Franz Beckenbauer died on Sunday at the age of 78. The football legend’s family confirmed this sad news to the “German Press Agency” on Monday. The sympathy is huge. In addition to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, former companions of the “Emperor” also spoke up. Reactions to Beckenbauer’s death:
Olaf Scholz (Federal Chancellor): “World champion as a player and coach: Franz Beckenbauer was one of the greatest footballers in Germany and for many “the emperor” – also because he inspired generations of German football. We will miss him. My thoughts are with his family and friends .”
Bernd Neuendorf (DFB President): “Franz Beckenbauer’s death is a real turning point. We look back on his life’s work with respect and great gratitude. With him we are losing a unique footballer and a lovable person. Franz Beckenbauer leaves a great legacy for the DFB and football as a whole.”
Rudi Völler (DFB national team director): “I am incredibly sad, the news of his death affects me very much. I consider it one of the great privileges of my life to have known and experienced Franz Beckenbauer. The ‘Kaiser’ was an inspiration for more than one generation, he will be for will always remain the shining light of German football. With Franz Beckenbauer, German football is losing its greatest personality, I am losing a good friend.”
Julian Nagelsmann (national coach): “When Franz Beckenbauer entered a room, the room lit up, he rightly earned the title ‘lighting figure of German football’. Until the end, an aura surrounded him that even the health problems and strokes of fate that he had to cope with could not shake . I am grateful and proud that I had the opportunity to meet him and will remember him fondly.”
Hans-Joachim Watzke (DFB Vice President, Chairman of the Management Board): “Franz Beckenbauer was definitely the greatest German footballer of all time and, on top of that, one of the greatest people I have ever met. Every single experience that I personally had with Franz was wonderful. I can still remember that I had a full body -I had goosebumps when he offered me the first name after our German championship in 2010/11. You can really only bow to what Franz Beckenbauer has achieved for Germany and German football.”
Lothar Matthäus (world champion captain 1990): “The shock is deep, even though I knew that Franz wasn’t feeling well. His death is a loss for football and for all of Germany. He was one of the greatest as a player and coach, but also off the pitch. Everyone who loved him “We all knew what a great and generous person Franz was. A good friend has left us. I will miss him – we will all miss him!”
Wolfgang Overath (1974 world champion): “That kills me. It’s inconceivable that he’s no longer here. Not only was he the greatest we had in Germany and will ever have in terms of football, but he was also a fine guy. He towered over everyone, he was so big – and yet so down to earth. For my birthday three months ago he called me with all the strength he had left.”
Thomas Müller (World Champion 2014): “One of the greatest footballers in the history of FC Bayern has unfortunately left us. Rest in peace, Kaiser Franz. We will never forget what you have done for football in Germany.”
Thomas Weikert (President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation): “As a player, coach and personality, Franz Beckenbauer thrilled and impressed fans around the world. German sport bows farewell to the emperor.”