Commemoration not just in football
Scholz: Beckenbauer “we will miss”
January 8, 2024, 7:24 p.m
The importance of Franz Beckenbauer extends beyond football. Chancellor Olaf Scholz remembers “one of the country’s greatest footballers,” while Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder is dismayed.
German football legend Franz Beckenbauer is mourned beyond sport. Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid tribute to him X. “World champion as a player and coach: Franz Beckenbauer was one of the greatest footballers in Germany and for many ‘the emperor’ – also because he inspired enthusiasm for German football for generations,” wrote Scholz. “We will miss him. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Beckenbauer died on Sunday at the age of 78. In 1974 he won the World Cup as a player in Munich, and in 1990 he led the German national team to triumph in Rome as team manager.
At 7:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. ntv will broadcast a news special on the death of Franz Beckenbauer. You can watch the show in the live stream here.
The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder also commented X. “I received the news of Franz Beckenbauer’s death with shock and deep sadness. He was an exceptional footballer, exceptional coach and a wonderful person who was loved and respected by everyone who knew him closely,” wrote the CSU boss. “World champion as a player and as a coach, father of the 2006 summer fairy tale and figurehead of FC Bayern Munich – all of this will remain unforgettable.”
Franz Beckenbauer was an athlete of the century, Söder continued. “Bayern mourns the loss of one of their own, who was the Free State’s ambassador to the world. His incomparably down-to-earth, likeable and heartwarming manner made him approachable to everyone, even outside of football.” Even as a world star, Beckenbauer never forgot his origins and always remained humble. “Bavaria will always honor the memory of this great son of the country. Our thoughts are with his family,” said Söder.
Steinmeier honors “exceptional phenomenon”
Federal President Steinmeier also expressed his condolences to Heidrun Beckenbauer on the death of her husband. “Probably no one has had as much of an impact on German football as Franz Beckenbauer. As a player, team manager and coach, he wrote football history. He was an exception; the word libero in its entire meaning seems to have been invented for him,” wrote Steinmeier.
Beckenbauer’s elegance on the ball has thrilled football fans all over the world. “With his leadership style and his playing philosophy, Franz Beckenbauer has made the German national team an outstanding ambassador for our country around the world,” Steinmeier continued. “We will always be grateful to him for that. And the summer fairy tale in our country in 2006 would have been unthinkable without him. As in many other places, he allowed himself to be taken into service here.”
The Federal President also acknowledged Beckenbauer’s social commitment: “With his foundation he supported people with disabilities and people who were ill and in need through no fault of their own,” wrote Steinmeier. “With Franz Beckenbauer we are losing the most famous and popular representative of German sport around the world. We will not forget him.”
“Football redefined”
Federal Minister of the Interior and Sports Minister Nancy Faeser honored Beckenbauer as a legend of German sport. “With Franz Beckenbauer we are losing a legend of German sport. Hardly anyone has had such an impact on German football, hardly anyone will remain so unforgettable,” said the SPD politician to the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post”. “With his elegance and style on the pitch, he has redefined football,” said Faeser.
“As world champion as captain of the national team in 1974 and as world champion as team boss in 1990, he made history. Franz Beckenbauer will forever keep his place in the hearts of millions of football fans,” said the SPD politician. “His death is a great loss for German football and for our country. We mourn a great personality with his family and friends,” said Faeser.
Bach: “A legend of sport”
The news also caused great sadness in the rest of the sports world. IOC President Thomas Bach reacted to Franz Beckenbauer’s death with “great dismay”. “He was a legend of sport, far beyond football. For me personally, he was a good and loyal friend for more than four decades who you could always rely on,” said Bach.
The 70-year-old highlighted Beckenbauer’s “approachability and his modesty in dealing with all people as well as his heartfelt, great charitable commitment”: “Through these character traits and his unique sporting successes as a player, national coach and president of the organizing committee of the 2006 World Cup In Germany he has made a contribution to sport in Germany like no other,” said Bach. He will “sorely miss the encounters and conversations” with Beckenbauer. The IOC will remember him with honor and gratitude. My thoughts are with his dear wife Heidi, who looked after him so lovingly during the difficult time of his illness, his children and his family.”
The President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation, Thomas Weikert, also expressed his condolences. “As a player, coach and personality, Franz Beckenbauer thrilled and impressed fans around the world. German sport bows farewell to the emperor,” he said.
You can read more reactions from the world of football and from fellow travelers here.