There's
simply so much to write about in a Franz
Beckenbauer biography that space limitations become a real problem.
Besides that, there's the problem of what you start with.
Do you talk about Franz Beckenbauer's fabulous career for Bayern Munich
over his 13 years at the club? Do you start with his numerous
record-breakings, or his impressive effort in the "Game of the Century"
where he played with an injury that would take out even the strongest
of footballers?
Indeed, we could do that, but instead of focusing simply on his
achievements, let's take a look at Franz Beckenbauer, from his
beginnings as a footballer, to the end of his career.
Franz Beckenbauer Biography – Early Years at Bayern Munich Born in post-war Munich, Franz Beckenbauer
started playing soccer for SC Munich in 1954, inspired by that year's
World Cup, where his favorite player was Fritz Walter. Despite being a
fan of 1860 Munich, he ended up playing for the youth squad of their
rivals, Bayern Munich, in 1959.
Franz
Beckenbauer Biography – Bayern Munich First Squad Spending 5 years at the various youth teams
for Bayern, he finally made his debut in the first league at age 19, in
a match against FC St. Pauli in the 1964/65 season, a season in which
Bayern won promotion to the first league. With the team having a fast
ascendance, they won the German Cup in 1966/67, Cup Winners Cup in 1967
and the first league title in 1968/69, with Franz
Beckenbauer captaining the team for the first time.
His club career at Bayern Munich would span for almost two decades,
since he first joined them in 1959. In 1977, already an established
soccer player and a legend in Germany, he decided to move to American
team New York Cosmos for 4 seasons.
Franz Beckenbauer Biography
– NY Cosmos and Hamburger SV In a quiet end of his career, Franz
Beckenbauer played 3 seasons for the American side, only to return to
Germany, but not at Bayern, instead choosing to sign a contract with
Hamburger SV, where he would not play as often, but during the time
with the Hamburg side, he added yet another league title
under his belt. His last season would find him at the New York Cosmos
again in 1983, at age 38.
Franz Beckenbauer Biography – Awards and Records Although starting out as a defensive
midfielder, Franz Beckenbauer is considered the inventor of the sweeper
position on the pitch, as he would often freely play in this
role for Bayern and West Germany's side.
He was nicknamed "the Kaiser" (Emperor) by German
fans, due to his dominance on the pitch, leadership and his name's
resemblance to Austrian emperors. Even today, he is regarded as the
"Kaiser" of German soccer, being considered the greatest German
footballer of all times.
Franz Beckenbauer was voted second place in the European Player of the
Century election, behind Johan Cruyff and third in the World Player of
the Century election, after Pele and again, Johan Cruyff.
In the 1970 World Cup, Beckenbauer captained his team to the
semi-finals, where Germany would meet a strong Italian team. The match
that was going to be named "the Game of the Century" would also produce
one of the most emotional moments in the history of
soccer, with Franz Beckenbauer in the center.
With both substitutions being made for Germany (only two subs were
allowed back then), Beckenbauer received a hard foul that lead to a
fracture clavicle. Most players would have gone out writhing in pain,
leaving their team to play 10 vs. 11, but Franz
Beckenbauer came back to the pitch with his arm in the sling and
churned his teeth to finish the game with a fight.
Even though Germany lost 4-3 to the Italian side, Beckenbauer's gesture
remains one of the most beautiful and inspiring moments in soccer.
