Rudi Voller and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge have led the football world in paying tribute to Franz Beckenbauer following his death, with the former describing the Bayern Munich great as “the shining light of German football”.
On Monday, Beckenbauer’s family announced the legendary former defender had passed away at the age of 78 on Sunday.
Beckenbauer made 582 competitive appearances for Bayern throughout his glittering playing career, also becoming one of just three men – alongside Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and France’s Didier Deschamps – to win the FIFA World Cup as a player and a manager.
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Beckenbauer, who was nicknamed ‘Der Kaiser’ during his playing career, revolutionised the role of sweeper, captaining West Germany to World Cup glory in 1974 before overseeing their 1990 triumph from the dugout.
Voller, who is now the DFB’s national team director and was a key player in the side which became world champions in Italy in 1990, paid an emotional tribute to his former coach on Monday.
“I am incredibly sad, the news of his death affects me very much,” he told the DFB’s website. “I consider it one of the great privileges of my life to have known and experienced Franz Beckenbauer.
Rest in peace, Franz Beckenbauer.
One of the best players this sport has seen and a natural leader. He will be deeply missed by us all. #RIP #Beckenbauer #DFBTeam
???? Getty Images/Imago pic.twitter.com/qIxX8EJgFU— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) January 8, 2024
“Our time together with the national team was crowned with the 1990 World Cup title in Rome, a title that would never have been possible without his outstanding coaching performance.
“The Kaiser was an inspiration for more than one generation, he will forever remain the shining light of German football.
“With Franz Beckenbauer, German football is losing its greatest personality, I am losing a good friend.”
Beckenbauer’s former Bayern and Germany team-mate Rummenigge also paid tribute, saying: “I am deeply shocked. Franz Beckenbauer rewrote the history of German football and left a lasting mark on it.
“He was my captain at FC Bayern, my coach with the national team, our president at Bayern – and in all these roles he was not only successful but unique.
“As a person, he impressed with his great respect for all people, because everyone was equal in Franz’s eyes.
“German football has lost the greatest figure in its history. We will miss him more than sorely. Thank you for everything, dear Franz.”
Suddenly, our world isn’t the same as it once was — darker, quieter and worse off. The record champions are mourning the loss of Franz Beckenbauer, the incomparable ‘Kaiser’ without who FC Bayern would never have become the club it is today.
Rest in peace, Kaiser.
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) January 8, 2024
Current Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann also heaped praise on Beckenbauer, crediting him with changing the sport from a tactical perspective.
“For me, Franz Beckenbauer was the best footballer in German history,” Nagelsmann said. “His interpretation of the role of the libero changed the game, this role and his friendship with the ball made him a free man.
“Franz Beckenbauer was able to float on the grass. As a footballer and later also as a coach he was sublime, he stood above things.
“When Franz Beckenbauer entered a room, the room lit up. An aura surrounded him until the end, which even health problems could not shake. I am grateful and proud that I was able to get to know him and will remember him fondly.”
Former striker Gary Lineker – who scored in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Beckenbauer’s West Germany side in 1990 – was among several others to pay their respects across the game, writing on social media: “Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died.
“One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP.”
We mourn the loss of a legend of world football.
Rest in peace, Franz Beckenbauer. pic.twitter.com/XIzYCI7VwG
— DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga (@DFL_Official) January 8, 2024
