German football legend Franz Beckenbauer has passed away at 78, leaving an indelible mark on the sport as a player, captain, and coach, as announced by the German football association. Hans-Joachim Watzke, DFB vice president, hailed Beckenbauer as the greatest German footballer and a remarkable individual.
Beckenbauer, one of three individuals to have won the World Cup both as a player and coach, died on Sunday, according to the DFB. In the 1970s, he served as the captain of the German team but had recently faced health issues and had mostly withdrawn from the public eye, residing near the German border in Salzburg.
Renowned as 'the Kaiser' in football circles in Germany, Beckenbauer played a pivotal role in the country's exceptional sporting accomplishments. However, his reputation faced a setback due to his involvement in controversies related to Germany's successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.