Franz Beckenbauer
Der Kaiser: the man who reinvented the sweeper and won the World Cup twice.
- Position
- Defender
- Club
- Retired
- Born
- 11 September 1945
- Birthplace
- Munich, Germany
- Height
- 1.81 m
About Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer, Der Kaiser, was a German defender who reinvented the libero role, stepping out of defence to build attacks with elegance and authority. At Bayern Munich he won three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976 and multiple Bundesliga titles, and twice took the Ballon d'Or. As captain he lifted the 1974 World Cup on home soil.
He later played in the United States with the New York Cosmos and finished at Hamburger SV. As a manager he guided West Germany to the 1990 World Cup, one of only a handful of men to win the trophy as both captain and manager. He died on 7 January 2024, aged 78.
Club career
- Three European Cups as club captain.Bayern Munich1964–1977
- A star of the NASL alongside Pelé.New York Cosmos1977–1980
- A further Bundesliga title in 1982.Hamburger SV1980–1982
Honours
- 1FIFA World Cup (player)1974 as West Germany captain
- 1FIFA World Cup (manager)1990 with West Germany
- 3European Cup1974 to 1976 with Bayern Munich
- 2Ballon d'Or1972 and 1976
Records
Frequently asked
Sources
Reference facts (honours, records, career) are sourced above. Club and squad details reflect the season this page covers and can change.
Last updated