Bayern Munich honors late Franz Beckenbauer at emotional ceremony

Franz Beckenbauer was a great German who became the best ambassador for his country worldwide, said German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday during a memorial at the Allianz Arena in Munich for the former world champion.

Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz led a lengthy list of attendees, which included numerous German football legends.

The legend of Bayern Munich, German, and world football, Beckenbauer, who passed away at the age of 78 earlier this month, played a key role in modernizing football and became the embodiment of Germany’s post-war sporting success. He captained his country to victory in the 1974 World Cup on home soil. With wreaths laid at the center of the field around a large image of Beckenbauer, his family, friends, and fans emotionally bid farewell to the football legend.

🏆 Player, Emperor, Human

More than 30,000 people came to Munich’s Allianz Arena to honor one of Germany’s greatest ever footballers, Franz Beckenbauer.

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Rest in peace, Kaiser. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/RbdfeuZvvy

— DW Sports (@dw_sports) January 19, 2024

Franz Beckenbauer won the World Cup both as a player and as the coach of Germany in 1990.

With Bayern, he was a three-time European club champion, a four-time German champion, and a holder of the World Club Cup.