Franz Beckenbauer has died: Germany mourns for soccer legend

Goodbye to Franz Beckenbauer: Germany mourns for soccer legend

World soccer mourns the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, a legend of Germany and Bayern Munich. The Kaiser, considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, è died Sunday at the age of 78. The announcement was made by the family to the DPA news agency, without specifying the cause of his death.

Franz Beckenbauer è was one of three players to win the World Cup both as a player (1974) and as a coach (1990). Also as a defender he won the Ballon d'Or twice in 1972 and 1976. His name at club level è especially linked to Bayern Munich, where he played from 1964 to 1977 winning four championships, four German Cups, three Champions Cups and one Intercontinental Cup. In 1977, the move to the NY Cosmos, then the two-year stint at Hamburg (with another Bundesliga title attached) before closing his career again in New York.

With West Germany he participated in three World Cups and two European Championships as a player, winning the rainbow in 1974 and the continental title in 1976. As a coach as well as German coach he also led Marseille and Bayern Munich twice.

A Bayern executive for years, he was honorary president of the Bavarian club since 2009. He was chairman of the organizing committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.