Born in Giesing on September 11th, 1945, Franz Beckenbauer is considered the best German player ever. In his long career with the white shirt and the black details of the German selection (he made his debut in 1965 and played his last match in 1977) you can find the best of German football. “Der Kaiser” (the Emperor), in fact, made his debut with the whites on September 26th, 1965 in Stockholm thanks to the extraordinary intuition of Helmut Schoen who found in the young outside left of FC Bayern München (where Franz started his career when he was 13 and got into the first team at the age of 17) the leader of the team that he was preparing in view of the World Cup tournament in England.

As a central attacking halfback Beckenbauer was the great revelation of that World Cup edition which was highlighted by absolute champions such as Bobby Charlton and Eusebio. He got to the incredible figure of 4 goals scored, and in the final at Wembley he set up with Charlton a duel which is still considered one of the most thrilling ones in the history of football.

Beckenbauer often played as a libero (sweeper) or as a halfback before the 3-men defence setting the defenders at ease and acting as a leader for the midfield and attack players. It was just Schoen’s intuition that turned him into a sweeper (libero) before the defence, one that could also build and lead the game. In this very special position Franz did his best, and for many years the position of the defensive playmaker has been called “libero in the Beckenbauer’s style”. In 12 years with the West German national selection Beckenbauer became World champion in 1974, vice-champion in 1966, Europe champion in 1972 and Europe vice-champion in 1976. In the meantime as a captain of FC Bayern München he won three consecutive Champions League titles, one Intercontinental Cup, one Cup Winners’ Cup, four Bundesliga titles and the Germany Cup four times. Both in 1972 and in 1976 he was awarded the Ballon d’Or, he came second by just few votes less in 1974 and in 1975 and in 1966 he came third. Satisfied by then, at the age of 32 he wanted to try something different, i.e. to replace Pelé as an ambassador of football in the United States. He won the Soccer Bowl (the North American soccer league title) three times with the New York Cosmos of Chinaglia before going back to Germany and ending his career with the shirt of SV Hamburger.

After the unsuccessful outcome of the European championship in 1984, the German Federation appointed him coach of the national selection, which with his skilful guide came second at the 1986 World Cup and gained the world title in 1990 in the final played against Argentina in Rome. Beckenbauer was one of the very few footballers who were able to mark an era; his elegant but practical, refined but essential play still remains as an unequalled model.