The Far Post Header ‘Hall of Fame’ No.2 – Franz Beckenbauer
Yesterday’s first entrant to the Hall of Fame was ‘The Black Spider’, today it’s the turn of ‘The Kaiser’.
Franz Beckenbauer played in 103 times for West Germany between 1964 and 1977, appearing in three World Cups and two European Championships.
Nicknamed ‘The Kaiser’, Beckenbauer’s was a fantastic leader on the pitch. He started out his career in midfield before making the central defensive role his own.
Beckenbauer won many trophies as a player as well as lifting the 1990 World Cup as manager.
He won three consecutive European Cups from 1974-76, four Bundesliga titles and a European Cup Winners Cup with Bayern Munich.
Beckenbauer was part of the side that reached the World Cup Final in 1966 before losing 4-2 to England after extra time.
West Germany reached the Semi-Final of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico before losing to Italy.
It was third time lucky for Beckenbauer in 1974 when World Cup hosted the World Cup. The hosts beat Holand 2-1 in the Final.
He won the European Championship two years before the World Cup win. They reached the Final in 1976, losing to Czechoslovakia on penalties.
After spending the first thirteen years of his career at Bayern Munich, Beckenbauer moved across the Atlantic to join New York Cosmos, playing alongside Pele and Carlos Alberto.
After three years, Beckenbauer moved back to Germany and signed for Hamburg. He spent two years at the club before returning to Cosmos where he finally ended his career in 1983.
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