Franz Anton Beckenbauer (11 September 1945 - 7 January 2024) was a German former professional footballer and manager. In his playing career he was nicknamed Der Kaiser ("The Emperor") because of his elegant style, dominance and leadership on the field, and also as his first name "Franz" is reminiscent of the Austrian emperors. He is widely regarded to be one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. A versatile player who started out as a midfielder, Beckenbauer made his name as a central defender. He is often credited as having invented the role of the modern sweeper (libero).
Twice named European Footballer of the Year, Beckenbauer appeared 103 times for West Germany and played in three FIFA World Cups and two European Championships. He is one of three men, along with Brazil's Mário Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps, to have won the World Cup as a player and as a manager; he lifted the World Cup trophy as captain in 1974, and repeated the feat as a manager in 1990. He was the first captain to lift the World Cup and European Championship at international level and the European Cup at club level. He was named in the World Team of the 20th Century in 1998, the FIFA World Cup Dream Team in 2002, the Ballon d'Or Dream Team in 2020, and in 2004 was listed in the FIFA 100 of the world's greatest living players.
At club level with Bayern Munich, Beckenbauer won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1967 and three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976. The latter feat made him the first player to win three European Cups as captain of his club. He became team manager and later president of Bayern Munich. After two spells with the New York Cosmos he was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Beckenbauer led Germany's successful bid to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup and chaired the organizing committee. He worked as a pundit for Sky Germany, and for 34 years as a columnist for the tabloid Bild, both until 2016.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Known For
FC Hollywood - Der FC Bayern und die verrückten 90er
Self (archive footage) · (5 episodes)
2025
Beckenbauer
Self (archive footage)
2024
FC Bayern - Behind the Legend
Self - Honorary President · (1 episode)
2021
Big-Time Soccer: The Remarkable Rise & Fall of the NASL
Self (archive footage)
2021
Best Goalkeeper in the World
Himself
2021
Der Ball war mein Freund - Zum 75. Geburtstag von Franz Beckenbauer
Self
2020
Servus Uli – A Life for FC Bayern
Self
2019
Die Geschichte der Fußball-WM aus deutscher Sicht
2018
World Cup 1966: Alfie's Boys
Self
2016
Gold Stars : FIFA l'anthologie
(3 episodes)
2016
Fußball – Ein Leben: Franz Beckenbauer
Self
2015
Sportclub Story
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Schwarz, Rot, Gold und Fußballfieber
Self (archive footage)
2015
The Team
Self
2014
Wir haben den Pokal
2014
Aktion "Leder" Die Stasi und das deutsche Fußballduel WM'74
Himself
2014
Ligafieber
Self · (1 episode)
2013
Einfach Kathi - Resch & Lieblich
Self · (1 episode)
2012
Gottschalk Live
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2012
Italia '90
self
2010
Puskás Hungary
himself
2009
Das Wunder von Wien
Self
2008
Der Sonntags-Stammtisch
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Ein Leben wie im Flug
Self
2007
Germany: A Summer's Fairytale
Self
2006
Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos
Self
2006
The Art of Football from A to Z
Self
2006
Die WM-Show mit Jörg Pilawa
Self · (1 episode)
2006
Semperopernball
Self · (1 episode)
2006
Doppelpass
Self · (2 episodes)
2004
Gib mich die Kirsche! – Die 1. deutsche Fußballrolle
himself
2004
EK 'Eighty-Eight - Oranje Kampioen!
Himself
2004
Our Best
Self · (3 episodes)
2003
Die Jahrzehnte Show
Self · (1 episode)
2002
Menschen der Woche
Self · (1 episode)
2000
Blickpunkt Sport
self · (1 episode)
2000
Lachen tut gut - Comedy für Unicef
Self · (1 episode)
1999
maybrit illner
Self · (1 episode)
1999
Beckmann
Self · (2 episodes)
1999
Ein Herz für Kinder
Self · (1 episode)
1998
The Johannes B. Kerner Show
Self · (1 episode)
1998
Leute heute
Self · (1 episode)
1997
Eusébio: Um jogador de todos os tempos
Self
1992
The Worlds Greatest Goals
Self (archive footage)
1989
Klassentreffen
Self · (1 episode)
1987
Goldene Kamera Verleihung
Self · (1 episode)
1984
Die Franz Beckenbauer Story
Franz Beckenbauer
1983
Na sowas!
Self · (1 episode)
1982
Menschen
Self · (2 episodes)
1982
Wortwechsel
Self · (1 episode)
1982
Wetten, dass..?
Self · (7 episodes)
1981
Heut' abend
Self · (1 episode)
1980
Verstehen Sie Spaß?
Self · (1 episode)
1980
Peter Alexander: Wir gratulieren
Self · (1 episode)
1979
NDR Talk Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1979
Music & Guests
Self · (1 episode)
1976
Am laufenden Band
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1974
Libero
Himself
1973
Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten
Self · (1 episode)
1969
Goal!
Self
1966
Das aktuelle Sportstudio
self · (10 episodes)
1963
Der Sport-Spiegel
self · (1 episode)
1963
Sportschau
Self · (1 episode)
1961
Stars in the Ring
Self · (2 episodes)
1959
What Am I?
Self · (1 episode)
1955
Bambi-Verleihung
Self · (7 episodes)
1948