Page 84 - Soccer360 Issue 105

DER KAISER MEMORIAM
“ONEOFONLY
THREE MEN TO
TOP:
Beckenbauer lifting the world cup as a player
LEFT:
Beckenbauer for Bayern Munich
LIFT THE WORLD
CUP BOTH AS A
PLAYER AND A
HEAD COACH”
and determination to do things his way despite the status quo pushing to remain stuck in the past. After being promoted
to club captain at Bayern Munich in 1968, Beckenbauer was permanently moved into central defence, where he carved out a new ‘sweeper’ position.
The basis of Beckenbauer’s hybrid place baffled, and in some cases enraged opposition players and fans, as he constantly found himself as the free man. Instructed
to play behind his own defenders when out of possession, but burst forward when he had the ball, Beckenbauer set in motion
a changing time for defenders, which he carried out with an air of nonchalance as he made the game look so easy.
The best way to illustrate just how impactful Beckenbauer was, and the shift in thinking on what defenders should being doing at the highest level, came via his two Ballon
d’Or award wins in 1972 and 1976. He remains the only defender to win the iconic trophy more than once, and it remained
in the domain of forwards, until Matthias Sammer’s win in 1996.
With the calmness and passing range above his midfield contemporaries, Beckenbauer flourished for over a decade, as rival managers often tried in vain to block him out of matches, before eventually looking to imitate his brave new approach. Innovation brought success for Beckenbauer and Bayern Munich, as he won four Bundesliga titles and an unrivalled three consecutive UEFA European Cups as captain, before
a spell in charge in Bavaria saw him lift a league title as manager in 1994.
Figures from across the footballing world lined up to honour Beckenbauer following the news of his death with the broad spectrum of those involved showing just
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