At the memorial service for Franz Beckenbauer (†78), celebrities from football, sports and politics mourn the “Emperor”. But only one man provides the emotional climax.
Julian Buhl reports from Munich
The sky was cloudy and only a few rays of sunlight shone through the gray. But when the funeral service for Franz Beckenbauer (†78), who died on January 7th at the age of 78, began on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m., things changed almost suddenly. The cloud cover lifted and a white-blue sky suddenly shone above the Allianz Arena, where around 30,000 people had gathered to pay their last respects to the “Emperor”.
Of course, Markus Söder didn’t miss this either. “I think it’s also a sign from heaven that today is great weather,” said the Bavarian Prime Minister in his speech, which he gave in honor of Beckenbauer. In it he praised the football legend of FC Bayern and Germany as, among other things, “a kind of football god”.
He was by no means the only one to praise Beckenbauer highly. The entire event, which was entitled “Player, Man – Emperor”, was almost like a canonization of the former shining light of German football.
Hainer on Beckenbauer: “Mia san Franz”
Herbert Hainer was the first to step up to the microphone at the lectern, which was framed by three oversized Beckenbauer photos in the background.
“This club grew up with Franz Beckenbauer, we grew together. Mia san Franz,” he said and looked ahead. Beckenbauer’s saying was always: “Let’s go out and play football. So let’s carry on in his spirit,” said Hainer. “FC Bayern will always remain an empire – forever.”
With these legendary words quoted by Hainer, team boss Beckenbauer sent his national team into the 1990 World Cup final against Argentina (1-0) – a few hours later he walked alone across the lawn of the Olympic Stadium in Rome as a silent triumphant. In 1974, Beckenbauer became world champion as a player in Munich.
“Beckenbauer has rendered a service to Germany”
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier then praised Beckenbauer in his eulogy as a “stroke of luck” and a “great German”. “People all over the world admired, revered and loved Franz Beckenbauer,” said Steinmeier.
Beckenbauer “did a service to Germany” and gave Germany “a new, friendly look at itself” with the summer fairy tale of the 2006 World Cup: “We won’t forget that.”
Söder, among others, dismissed the unexplained but now statute-barred allegations surrounding the awarding of the tournament as “all the talk about the 2006 World Cup.”
Sammer: “I’m ashamed of what we did to Franz”
Bastian Schweinsteiger was asked on BR, which broadcast the funeral service live as one of several TV stations, what he would tell his children about the late football legend. His answer? “That he was the greatest.”
Schweinsteiger, along with Paul Breitner and Lothar Matthäus, was one of the eleven friends and companions who opened the event with a touching scene. To the sounds of Munich star tenor Jonas Kaufmann, who performed “Time to say Goodbye” in the Italian version “Con te partiro”, flowers were laid in the center circle, which was also filled with a large Beckenbauer photo. Schweinsteiger in particular seemed extremely touched.
Funeral speeches, music, silence, applause and many images from Beckenbauer’s eventful life on the video walls created special moments during the tribute to the greatest German footballer of all time.