Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Germany, Bayern Munich, Football
Ryan Smart
Topics: Germany, Bayern Munich, Football
Legendary Bayern Munich defender Franz Beckenbauer has died at the age of 78.
In a statement, his family confirmed: "It is with deep sadness that we announce that husband and father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family.
"We ask that you be able to mourn in silence and refrain from asking any questions."
Beckenbauer, who was twice named as the European Footballer of the Year, was one of only three players to win the World Cup as both a player and manager.
He represented West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final against England, and after receiving a medal for third place in 1970, lifted the trophy as captain in Munich four years later. Overall, he collected 103 caps for the national side.
Following his retirement from football, the legendary centre-back took charge of the West Germany national team, and guided them to winning the 1990 World Cup final against Italy.
At club level, Beckenbauer won the Bundesliga on five occasions (four times with Bayern Munich, once with Hamburg), and lifted the European Cup four times.
Originally starting out his playing career as a midfielder before moving back into defence, Beckenbauer spent 13 years with Bayern Munich, before a three-year spell in the United States with the New York Cosmos.
He then spent two years with Hamburg before returning to the Cosmos to end his professional career.
After six years with West Germany as a manager, Beckenbauer had a brief spell as sporting director of Marseille and won the Ligue 1 title in his only season there.
Beckenbauer, who was nicknamed 'Der Kaiser' (The Emperor), ended his managerial career with two separate stints as Bayern boss between 1993 and 1996, before he transitioned into a backroom role. He also worked as a pundit for Sky Sports Germany, and led the organising committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Tributes have poured in for the footballing icon, with Gary Lineker - who was part of the England side that lost to Beckenbauer's Germany in the 1990 World Cup - writing: "Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died. One of the absolute greats of our game.
"Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP."
Meanwhile, TV personality and magician Uri Geller posted: "He was a football legend, an icon and a nice man, I met him on many occasions when I lived in Munich in 1972, he was fascinated with spoon bending."