Page 83 - Soccer360 Issue 105

DER KAISER MEMORIAM
The status of club legend is protected ferociously by fans across the globe with the accolade reserved for special individuals who are etched into the annals of team folklore. The belief of needing to be
a genuinely transformational figure allows for the moniker
to be distributed once or
twice in a generation to avoid its power being diluted, but there’s absolutely no doubt that
Franz Beckenbauer was a legend by any possible measure. The passing of the Bayern Munich and Germany icon at the start of 2024 shook world football with his home nation plunged into mourning a significant loss. Beckenbauer’s legacy includes major titles for club and country throughout a glittering playing career, but the length of his time involved in the game saw him join
a small group of former stars that were
able to match their on-field excellence with coaching success.
He captained the famous West Germany side to the 1974 FIFA World Cup title in his home city of Munich before leading them to glory as manager at Italia ’90. The double
feat demonstrated just how crucial and consistent a figure Beckenbauer was in two golden chapters for the German national side as joined Brazil’s Mario Zagallo - who passed away just days earlier at the age
of 92 - as the only person to achieve that particular double on the international stage. France manager Didier Deschamps has since added his name to the list, but Beckenbauer’s name remains held aloft within European circles, with his years as the bedrock of Bayern’s defence marking a true change in footballing tactics.
Just as Johan Cruyff was changing perceptions of positions via Total Football
at Ajax and with the Netherlands national side ultimately overcome by Beckenbauer’s side in the 1974 World Cup final, his old rival was bringing defending into the modern era across the border in West Germany.
Central defenders in the 1960s and 1970s were exactly that. Hardened operators, whose first job was to keep the ball
out of their own net, by any means necessary. Aerial battles with strikers and a commitment to keeping the ball as far away as possible was the order of the day for the majority with clearances celebrated as goals. Beckenbauer changed that with a swagger
SOCCER360 83
OPPOSITE PAGE:
Beckenbauer won four Bundesliga titles and an unrivalled three consecutive UEFA European Cups as captain
TOP:
Der Kaiser guided West Germany to victory at Italia ‘90
RIGHT:
Beckenbauer for the New York Cosmos