Franz Beckenbauer, World Cup-winning captain and manager, dies aged 78 ‘Der Kaiser’ led West Germany to glory in 1974 and 1990 Beckenbauer credited with creating the modern sweeper role. Was part of my childhood watching his West German team dominate World football. Top bloke. RIP Beckenbauer
Now there goes a true footballing great - RIP There is a canny couple of teams up there now - a competitive league up there
Tremendous player and a fantastic ambassador for the game. One of the true greats of the 60's-70's. RIP
Best defender/sweeper I've ever seen. So composed, recall him playing in a match with his arm/shoulder in a sling and still being class, memory is a bit hazy but I think it was a World Cup game. RIP Franz
Just watched some highlights of the 74 world cup final. Against that Holland side! He strolled through the game, purring and smoking a Cuban. There are footballers and then there are footballers.
Franz you won the hearts of the English with your grace, style, charisma......true legend.....see if you can have a knock about with Pele and the two Bobby's from England.....RIP lad.
Funny how times change. Didn't like the jawmens in the 70's . You could still see the devastation they caused from ww2. That likely lads scene at the intro of kids playing in bombed out rubble was poingant and reminded me of times as a kid in South Shields. Stan Boardman, the fokkas bombed our chippy I was on holiday in Spain with a girlfriend late eighties. We met a cockney couple and he knew the German for "kick all these German arseholes out of here" and I knew Italian for "fook off you fat Italian pigs" which made for a fun few nights out Yes I know, not the done thing these days, but as long as it was justified then fook it I made a white t-shirt with Germany on and Deutschland über alles on the back for work to wind some scousers up who pìssed me off years ago slagging Sunderland. It was after the Germany England game , 4-1 in 2010 rings a bell I remember a load coming over to where I worked, instantly didn't like them. I used to shout "cùnts" and one was called Kunz who used to keep coming up to me "ya, vot do you vant ?" I quite like them now the dust has settled. That comedian Henning Wehn. His eyes so far apart he could never of been Italian We're all just people getting on with life RIP Franz. Top footballer
The strange thing is the other day the first Brazilian footballer Mario Zaggallo 92 to win the world cup as a player 1958 and 62 and as manager 1970, who won the world cup as a player and manager died. Franz a brilliant player and manager, i wanted him to manage us back in the 90's.
I was gutted when Holland (yes, I know, but this is what we called them back then) lost the 1974 World Cup final. I hated him back then and never got over it, but respected him for his ability. Rest in Peace