“He was simply the super figure”
Bayern President declares historical recognition for Beckenbauer
12/9/2024 – 7:51 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
In honor of Franz Beckenbauer, FC Bayern no longer wants to give out his shirt number. Now club president Herbert Hainer explains the step.
This year’s annual general meeting of FC Bayern Munich was all about the late club legend Franz Beckenbauer. Among other things, the club announced that Beckenbauer’s shirt number five would no longer be given out in the future – an honor that has never been bestowed on anyone else.
Club President Herbert Hainer explained in an interview with “Bild Sport” why this historic step came about. “We are all still saddened by Franz’s death,” said Hainer. Beckenbauer shaped the club as a player, coach and president. “He was simply the super figure. We wouldn’t be the FC Bayern we are today without Franz Beckenbauer,” said the president.
Before the annual general meeting, it was decided to organize the event in memory of Beckenbauer. “In this discussion it also emerged that we will no longer award number 5 in the future – if the members agree,” said Hainer.
The members then approved the plan with a minute-long standing ovation. “The member vote was clear,” says the Bayern boss happily. Something like this has rarely happened in the football world. “It’s something special because everyone here identifies this famous, well-known number 5 with Franz Beckenbauer. We were happy to do that and I think it’s absolutely justified for Franz. He’s done so much.”
Hainer was also happy about the presence of Beckenbauer’s widow Heidi and his son Joel. “You could tell how moved the two of them were.”
Franz Beckenbauer died on January 7th of this year.