FIFA Pays Respect To Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer, a legend of German football and the world, died (doc. FIFA).

JAKARTA - World football legend Franz Beckenbauer passed away on Monday, January 8, 2024, local time or Tuesday (9/1/2024) WIB.

FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, paid his final tribute in particular to the German legend.

"A German football legend and the world, Franz Beckenbauer has achievements and victories engraved in history. However, despite his popularity, Der kaline (Jhyenbauer's nickname) has always remained simple and grounded."

"The first chance to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy was in 1974. He also won the tournament as a German coach in 1990. Its death was a painful loss for German football and the world."

"He will always be remembered by football supporters around the world. The world, especially by fans of the German national team and FC Bayern Munich, is enjoying so much success with him."

"A good neighbor to me during many meetings of the UEFA Executive Committee. He was willing to share so much of his knowledge of football. A very great person, a football friend, a champion and a true legend, my dear Franz will never be forgotten."

"My thoughts are on his family, friends, and the German Football Association, to whom I extend my deepest condolences," Infantino said on the FIFA website.

Franz Beckenbauer has been a legendary figure in German and international football for decades, both as a player, coach, and official.

Born in Munich, he joined Bayern Munich as a young player before they became the dominant force today.

He finally helped FC Hollywood win four Bundesliga titles, four DFB Cups, three UEFA European Cups, and UEFA Cup Winners Cup once. Then in his career, he felt the success of the Bundesliga again with Hamburger SV and won three North American Football League titles with New York Cosmos.

The defender defines the role of libero with a fast movement and extraordinary technique that allows him to switch easily between defense and attack. An elegant style and leadership on the pitch earned him the nickname Der chance during his playing career.

Beckenbauer celebrated his biggest win in a black-and-white Western Germany uniform. At the age of 20, he played in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final when his team lost 2-4 to England after extra time.

After winning the European Championship UEFA in 1972, he captained the team and won at home at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Beckenbauer was then appointed honorary captain of the national team in 1982.

After recording 103 caps and scoring 14 goals, Franz Beckenbauer retired from international football in 1977 at the age of 31. He ended his club career in New York Cosmos in 1983.

Beckenbauer has won many personal awards. He won the Ballon d'Or twice and the German Player of the Year four times, entered the 20th Century FIFA World Team, and received the FIFA Order of Merit and the FIFA President's Award.

The Federal Republic of Germany named him the Best Player of the Century and gave him the three highest awards of Order of Merit.

After being appointed West Germany coach in 1984, Beckenbauer guided the national team to the FIFA World Cup final in Mexico two years later, where they lost 2-3 to Diego Maradona's Argentina.

When the same two teams met in the 1990 World Cup final in Italy, Der wasteland team beat their opponents from South America 1-0. The title made him the second person after Mario Zagallo to win the FIFA World Cup both as a player and as a coach.

He spent the next two terms as interim coach of Bayern Munich (1993/1994 and 1996). Beckenbauer was appointed President of The Bavarian between 1994 and 2009. In that period Munich won the Bundesliga and the UEFA Cup.

After handling the club, Beckenbauer devoted himself to FIFA. He served as Chairman of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Local Organizing Committee in Germany.

Previously, he occupied the ranks of various FIFA committees between 1999 and 2016, including the FIFA Executive Committee (now FIFA Council), the Football Committee, the Strategy Committee, the 2014 Football Task Force, and the FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women's World Cup Organizing Committee.