Franz Beckenbauer: Beyond Der Kaiser, the Heart of German Football

Franz Beckenbauer was more than just the embodiment of German football's legendary grit and unwavering perseverance. However, he embodied German football.

He was maybe the best football player his nation has ever produced, the man who redefined the position of a defender in the game, and one of only three individuals to have won the World Cup as both a player and manager. His unwavering defiance against one of the greatest football teams in history, the Total Footballers of Johan Cruyff, made him perhaps the greatest leader ever seen on the field. He was also a legendary manager, serving as the inspiration for a number of other managers from his homeland.

The fact that he choked out Diego Maradona as a manager and halted Cruyff as a player may be a stronger testament to his personality.

In Leon, Mexico, on June 14, 1970, Bobby Charlton of England, center, and Franz Beckenbauer, captain of West Germany, right, engage in a ball-challenge during the World Cup quarterfinals.In the 1970 World Cup quarterfinals, Bobby Charlton of England and Franz Beckenbauer, the captain of West Germany, square up for the ball. (IMAGE: AP)
The origins of the moniker Kaiser

He was the owner of the most appropriate nickname in the game. The Kaiser. The Monarch. He had an emperor-like aura when he was on the field, completely in control of his team and completely dominant over his rivals. Every step was quantified, every action evaluated. Even the most disobedient of teammates would pay attention to what he had to say, as if drawn in by his charm. There are other stories about how he came by the nickname.

Joyous deal
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One of the first was that he appeared on the cover of a magazine, which claimed he resembled the Bavarian ruler Ludwig II, popularly referred to as the Fairytale King because of his frizzy locks and altar-boy appearance. Another spin-off is that the name was given by some of his teammates based on a picture featuring the bust of the late Franz-Joseph Kaiser, the emperor of Austria.

According to a more grounded story, he reportedly gave Schalke's striker Reinhard Libuda, who was dubbed the King of Westfalen at the time, so much of a workout that his teammates started calling him Kaiser since only a king could defeat an emperor. Regardless of its origin, it couldn't have been ap ter. In football, his legacy as a sweeper alone is untouchable.

Goal of the Day for today takes us back to the 1966 World Cup and a goal by a very young Franz Beckenbauer (The Kaiser). Here he shows how simple and beautiful the game can be. pic.twitter.com/NZXkTHq1UT — TJS Sports (@SportsTjs) July 11, 2020

Creating the sweeper position

He wasn't satisfied with just tackling or intersecting the ball in a period where sweepers remained back and enjoyed fending off waves of attack. However, he was also a playmaker and ball-carrier—the forerunner of the contemporary sweeper. The fact that he is still seen as one of the best at this position speaks volumes about his skill as a player. He was both steel and silk in the dual role, and he excelled at it. With the lightest of touches, he would steal the ball from the opposition's feet and thread a brilliant pass upfield with similar skill. He was able to outmaneuver even the most formidable strikers physically and outsmart the sharpest playmakers. Using him as the libero in front of the back four, shielding his defenders but allowing him to move forward, link with the midfielders, and set up attacks, was Germany's brilliant move in the 1974 World Cup.

He would become a pop and cult figure in Germany. He had an agency and was the first professional German. He was the pioneer of frequent commercials. He produced records. Some of his songs are performed in Bayern Munich's home arena, the Allianz Arena, as if real buddies are inseparable.

Being regarded as one of the all-time greats, he was asked to draw comparisons between himself and Pele, who is regarded as the best goalie of all time. His response was thorough and encapsulated his character as a guy and football player. "See, Pele was the greatest soloist of all time," he remarked. I've always been the person that puts the others in position to score, the team player and the facilitator. I am capable of moving a team; I moved the team. Pele is unable to accomplish that. However, he was a murderer," he clarified.

It should be noted that he started out as a center forward before switching to left wing and then central midfield. He was creative and full of energy in every role. The Miracle of Bern, Germany's 1954 victory, served as his inspiration. At nine years old, Beckenbauer, whose mother Antonie had sewed the No. 10 of Germany's winning captain, Fritz Walter, into his shirt, listened to the radio commentary. Beckenbauer was the son of a postal worker. Then he would rush out onto Munich's streets to celebrate the heroes' return home.

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Legends abound about his bravery. He dislocated his shoulder during the match against Italy in the 1970 World Cup semifinal. But he needed to be on the field, having used up all the available substitutes. He also didn't flinch. He continued to fight with his right arm bound to his torso and his hand resting below his heart. His bravery won hearts even though Germany lost what was called "The Game of the Century," 4–3. "Beckenbauer showed his character, and still could probably play as well with one arm as most people could with two," said his great opponent and late England striker Geoff Hurst. That encapsulated Beckenbauer's essence.

There were also occasional gray areas throughout the career. He was given a 90-day football ban by FIFA in 2014 for his refusal to assist with the investigation into possible wrongdoing related to the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Qatar and Russia. When he consented to take part in Fifa's investigation, the suspension was removed; nevertheless, two years later, he was fined 7,000 Swiss francs for his original denial.

However, nothing could ever diminish the essence of him and how that would ultimately characterize German football. There might never have been a more fitting nickname than "Der Kaiser."

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.