Germany football legend, Franz Beckenbauer, one of the greatest players of all time, has died at the age of 78.
Beckenbauer, one of only three men to win the World Cup as a player and as a coach, passed away on Sunday, the DFB said.
“The Bundesliga family is devastated to learn of the death of Franz Beckenbauer. A true icon, then, now, and always. RIP, Der Kaiser,” the Bundesliga wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday.
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Known by his nickname “Der Kaiser” (“The Emperor”), Beckenbauer left an indelible mark on the game as a commanding, attacking defender who transformed the role of the sweeper.
He played in 103 international matches for Germany, serving as team captain on 50 occasions, according to the federation.
He captained West Germany to the 1974 World Cup title on home soil when they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the Munich final, then managed the team that beat Argentina 1-0 in Rome to lift the trophy at Italia 90.
Beckenbauer, a commanding figure on and off the pitch, was named European Footballer of the Year in both 1972 and 1976.
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