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E-mail Xinhua, January 20, 2024
by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Many of his companions spoke last words at the memorial ceremony for Franz Beckenbauer on Friday afternoon.
Beckenbauer, one of football's first superstars, better known as "The Kaiser" (The Emperor), died on January 7, 2024 at home in Salzburg, Austria, at the age of 78.
The Munich arena, home of the 2020 treble winner Bayern, turned into the place of an emotional farewell from fans, friends, family, and sportive companions.
The who-is-who of German and international football gathered to remember the 1974 (as a player) and 1990 (as a coach) world champion in an atmospheric solemn mourning ceremony with over 30,000 guests vocally accompanied by German-Austrian opera star-tenor Jonas Kaufmann.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Bayern president Herbert Hainer, Bayern board member and former club president Uli Hoeness, and former teammate Paul Breitner praised the four-time European Cup winner.
Capped 103 times with 14 goals, Beckenbauer played a key role in turning football in the 1960s into a socially accepted sport and Germany's successful bidding to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
In his last years, Beckenbauer spent his days off the limelight in quietness.
Steinmeier thanked Beckenbauer for his "enormous contribution" to German football.
"The FC Bayern will always remain the Kaisers empire and his home. He will remain a role model for generations," Hainer said.
Hoeness reminded of common times in Bayern and the German national team. "He always stayed a human, he always cared for everyone, which maybe was his most precious characteristic," Hoeness said.
Beckenbauer called legends of football such as Brazilian icon Pele, and the English icons Bobby Moore and Sir Bobby Charlton close friends.
The 1972 European champion twice won the Ballo d'Or and Germany's top flight as a player and coach.
The death of his son Stephan in 2015 at the age of 46, and the accusations of suspected corruption linked to the German World Cup bid, are said to have affected his health conditions significantly. All investigations ended with an acquittal.
The charismatic sweeper's elegance when in action and his interpretation of the role of the libero changed the game. Beckenbauer was regarded as one of the ball's greatest friends.
The crowd at the scene also witnessed FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Beckenbauer's former companions such as Berti Vogts, Wolfgang Overath, Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck, Franz Roth, and Rainer Bonhof, prominent coaches such as Hansi Flick, Joachim Loew, Julian Nagelsmann, Felix Magath, and Matthias Sammer.
Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid also sent a delegation to Munich. Enditem
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