The year begins sadly. Franz Beckenbauer has died. He gave more to German football than anyone else and embodied his country in the best possible way. With wit, charisma, expertise, charm and optimism. The world bows before this shining light.
Beckenbauer always instilled enormous confidence in Germans. First as a player, then as a coach and finally as the man behind the 2006 summer fairytale. It was always true: if Franz takes care of things, nothing can happen to us.
Franz Beckenbauer was a player out of time who made football evolve with him | Jonathan WilsonRead more
I didn’t experience Franz Beckenbauer as a player; the last time he was on the pitch was shortly before I was born. But I did experience the rever…