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Beckenbaeur,
Franz
Born:
11th September 1945, Position: Midfielder/Sweeper
(Bayern
Munich, New York Cosmos, Hamburg and West Germany) |
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Major
Honours:
European Cup-Winners Cup 1967; European Championship
1972; European Footballer of the Year 1972, 1976; World Cup
1974; European Cup 1974, 1975 and 1976 and World Club Cup
1976
Relevant
Career Statistics:
104
caps and 15 International goals.
Admitted
to the Hall of Fame:
1st July 2000 with 31% of the votes. |
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Roy
of the Rovers References:
In 1972, the comic Scorcher and Score (amalgamated with
Tiger shortly after) did a "Superstars" feature and
Franz Beckenbauer was chronicled on the cover of the 14th October
1972 comic.
On the 19th June 1982, Franz Beckenbauer is the
star of "Sign Please" in the Roy of the Rovers comic.
In the
Roy of the Rovers comic 31st August 1985, Roy does a feature on
Franz for the "Write to Racey" pages. He describes him
as a superstar with skills, temperament and leadership qualities
which made him truly great and a player with a winner written all
over him.
Between
1st September and 6th October 1990, Franz was the
subject of a 6 week profile story called "Story of the
Star" in the Roy of the Rovers comic.
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Internet
Links: There
are three known web sites dedicated to Franz Beckenbauer.
 The profile of
Franz
Beckenbauer on the Internet's best and free encyclopaedia.
This page also give links to other references to this hall of
famer.
Franz
Beckenbauer - International Hall of Fame - Franz's
write up in the International Hall of Fame.
International
Hall of Champions - Franz Beckenbauer - A run down
on the inductee.
A
complete Franz Beckenbauer Profile
- Another excellent site with detailed statistics
and information.
The
Official Bayern Munich Web Site
- The President's Official club site.
World
Cup Tribute - A World Cup profile
of "Der Kaiser"
by Soccernet
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Books:
Franz
Beckenbauer's Soccer Power, Techniques, Tactics and Training
is
a soccer skills book from the 'Kaiser'.
Beckenbauer,
Franz: WORLD CUP ESPANA '82 This book takes a look back on
the games that led to Italy's emergence as the new soccer champion
at the 12th Soccer World Cup in Spain. These were among some of
the most exciting matches in World Cup History. All that
excitement is recaptured in this book by the commentary of Franz
Beckenbauer, who provides us with a game-by-game description of
the dramatic matches.
Beckenbauer,
Franz:
Another book on the great man himself. |
Franz
Beckenbauer is the only man to have lifted the World Cup as both team
captain (1974) and manager (1990). He is undoubtedly the most successful
footballer of all time. No other footballer (including Roy Race) has ever
had a career with such tangible highlights. "Der Kaiser" as he is
known was an inspirational captain for Bayern Munich and West Germany for
many years.
He was
deceptively quick in both thought and deed and was a tremendous passer of
the ball. He is most renowned for almost single handedly inventing the
position of sweeper, in modern day football.
Although
the Italians had created the free back system before Beckenbauer came to
prominence, it was his vision and talent which made the "libero"
role the most demanding and influential, in the game. Beckenbauer proved
that the old way of defining soccer positions was dead. Ever since he
changed the role in the 1970's, central defenders have had to be complete
players.
Franz
operated initially as a left winger and later in midfield and it was the
1966 World Cup where he gained his reputation. He defensive skills negated
the threat of Bobby Charlton, but critics have suggested that by marking
Charlton so well, Beckenbauer negated his own attacking instincts. This
defeat was to be only a minor blip in an extraordinary career.
He became the
first German player to record a Century of appearances before
in
1977, he accepted a $2.5 million contract to play for the New York Cosmos in
the North American Soccer League. He stayed four years in which the Cosmos
won the Soccer Bowl three times. He briefly returned to Germany before
playing out one final season with the Cosmos, before retiring in 1984.
Back in Germany he was in demand
as a newspaper and television columnist and it was in inviting him to put
his words into deeds that he was offered the post of national manager, in
succession to Jupp Derwall after the disappointing 1984 European
Championship. He retired after the 1990 World Cup triumph only to return to
coaching twice. He had a brief unsuccessful spell with
Olympique
Marseille and then he returned to Bayern Munich as Executive Vice President
and in 1994 took over as coach, leading Bayern to the league title and the
UEFA Cup in 1996. Already doubling up as a Club Director, he was then voted
Club President. A record Roy of the Rovers would be proud of!
Such achievements for a man with
no coaching experience or qualifications we welcome "De Kaiser" to
the Roy of the Rovers Hall of Fame.
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