Franz Beckenbauer Biography
Do you talk about Franz Beckenbauer's fabulous career for Bayern Munich over his 13 years at the club? Do you start with his numerous record-breakings, or his impressive effort in the "Game of the Century" where he played with an injury that would take out even the strongest of footballers?
Indeed, we could do that, but instead of focusing simply on his achievements, let's take a look at Franz Beckenbauer, from his beginnings as a footballer, to the end of his career.
Franz Beckenbauer Biography – Early Years at Bayern Munich
Born in post-war Munich, Franz Beckenbauer started playing soccer for SC Munich in 1954, inspired by that year's World Cup, where his favorite player was Fritz Walter. Despite being a fan of 1860 Munich, he ended up playing for the youth squad of their rivals, Bayern Munich, in 1959.
Franz Beckenbauer Biography – Bayern Munich First Squad
Spending 5 years at the various youth teams for Bayern, he finally made his debut in the first league at age 19, in a match against FC St. Pauli in the 1964/65 season, a season in which Bayern won promotion to the first league. With the team having a fast ascendance, they won the German Cup in 1966/67, Cup Winners Cup in 1967 and the first league title in 1968/69, with Franz Beckenbauer captaining the team for the first time.
His club career at Bayern Munich would span for almost two decades, since he first joined them in 1959. In 1977, already an established soccer player and a legend in Germany, he decided to move to American team New York Cosmos for 4 seasons.
Franz Beckenbauer Biography – NY Cosmos and Hamburger SV
In a quiet end of his career, Franz Beckenbauer played 3 seasons for the American side, only to return to Germany, but not at Bayern, instead choosing to sign a contract with Hamburger SV, where he would not play as often, but during the time with the Hamburg side, he added yet another league title under his belt. His last season would find him at the New York Cosmos again in 1983, at age 38.
Franz Beckenbauer Biography – Awards and Records
Although starting out as a defensive midfielder, Franz Beckenbauer is considered the inventor of the sweeper position on the pitch, as he would often freely play in this role for Bayern and West Germany's side.
He was nicknamed "the Kaiser" (Emperor) by German fans, due to his dominance on the pitch, leadership and his name's resemblance to Austrian emperors. Even today, he is regarded as the "Kaiser" of German soccer, being considered the greatest German footballer of all times.
Franz Beckenbauer was voted second place in the European Player of the Century election, behind Johan Cruyff and third in the World Player of the Century election, after Pele and again, Johan Cruyff.
In the 1970 World Cup, Beckenbauer captained his team to the semi-finals, where Germany would meet a strong Italian team. The match that was going to be named "the Game of the Century" would also produce one of the most emotional moments in the history of soccer, with Franz Beckenbauer in the center.
With both substitutions being made for Germany (only two subs were allowed back then), Beckenbauer received a hard foul that lead to a fracture clavicle. Most players would have gone out writhing in pain, leaving their team to play 10 vs. 11, but Franz Beckenbauer came back to the pitch with his arm in the sling and churned his teeth to finish the game with a fight.
Even though Germany lost 4-3 to the Italian side, Beckenbauer's gesture remains one of the most beautiful and inspiring moments in soccer.
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