The “Emperor” is dead – and the football world is mourning: An overview of international press reviews on the death of Franz Beckenbauer.
Italian football has bowed to the German sporting legend after the death of Franz Beckenbauer. The Sports Newspaper”Gazzetta dello Sport” was the headline on their website on Monday evening: “Addio al Kaiser”so: farewell to the emperor.
Further reactions from Italy:
Corriere della Sera: “The football gods had bestowed immense class on Kaiser Beckenbauer. He seemed to glide across the pitch, and every gesture showed sophisticated technique. As the son of war-torn Germany, he had found football as the instrument of his advancement.”
Corriere dello Sport: “World football mourns the loss of the greatest defender of all time. Beckenbauer was a revolutionary on the field and a talented coach.”
The Republic: “Franz Beckenbauer and his teams were like an orchestra conductor who brought out the best in his musicians.”
Tuttosport: “With Franz Beckenbauer, the world is losing one of the greatest players in football history. An icon and a German hero.”
Reactions from England:
Sun: “RIP, Kaiser. A legend forever. The German is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.”
Reactions from Spain:
Marca: “With Beckenbauer’s death, Germany is not only losing its greatest footballer, but also one of its most outstanding personalities of the last decades.”
AS: “German football is crying after the death of its best footballer in history. The ‘Kaiser’ is one of the symbols of German football. A myth has left us.”
Sports: “Germany is saying goodbye to its greatest idol. Beckenbauer was and continues to be the role model for many football players around the world.”
El Mundo Sports: “Franz Beckenbauer leaves a huge void in Germany and in world football.”
Taufiig Khalil, Sportschau, January 8th, 2024 5:30 p.m
ABC: “The Kaiser was one of the few footballers with a star on his chest, both as a player and as a coach. Today is a very sad day not only for German football, but for the entire world football.”
Reactions from Austria:
Courier: “Football has lost its emperor. With Franz Beckenbauer, the football world is losing part of its history.”
The standard: “Franz Beckenbauer was the shining light of German football, but he also had his dark sides. He was the emperor of football.”
Reactions from Switzerland:
NZZ: “The emperor is dead: his brilliance provoked his compatriots. But Franz Beckenbauer will always remain the greatest German footballer.”