Klopp Leads Tributes to 'Der Kaiser': 'World a Different Place Without Beckenbauer'

The German manager of Liverpool, Juergen Klopp, has paid homage to Franz Beckenbauer, stating that the World Cup-winning player and coach of his nation influenced him throughout his career.

A key figure in German and international football, Beckenbauer passed away on Sunday at the age of 78, his family said on Monday.

Klopp told the club website, "I don't want to sound like a broken record, but the world will be really a different place without him, at least for me."

"I had the opportunity to get to know him a little bit better during the 2006 World Cup and the Confederations Cup in 2005.

The manner he carried himself—jovial, amiable, humorous, and serious when necessary—was incredibly motivating.

"He never tried to be better than he was; as a manager in particular, he was always aware of his need for assistance."

As a player, Beckenbauer—also known as "Der Kaiser" or "The Emperor"—redefined the role of the defender and led West Germany to victory in the 1974 World Cup, following their defeat by England in the 1966 championship game.

In 1984, after a disaster at the European Championship, West Germany hired Beckenbauer, a man who had never coached before, to turn things around. Months after the fall of the Berlin Wall, in 1990, West Germany triumphed in the World Cup once more under his leadership, a momentous occasion for a nation undergoing reunification.

With this accomplishment, Beckenbauer became the first person to have managed and captained World Cup-winning teams (the other being Didier Deschamps of France).

Due to the legend's significant influence on Klopp's life, he stated he needed time to comprehend the news of his passing before speaking with German media on Monday.

"He taught me something that I will need in my life—that you can be a celebrity, that you can be a lot in the media, that everyone is talking about you, and you can still be completely yourself," Klopp remarked.

During the German legend's 75th birthday festivities, the manager also recalled having private chats with Beckenbauer and his wife Heidi. He also mentioned that he kept in regular contact with Beckenbauer and his family throughout his sickness.

He said, "We spoke a few months ago, and he was well. However, you realized he wasn't in the best of health, and he is now in a better place.

"The shock is deep, even though I knew that Franz wasn't well," said Deschamps, who captained France to victory in the 1998 World Cup and served as manager in 2018, upon the announcement of Beckenbauer's passing on Monday.

"Germany and football both suffer from his passing. Not just on the field, but also off it, he was among the best coaches and players ever.

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