Germany’s legendary footballer Franz Beckenbauer dies at the age of 78
Berlin, 9 January (Hindustan Reporter). Germany’s legendary footballer Franz Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as both a player and coach, has passed away. He was 78 years old.
Beckenbauer’s death was first announced through a statement from his family to German news agency dpa and then confirmed by the German Football Federation.
“It is with great sadness that we announce that my husband, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away on Sunday,” the family said in a statement. We want to be allowed to grieve in peace and to avoid any questions.
The cause of death was not mentioned in the statement. The former Bayern Munich great, known affectionately as the Kaiser – or the Emperor – had been battling health problems in recent years.
Beckenbauer was one of the central figures of German football. As a player, he played defender in football and led West Germany to the World Cup title in 1974 after losing to England in the 1966 final. He was the coach when West Germany won the tournament again in 1990.
Beckenbauer was briefly suspended from all football-related activities by FIFA’s Ethics Committee in 2014 for failing to cooperate with prosecutor Michael Garcia’s investigation into alleged corruption in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup votes. The suspension was lifted when he agreed to cooperate during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
