Monday January 7, a massive blow fell on the world of football. At the age of 78, Franz Beckenbauer has passed away, leaving behind an arm-length record of success, as a player and as a coach. But also the aura of one of the best players in history, the only double defender to win the Golden Ball.
The day after this announcement, the press of the old continent wanted to pay tribute to the “Kaiser”, starting with the French media. Like L’Équipe, which headlines “The Emperor’s March”. Illustrating his point with a cult image, that of Beckenbauer, his arm in a sling during the semi-final lost by Germany in 1970 against Italy. A man who has “achieved everything throughout his countless lives”, he who was also a manager at Bayern Munich.
Among our neighbors across the Rhine, where Beckenbauer spent the vast majority of his career(s), the newspaper Bild devotes its front page to him: “The Emperor is dead”, signs the German daily, which salutes “the greatest footballer that Germany has ever known. Kicker, for his part, soberly titled “Franck Beckenbauer is dead”, accompanied by a black and white portrait. The sports newspaper described him as “the illuminating figure” of a “nation passionate about sport”.
The transalpine press also put the Kaiser in the spotlight, with the Italian newspaper La Gazzeta dello Sports hailing a “disappearing football myth”. The photo of Beckenbauer coach lifting the World Cup (1990) is highlighted by the Italian daily. “The football gods have given Kaiser Beckenbauer immense class,” describes the Corriere della Sera. An ode to the player who lit up the pitches throughout his career.
The Spanish media are not to be outdone, with As even considering that he was the “best defender of all time”. “The most selective football club loses two of its three members,” he underlines. With Deschamps and Zagallo, Beckenbauer is the only player to have won the World Cup not only as a player but also as a coach. Marca, another Spanish newspaper, headlines a “legend of Bayern and world football”, “historic libero is recognized as one of the best players of all time”.
Across the Channel, the tabloids also took the time to pay a final tribute to the former Mannschaft defender, with the Daily Record soberly headlined “RIP der Kaiser”. Same story with The Guardian, who believes that “he had the best and most recognizable nickname, and as with his contemporary Eddy Merckx “the Cannibal” in cycling, his nickname “Kaiser” suited him perfectly, and served to present it.”
Unanimously, it is one of the legends of the most popular sport in the world who has left us, and apart from the press, many personalities also wanted to pay tribute to him.