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| Career | |
| Clubs: | SC 1906 Munich (1954-1958), Bayern Munich (1958-1977), New York Cosmos (USA/1977-1980), Hamburg (1980-1982), New York Cosmos (USA/1982-83) |
| International appearances: | 103 |
| International goals: | 14 |
| International debut: | 26/09/1965, Sweden-West Germany (1-2) |
| Last international appearance: | 23/02/1977, France-West Germany (1-0) |
| First international goal: | 23/03/1966, Holland-West Germany (2-4) |
| Last international goal: | 06/10/1976, Wales-West Germany (0-2) |
Appearances: 3 (1966, 1970, 1974), 18 matches, five goals
Winner (1974), finalist (1966), semi-finalist (1970)
Winner (1972), finalist (1976)
Winner (1974, 1975, 1976)
Winner (1967)
Finalist (1975, 1976)
Winner (1976)
Winner (1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1982)
Winner (1966, 1967, 1969, 1971)
Winner (1977, 1978, 1980)
Winner of Ballon d'Or as Europe's best player (1971, 1976)
West German national team (Sept. 1984-July 1990)
Winner (1990), finalist (1986)
14 World Cup matches, 8 wins, 4 draws, 2 defeats
semi-final (1988)
66 matches, 35 wins, 18 draws, 13 defeats, 107 goals for, 61 against
Biography
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| Germany's soccer star and team captain Franz Beckenbauer receives the World Soccer Cup won by his team after a 2-1 victory over Holland 07 July 1974 at Munich's Olympic stadium, as West Germany president Walter Scheel (L) applauds. |
For the best part of half a century the great Franz Beckenbauer has won fame and admiration as a leading player, manager and administrator in the world of international football, and is now one of the best-known personalities in the sport.
He is the only man to both captain a World Cup winning side (1974) and manage a nation to world cup success (1990) and recently played a leading role in Germany's successful bid to host the 2006 tournament.
On the pitch he was a natural leader and an innovator, constantly fine-tuning a new concept in the international game that became known as the "attacking sweeper", a position that allowed a player to begin moves deep in his own half before moving forward to help create and score goals.
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| German soccer legend and president of Bayern Munich, Franz Beckenbauer speaks at the club's annual general meeting at the olympic hall in Munich 16 November 2001. Beckenbauer announced a record turnover of 362 million german marks (185 million euros/177 million us dollars) and a profit of 60 million german marks (30 million euros/29 million dollars), the biggest ever in the history of the German soccer giant and UEFA Champions League winner. |
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| Franz Beckenbauer, President of the German soccer club Bayern Munich and Vice President of the German Soccer Federation looks at young Qatari players practicing 16 February 1999 in Doha. Beckenbauer gave his support to the idea of FIFA President Joseph Blatter to hold the World Cup every two years and defended the right of his country to organize the 2006 World Cup. |
After starting his playing career as a midfielder at Bayern Munich (where today he is president) the young and gifted apprentice quickly set about building himself a unique position within the team.
He was included in the national side for the World Cup final in England in 1966, but suffered when Germany were defeated 4-2 in the final by the home side.
After further success at his club Bayern Munich the next big test of the West German's pedigree came at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.
All Beckenbauer's great qualities came to the surface in an unforgettable semi-final match against Italy.
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| West German defender Franz Beckenbauer (R) gets his right shoulder bandaged by a masseur as the team's doctor Professor Schoberth (L) looks on during the World Cup semifinal soccer match against Italy 17 June 1970 at Azteca stadium in Mexico City. At the end of regulation time, the two teams were tied at 1 and Beckenbauer went on to play during the thirty-minute extra time period but could not prevent his team from losing 4-3 on a late goal by midfielder Gianni Rivera. AFP PHOTO/EPA/DPA |
With his arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder, he heroically led the charge against an inspired Italian team, but his efforts were in vain as Italy finally won the match 4-3 after extra time.
His most memorable club years followed and the nickname "Kaiser Franz" was born. Bayern won three domestic titles in 1972, 1973 and 1974 and successive European Cup triumphs in 1974, 1975 and 1976.
Many observers felt that the 1974 World Cup was Beckenbauer's last chance to achieve the ultimate success he so richly deserved. Once again he was a towering presence as West Germany beat Johann Cruyff's Holland 2-1 in the final in Munich.
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| West Germany's national soccer team coach Franz Beckenbauer (C) celebrates after his team beat the defending champions Argentina 1-0 on a penalty kick by defender Andreas Brehme in the World Cup final, 08 July 1990 in Rome. It is Beckenbauer's second World title after winning it as a player in 1974 and Germany's third (1954, 1974 and 1990). AFP PHOTO |
In 1977, Beckenbauer retired from international competition (103 caps and 14 goals) and decided to take his skills across the Atlantic to the North American Soccer League.
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| Former German soccer legend, Franz Beckenbauer, heading Germany's bid to host the 2006 World Cup, gives a press conference in Tunis 02 March 2000 during a promotional visit in the country. |
He played for New York Cosmos for four years before going back to Germany to win a fifth league title, this time with Hamburg in 1982.
Two years later Beckenbauer succeeded Jupp Derwall as national team manager and after leading West Germany to the World Cup final in Mexico (1986) against Diego Maradona's Argentina - a final the Germans lost 3-2 - he went the whole way in 1990 when Germany achieved a third World Cup win in Italy, thus joining the Italians and Brazil in the exclusive club of triple World Cup winners.