German football legend and one of the best defensive players that ever graced the game, Franz Beckenbauer, has died aged 78, the family confirmed on Monday.
Beckenbauer was the first person to win the World Cup as a player and a coach. He was captain of West Germany in 1974 and lifted the trophy again as manager in 1990 when the Manshafft defeated Argentina captained by Diego Maradona in the final.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe former iconic defender played 582 times for Bayern Munich, winning the German top flight both as a player and a manager.
Nicknamed Der Kaiser, as a player he also won the European Championship in 1972, as well as the Ballon d’Or twice.
A statement from the Beckenbauer family to German news agency DPA read: “It is with deep sadness that we announce that my husband and our father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family.
“We ask that you allow us to grieve in silence and refrain from asking any questions.”
One of his most memorable time as a player was when he scored four goals at the 1966 World Cup hosted by England at the age of just 20 and winning the honour as the tournament’s best young player.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
