Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann described Franz Beckenbauer as “the best footballer in German history” after the World Cup-winning player and manager’s death at the age of 78.
Beckenbauer won the World Cup as a player in 1974 before leading the team to victory as manager in Italy in 1990. He also won the European Cup three times with Bayern Munich, a record that Nagelsmann believes puts him ahead of the rest.
Nagelsmann said on the DFB (German Football Association) website: “For me, Franz Beckenbauer was the best footballer in German history. His interpretation of the libero’s role changed the game.
“Franz Beckenbauer could float across the field. As a player and later also as a coach he was sublime, he was above everything.
We are very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has passed away. One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful footballer who won everything with grace and charm. REST IN PEACE.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 8, 2024
“When Franz Beckenbauer entered a room, the room lit up. Until the end, he was surrounded by an aura that could not be shaken by health problems. I am grateful and honored to have met him and I will remember him fondly.”
Bayern striker and England captain Harry Kane wrote on an Instagram story: “In my time at the club so far it is clear what he meant to Bayern and to football in this country. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
And some of Britain’s greatest former players put aside traditional rivalries to also pay tribute, led by Gary Lineker, who played against his Germany side in the 1990 World Cup semi-finals.
Lineker wrote of X: “I am very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has passed away. One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful footballer who won everything with grace and charm. REST IN PEACE.”
It fills me with deep sadness to hear of the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, a true icon of the game. It was a privilege to share one of my proudest moments with him when he presented my 100th cap for Scotland. My thoughts are with him and his family at this time. RIP the Kaiser pic.twitter.com/32p8T2rEkI
— Sir Kenny Dalglish (@kennethdalglish) January 8, 2024
Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, another England member defeated on penalties in Italia ’90, added on social media: “Very sad to hear that the great @beckenbauer has sadly passed away.
“He was a fantastic player who reached world class status @FIFAWorldCup RIP.”
Kenny Dalglish recalled a memorable meeting as he too paid tribute, writing on X: “It fills me with deep sadness to hear of the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, a true icon of the game.
“It was a privilege to share one of my proudest moments with him when he presented my 100th cap for Scotland. My thoughts are with him and his family at this time. RIP the Kaiser.”
Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand described Beckenbauer as an inspiration who helped shape his own approach to the game.
“He had grace, poise and class, while at the same time being a winner,” Ferdinand wrote of X. “It definitely had an impact on the way I tried to play the game, even though I never came close to his level. ”
Another international defender, Jamie Carragher, added: “As a kid he was the first foreign footballer I had ever heard of, that’s because if a player tried to play from the back, whether it was at pro or amateur level , I would hear: ‘He thinks he’s Beckenbauer.’
“That just shows the impact he had on world sport and how he helped change it.”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who coached Bayern from 2013 to 2016, posted a photo with the German great on Instagram and wrote: “It was an honor to share good moments at @fcbayern. Rest in peace, @franzbeckenbauer.”
A sense of deep sadness swept the German game, not least at his former club Bayern, who wrote in a statement: “The world of FC Bayern is not what it was – suddenly darker, quieter, poorer.
“The German record champion mourns Franz Beckenbauer, the unique ‘Emperor’, without whom FC Bayern would never have become the club it is today. Rest in peace.”
Bayern and Germany striker Thomas Müller called Beckenbauer “one of the greatest footballers in the club’s history,” while former CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said his former teammate “rewrote the history of German football and left a lasting impact on it ”.
Rummenigge added: “As a personality he impressed with his great respect for all people – because before Franz everyone was equal.
“German football loses the greatest personality in its history. We will miss him more than painfully. Thank you for everything, dear Franz.”
Lothar Matthaus, captain of the 1990 World Cup-winning team, described Beckenbauer’s death as “a loss for football and for Germany as a whole.”
Matthaus told German media Bild: “He was one of the greatest as a player and coach, but also off the field.
Suddenly our world is not the same as it used to be: darker, quieter and worse off. The record champions mourn the loss of Franz Beckenbauer, the incomparable ‘Kaiser’ without whom FC Bayern would never have become the club it is today.
Rest in peace, Emperor.
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) January 8, 2024
“Franz was an outstanding personality not only in football, and he enjoyed worldwide recognition.”
Another member of the 1990 squad and current DFB director of the senior national team, Rudi Voller, described knowing and playing under Beckenbauer as “one of the great privileges of my life”.
Voller told the DFB website: “Our time together with the national team was crowned with the 1990 World Cup title in Rome, a title that would never have been possible without his outstanding coaching achievements.
“The ‘Kaiser’ was an inspiration for more than one generation, he will forever remain the shining light of German football.”
A statement from the Bundesliga read: “The Bundesliga family is devastated to hear of the death of Franz Beckenbauer. A true icon, then, now and always. RIP, Der Kaiser!”