Bayern Munich and Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer has died at the age of 78, his family have confirmed.
An icon of the German game, the former centre-back won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager, lifting the trophy in 1974 when captain of West Germany, and in 1990 as manager of his country.
He remains widely regarded as one of the best players to lace up a pair of boots, and is one of only three men to win the World Cup both as a player and a manager. Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and France’s Didier Deschamps also achieved the feat.
Beckenbauer came through as a midfielder but made his name as a central defender, and was perhaps one of the first ball-playing defenders who could both defend and move the ball accurately.
In addition to his work with Germany, the former Bayern Munich star won the European Cup three times with the Bavarian giants. He also won the Bundesliga on four occasions as a player, and once as a manager, and he also guided Bayern to the UEFA Cup in 1996.
He twice won the Ballon d’Or as a player.
He had battled severe health issues in recent years, dealing with a heart problem, an eye infraction and Parkinson’s, along with dementia.
Beckenbauer managed Bayern and was sporting director at Marseille, after his six-year stint with Germany.
During a glorious playing career, he also lined up for the New York Cosmos and Hamburg.
He was investigated amid allegations of corruption and in 2014, was given a 90-day ban for failing to aid an inquiry into corruption surrounding the bidding processes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
