by the death of Franz Beckenbauer yesterday plunged German football into deep sadness for saying goodbye to the “best German footballer of all time.” «The shock is deep, although I knew that Franz was not feeling well. His death is a loss for football and for all of Germany. He was one of the greatest as a player and coach, but also off the field. Franz was an outstanding personality not only in football, and enjoyed worldwide recognition. Everyone who knew him knows how great and generous Franz was. He has left us a good friend. “I will miss him, we will all miss him!” was the first reaction of Lothar Matthäus.
Between the lines, the reproaches could be perceived who gave rise to rumors and accusations about some fraudulent deal to rig the celebration of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, in which the surname Beckenbauer appeared, a cause of pain and the cause of the worsening of his health since So. But above all, the reactions yesterday were of affection and memory for him who is already a legend. «I am incredibly sad, the news of his death affects me very much. Consider that one of the great privileges of my life has been to know and experience Franz Beckenbauer… the ‘Kaiser’ was an inspiration for more than a generation and will forever remain the shining light of German football, which has lost its greatest personality.” . , he regretted Bernd Neuendorfpresident of the DFB, «The death of Franz Beckenbauer is a true turning point. We remember his life’s work with great respect and gratitude. With him we lose a unique footballer and a lovable person. “Franz Beckenbauer leaves a great legacy for the DFB and football in general.”
Hans-Joachim Watzke, president of the board of directors of Borussia Dortmund, declared for his part that «Franz Beckenbauer was without a doubt the best German footballer of all time and, furthermore, one of the best people I have ever met. Every experience I had with Franz was wonderful and I still remember getting goosebumps all over my body when he offered me the first name after our German championship in 2010/2011. “One can really only bow down to what Franz Beckenbauer did for Germany and German football.”
Julian Nagelsmann, national coach, recalled yesterday that “when Franz Beckenbauer entered a locker room, the room lit up, he rightly earned the title of luminous figure of German football”, trying to describe and justify the aura that always surrounded Beckenbauer and that also dazzled to German politicians of all stripes. The canceler Olaf Scholz, who grew up watching his football matches, joined the tributes last night and recalled that “he was one of the best footballers in Germany and for many ‘the emperor’, also because he inspired enthusiasm for German football for generations.” “We will miss him,” the German Chancellor expressed his condolences, “my thoughts are with his family and friends.” The Federal President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, admitted that “probably no one has influenced German football as much as Franz Beckenbauer. As a player, team manager and coach, he made football history. “He was an exception: the word libero in its broadest meaning was invented for him.”
