German Football, German Legend Franz Beckenbauer Dies

German legend and Bayern Munich Franz Beckenbauer passed away. (X/@FCBayern)

JAKARTA - Franz Beckenbauer, a German football legend, has died at the age of 78. Beckenbauer died peacefully in sleep surrounded by his family after battling the illness suffered on Sunday, January 7, 2024. This is the statement from the family.

World football is deeply saddened. One by one, the legends left the world. A few days earlier, Brazilian legend Mario Zagallo also breathed his last.

It is interesting that Beckenbauer and Zagallo are one of three people who won the World Cup when they were players and then coaches. One more figure is none other than Didier Deschamps, who is currently the coach of the French national team.

Previously, a row of legends decorating football with stunning action and inspiring life stories such as Bobby Charlton, Pele to Diego Armando Maradona, and Johan Cruyff, made the world mourning. Cruyff, a Dutch legend, is none other than an eternal rival and close friend.

Now, when it starts the new year, Beckenbauer must also leave. Health is 'der chancey', as the legendary name for a person who has 103 caps and three times defended Germany (West) at the World Cup has indeed decreased.

He has undergone heart surgery twice. Beckenbauer also had time to go up to the operating table to restore his pelvis.

Beckenbauer once said that his eye condition had decreased and since 2019 he has been blind next door. Because his health has decreased after experiencing infarcities due to lack of oxygen due to blockage of the pulse flow, he canceled his visit to Qatar to watch the 2022 World Cup.

"I experienced what is called an infark in one of my eyes. This makes my view a bit vague," said Beckenbauer.

"I also have to be careful with my heart condition. So I can't go to Qatar. I support the national team on television screens only," said Beckenbauer, who never receded, supports Die Mannschaft. After the Qatar World Cup, the health of the Bayern Munich legend he brought to control German (West) and European football in the mid-1970s is decreasing. Beckenbauer finally breathed his last last last Sunday.

"In deep sadness, we convey that our husband and father, Franz Beckenbauer, died peacefully in his sleep, yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family," said an official statement from the Beckenbauer family.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences for the passing of the legend. "The winner of the World Cup while as a player and coach: Franz Beckenbauer who is one of the greatest footballers in Germany and the world of 'der chance'. The generation he created gives him the joy of German football. We will miss him. I express my condolences to his family and friends," Schlolz wrote on the X (Twitter) account.

Beckenbauer is a legendary figure who immediately skyrocketed since starting his career at Bayern. The German Bundesliga elite club, which was strengthened from 1964 to 1977.

He brought Die Bayern to shine brightly by winning various trophies such as the German League four times and the Champions Cup hat trick (now the Champions League) in 1974-1976.

In addition, he won the Cup Winners (now Europa League) once and the Intercontinental Cup (now the Club World Cup) in 1976. While the German Cup or DFB-Pocal he won four times.

"The world of Bayern is not as usual Suddenly the atmosphere becomes dark, quiet and heartbreaking," said a statement from Bayern in response to the club's icon's departure.

"The German record holder mourns the passing of Franz Beckenbauer. A special 'Kaisar'. Without him FC Bayern would not be what it is today," Bayern wrote further.

Beckenbauer led Bayern to break the dominance of the Ajax Amsterdam led by Cruyff. Previously, Cruyff brought Ajax to score a hat trick for the Champions champions in 1970-1973.

After the end of the Ajax era, then Bayern controlled Europe. Despite occupying different positions, Beckenbauer vs Cruyff's rivalry became a phenomenon for European football and the world in the mid-1970s.

The climax was when they met in the 1974 World Cup final. Germany (West) led by Beckenbauer won 2-1 over the Netherlands in the final match.

The two football maestros in that era were considered complementary. Beckenbauer is incomplete as the best if there is no Cruyff. Vice versa.

Beckenbaur's achievements are increasingly complete because he helped Germany win the 1972 European Cup. However, the next four years he only brought the national team to become runners up after losing against the Czech surprise team on penalties.

At that time Czech star Antonin Panenka became the determinant through a penalty kick that marked him who deceived the legendary German goalkeeper Sepp Maier. His shot was later known as the 'Penaka Kick' or 'Penaka Penalty'.

In his career as a player, Beckenbauer played between back and center or played a central defensive sweeper or libero. He is also considered to have created that position which became the beginning of the emergence of a modern sweeper or defender.

However, only Beckenbauer is considered the most suitable to be libero. His successors such as Lothar Matthaeus and Franco Baresi still lost to him.

The most striking thing as a libero is his very calm and cold appearance. Beckenbauer doesn't talk much and there is no compromise for his opponents.

As he said, he did not rush to distribute the ball at his feet. The reason is from his feet, the team's game is fully regulated by Beckenbauer.

So it is appropriate to be called the emperor or The Emperor. His calm and calm carrying was also seen when he handled the German national team.

In his career when he left Bayern, Beckenbauer caused controversy because he chose to move to the United States to strengthen New York Cosmos in 1977-1980. At that time, MLS was indeed less popular and he was still able to play in elite European clubs. Beckenbauer also flew in the US by bringing New York Cosmos to the US League three times. From the US, Beckenbauer returned to Germany.

This time he played for SV Hamburg. Beckenbauer proved that he always brought the team he strengthened to become champions. Hamburg was escorted to become Bundesliga champions in 1982 and then he returned to New York before closing his career.

As soon as he retired as a footballer, Beckenbauer immediately became coach of the German national team in 1984. Lack of experience as a coach, he instead took Germany to the 1986 World Cup final. Germany, driven by Karl Heinze Rummenigge, was defeated by Maradona with Argentina 3-2.

However, Beckenbauer successfully responded in the 1990 World Cup final. Germany won 1-0 over Argentina with Andreas Brehme's penalty.

From the national team, Beckenbauer returned to the club he grew up in and raised him, Bayern. He only briefly became a coach and was later appointed president of the club.

Beckenbauer was vice president of the German football federation. He played a major role in hosting Germany's 2006 World Cup.

In his decorative career, Beckenbauer won the Ballon d'Or and entered FIFA 100 the greatest living players released by FIFA in 2004.

Towards the end of his age, Beckenbauer was indeed investigated regarding the appointment of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts. He is also suspected of receiving funds following South Africa's success in hosting the 2010 World Cup.

Despite denying accusations and finally being found not guilty, he was fined by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for being considered uncooperative in the investigation. Beckenbauer, because his health has decreased, did not do much activity before closing his eyes.

Football legends also expressed their condolences. Deschamps said he was honored to be aligned with Beckenbauer and Zagallo.

"It is a great honor for me to be a part of them in 2018, namely the one who won the World Cup as a coach and player," said Deschamps. "He is a classy, very confident and inspiring figure. Franz Beckenbauer is a very respected prime who always wants the team to be at the highest level," he said.

Meanwhile, Matthaeus, who captained Beckenbauer's team, who won the 1990 World Cup, admitted that he was surprised to receive the sad news.

"It's shocking news. Although I'm not very close to him. His departure makes world football and Germany really lose," said Matthaeus.

"He is one of the biggest as a player and coach. Likewise when off the field. Franz is an extraordinary person, not only in football. Everyone knows him as an extraordinary and kind figure," he said.