Beckenbauer has spent more than 50 years as a footballing legend, a man who was once held in such esteem by his nation and a hero of the game, this article reviews his illustrious footballing career, a career many may now consider tainted by corruption.
Beckenbauer has been accused of making two payments adding to 8.4m to the former FIFA executive in 2005, in a bid to secure a German 2006 Word Cup. He has denied the allegations but has admitted that there was indeed a mistake in the use of the funds. This man seen as a hero throughout the world could have his legacy crushed, all because of greed. Is this greater than football and if the accusations were the truth, then should we still view him as a legend? As a teenager, and a football fan, this case has made me think about how we view our heroes. Does this take away anything from his career, and how do we make the distinction between the sportsman and man? The news that while there may be enough evidence to convict him, the trial has been called off without a verdict due to the case having exceeded the 15-year Swiss statute of limitations. Without an end in sight, will we ever know?
Born into a forked German society in 1945, Franz Beckenbauer learnt of pride and opposition from an early age. From the age nine to fourteen he played centre-forward for SC Munich 06’ whilst fanatically supporting 1860 Munich where he planned to move the next year. This arrangement broke down when the two teams clashed in the final of a tournament and Beckenbauer complained about a marker receiving a slap in return. It was at this moment Beckenbauer turned his back on his boyhood club and signed with their hated rivals, Bayern Munich, a second tier club.
Pushing for promotion, Bayern’s manager bestowed upon him a debut in a play-off game at the age the age of 19. Beckenbauer starred on the left wing (this of course changed as he became centre-back). His chance would come in the next season when he broke into the first team playing 39 games for Bayern helping them gain promotion to ‘Das gelobte land’ (the promised land).
By the age of 21, Beckenbauer had been called up to the national team despite only playing in the Regionalliga Süd (Regional League South). Now playing for Bayern aged 22, they came third in the Bundesliga with 1860 München being crowned champions. Beckenbauer, having lost the championship to Bayern’s rivals, travelled to England in 1966 to play for West Germany in the World Cup. Well known in Germany, he was now ready to shine on the world stage. Teams adapted their game plan to make sure he was man-marked and prevented from roaming freely in his sweeper position. Despite opposition efforts, he was a strong force from the back scoring 4 goals in total helping Germany reach the final, only to fall at the last hurdle to England.
During a speech before the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award in Barcelona 2007, Bobby Charlton shared a story of himself and the man now known as Der Kaiser, “In 1966 when England were due to play Germany” Charlton recalled. “Our manager said ‘Bobby, we will win the World Cup this afternoon there is only one person who can possibly stop us from doing that, and that is Franz Beckenbauer’. What I heard later was that Helmut Schön the German manager had told Franz Beckenbauer the same about me, so we took no part of importance in the whole game”
This World Cup inspired Beckenbauer to reach new heights because in 1967 Bayern played in the European Cup Winners’ Cup Final against Rangers, claiming their first international cup. The next season Bayern would win the Bundesliga for the first time in their history as they were captained to success by Der Kaiser. This laid the foundations for the German giant’s dominance in the Bundesliga winning 27 titles since.
In 1970 West Germany reached the semi final of the World Cup only to crash out to Italy. Yet this game was special. After eight minutes the Italians broke the deadlock with a goal that would put them into the lead for most of the match. Beckenbauer ended up dislocating his shoulder but played on wearing a sling, showing his loyal and determined character. In the dying minutes of stoppage time, the West Germans equalised bringing the game to extra time. The onslaught of goals ended in a 4-3 victory in favour of Gli Azzurri (The Blues). Beckenbauer would have been heartbroken to have lost, although it must have been a great honour to have played in what was voted the game of the century.
In 1972 West germany defeated the Soviet Union in the final of the Euros. Throughout the next few years Bayern Munich would decorate their trophy cabinet with three European cups in an row and three Bundesliga’s all within 5 years with Der Kaiser at the helm. It was at this time that Beckenbauer refined the sweeper or Libero. In this position Beckenbauer was able to play a freer position enabling him to advance through defence without the distraction of man-marking. The modern day Libero is more likely the deep-lying-defensive midfielder.
In the summer of 1974, Beckenbauer made West German hearts soar as he conquered their footballing rivals Holland in the final of the World Cup. The feud between the two teams began during the Second World War when Germany invaded the Netherlands and took all their bikes in the process. The final was highly anticipated, Die Mannschaft won 2-1 as Beckenbauer tasted his first World Cup victory.
After Der Kaiser’s achievements with Bayern he embarked on a short stint with New York Cosmos, before returning to Germany four years later to join Hamburger SV winning the Bundesliga one last time. He retired in 1983 having played a year back with his American club.
Der Kaiser was once asked if he was ever to become a manger. “Not if I can help it’ he retorted, noting that he wouldn’t have the time (McCracken, 2015). He went on to manage the West Germany side who won the World Cup in 1990, a team without East German players just before German reunification. He then undertook a job at his old club Bayern Munich where he helped them attain a Bundesliga title and a UEFA cup.
Born at the end of the Second World War, Beckenbauer managed to make himself a world phenomenon, if convicted this case could crush his legacy. We should still see his playing and managerial career as the magnificent achievements that they are. As a footballing genius, he has shaped the game and changed the role of defenders. We can still be inspired by his story, but must consider how people like Beckenbauer find themselves in positions such as this. The great are human and can be tempted by greed, self interest and national pride more than those without power and fame. If found to be guilty, its possible that this West Berliner may have just taken his pride for his country and team too far.
References
Craig McCracken, C. ‘1974 Shoot magazine interview with Franz Beckenbauer’. August 20, 2015 Available at https://beyondthelastman.com/2015/08/20/a-confrontational-interview-with-franz-beckenbauer/ [Accessed: 1 May, 2020]
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