• By Manik Sharma
  • Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:02 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Iconic football legend Franz Beckenbauer passed away at the age of 78, as confirmed by the German Football Federation. A legendary figure in German football, the former center-back achieved World Cup glory both as a player and a manager.

He lifted the prestigious trophy in 1974 while captaining West Germany and then again in 1990 as the manager of his nation. Renowned as one of the finest players in the history of the sport, he is part of an exclusive club, with only two others—Brazil's Mario Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps—sharing the distinction of winning the World Cup both as a player and a manager.

In addition to his contributions to the German national team, the former Bayern Munich star secured European Cup triumphs three times with the Bavarian giants.

Achieving success both at the club and international levels, Beckenbauer stands among the elite group of nine players who have secured victory in the FIFA World Cup, the European Champions Cup, and the Ballon d'Or (2). Honored twice as the European Footballer of the Year, Beckenbauer showcased his talent in 103 appearances for West Germany, participating in three FIFA World Cups and two European Championships.

"The Bundesliga family is devastated to learn of the death of Franz Beckenbauer. A true icon, then, now, and always. RIP, Der Kaiser," Bundesliga official X handle paid tribute to the former German international.

In recent years, Beckenbauer faced plenty of health challenges, grappling with a heart condition, an eye ailment, Parkinson's disease, and dementia.

Beyond his playing days, Beckenbauer took on managerial roles, including stints with Bayern Munich and serving as sporting director at Marseille during his six-year tenure with the German national team.

Throughout his illustrious career, he also featured for the New York Cosmos and Hamburg. However, his legacy faced scrutiny as he became the subject of investigations into corruption allegations.

In 2014, he received a 90-day ban for non-cooperation with an inquiry related to corruption surrounding the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.