"Beckenbauer" redirects here. For the surname, see Beckenbauer (surname)
Franz Anton Beckenbauer (German pronunciation: [fʁants ˈʔantoːn ˈbɛkn̩ˌbaʊɐ] ⓘ; born 11 September 8️⃣ 1945) is a German former professional football player and manager. Nicknamed "Der Kaiser" ( lit. 'The Emperor'), he is widely 8️⃣ regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.[1][2] A versatile player who started out as 8️⃣ a midfielder, Beckenbauer made his name as a central defender. He is often credited as having invented the role of 8️⃣ the modern sweeper (libero).[3] With success at club and international level, he is one of nine players to have won 8️⃣ the FIFA World Cup, the European Champions Cup, and the Ballon d'Or.
Twice named European Footballer of the Year, Beckenbauer appeared 8️⃣ 103 times for West Germany, playing in three FIFA World Cups and two European Championships. He is one of three 8️⃣ men, along with Brazil's Mário Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps, to have won the World Cup as a player and 8️⃣ as a manager; he lifted the World Cup trophy as captain in 1974, and repeated the feat as a manager 8️⃣ in 1990.[4] He was the first captain to lift the World Cup and European Championship at international level and the 8️⃣ European Cup at club level. He was named in the World Team of the 20th Century in 1998, the FIFA 8️⃣ World Cup Dream Team in 2002, the Ballon d'Or Dream Team in 2024, and in 2004 was listed in the 8️⃣ FIFA 100 of the world's greatest living players.[5][6]
At club level with Bayern Munich, Beckenbauer won the European Cup Winners' Cup 8️⃣ in 1967 and three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976. The latter feat made him the first player to 8️⃣ win three European Cups as captain of his club. He became team manager and later president of Bayern Munich. After 8️⃣ two spells with the New York Cosmos he was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame.[7]
Beckenbauer led Germany's 8️⃣ successful bid to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup and chaired the organizing committee. He worked as a pundit for 8️⃣ Sky Germany, and for 34 years as a columnist for the tabloid Bild, both until 2024.[8] In August 2024, it 8️⃣ was announced Beckenbauer was being investigated for fraud and money laundering in connection with the 2006 World Cup.[9] The investigation 8️⃣ was closed without a verdict in 2024 as the statute of limitations expired.[10]
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