, won another Bundesliga title, his fifth in 1982 with Hamburg FC.
As a player, Beckenbauer played a key role as Germany became a powerhouse in the sport. He had represented the country 103 times and was the ‘German footballer of the year’ four times. Equally spectacular was his role as a coach, taking Olympique de Marseille to League I championship in 1990-91, Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title (1993-94) and UEFA Cup (1995-96) and of course the crown of it all, lifting West Germany to World Cup triumph in 1990.
All these records may be rewritten one day and may be the achievements and deeds of this great man be surpassed but Beckenbauer will ever be remembered for the magic he had lent to football. By making defence the start point for attack, this German legend changed the game for ever. That was the kind of change which made every ambitious footballer want to be like Beckenbauer. He did not become just an example to follow but a benchmark for what seemed an unattainable level of excellence. By the time he arrived for the 1966 world cup, Beckenbauer, just 20, had already earned the reputation of being a most feared midfielder. Suffice to state, England manager Alf Ramsay was a worried man straightaway seeing this No.4 player in the German ranks.
Old timers would recall how in that big match in Wembley, Alf had made his star player Bobby Charlton to man mark this German sensation! According to one report, the German coach Helmut Schon too had a similar idea and made Beckenbauer to take up the tough job of stopping Charlton.
In that way the greatness of the two big performers it was said were effectively cancelled out even as England went ahead to win the Cup 4-2 in what observers felt was a final of controversies. But that is a different story. What was established was the ability of the 20-year Beckenbauer there and that signalled the crowning of a great talent. The German was to demonstrate that four years later when in the quarter final, Beckenbauer scored to help his team to claw back from 0-2 to 1-2 position before taking the winning path. What many will remember of that World Cup about Beckenbauer is the way he played with a sling on in the semi-final against Italy after suffering a nasty fall. With Germany having used its allotted two substitutes, Beckenbauer with a dislocated shoulder insisted on being on the pitch and spraying passes around. Beckenbauer may have ended up on the losing side because Italy finally won, but many believed this was one of the most enduring images of that World Cup.
After Germany and Europe, Beckenbauer took his talent across the seas to the US to play for New York Cosmos alongside the great Pele. Four years there before he returned to his homeland.
Thereafter he tried his hand at administration and there too carved a niche, helping Germany win the bid to host the 2006 World Cup. Dark times did dog him too. Controversy and corruption charges sought to malign his illustrious career. Yet for all this, fans will always remember him as a phenomenon out and out. Every time a great football event is held, Beckenbauer’s memory will shine. There can never be another Kaiser!
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There can never be another Kaiser!
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17.01.2024
Another big name in the world of football, Franz Beckenbauer, has left us. The German legend who revolutionised the role of a central defender with his ‘libero’ style was as legends go, right there at the top in terms of eminence. “A true legend” was how FIFA chief, Gianni Infantino hailed him. We had Pele and we had Beckenbauer, both who had contributed enough to make football, the most beautiful game in the world. Slowly the legends have begun to leave. Maradona, then Pele, Johan Cruyff, Bobby Charlton and now the man who had his own spectacular tale to speak of and something that will live on, has bid farewell.
They called him Der Kaiser, the Emperor not just because he resembled the Bavarian king Kaiser Ludwig II, but also for the way he ruled the football pitch with his refined ‘total football’ theory that he put in practice with such telling effect. Add to that his natural leadership. “He just oozed class,” was what his teammate at Bayern Munich Karl Heinz Rummenigge had to say. Old timers would recall his exploits, the way he revolutionised the defender’s role. The knick-name Kaiser got tagged on with him throughout his career as he rose to captain West Germany to World Cup triumph in 1974 and then winning again as Manager in 1990. Beckenbauer that way was one of only three players to have won the World cup both as a player and later as Coach, the other two being........
© Mathrubhumi English
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