Moving funeral service in the arena
“Hello, Kaiser” – 20,000 fans say goodbye to Beckenbauer
January 19, 2024, 3:55 p.m
Numerous companions and fans come to the Allianz Arena to say a fitting farewell to Franz Beckenbauer. The football “Emperor” died on January 7th in Salzburg at the age of 78.
Hello, Kaiser – FC Bayern and German football said goodbye to Franz Beckenbauer with an emotional memorial service. In sadness and deep gratitude, long-time companions such as Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge gathered together with around 20,000 fans in the Allianz Arena to remember the most important figure in German football history.
“I don’t know whether the angels in heaven play sports,” said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in his speech. “But if so, then you will have certainly heard this new, somewhat Bavarian-sounding voice in the last few days: Go out and play football.” With these legendary words, team boss Beckenbauer sent his national team into the 1990 World Cup final against Argentina (1-0) – a few hours later he walked alone across the lawn of the Olympic Stadium in Rome as a silent triumphant. The World Cup team from back then laid a wreath: “Franz – thank you for everything”.
Beckenbauer, world champion as a player in 1974, died on January 7th in Salzburg at the age of 78. Five days later he was laid to rest next to his parents in the cemetery at Perlacher Forst.
At the memorial service, not only Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid him their last respects, but also many football and sports celebrities. Günter Netzer, Lothar Matthäus, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Rudi Völler and national coach Julian Nagelsmann came, as did his predecessor Hansi Flick and Joachim Löw, Boris Becker and the entire current Bayern team with Harry Kane and Thomas Müller. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona sent delegations. They all wanted to say goodbye to the emperor.