<p>Germany’s greatest footballer ever, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away aged 78 on Monday, the German Football Association confirmed. Regarded as perhaps the best defender to grace this game, Franz was a decorated footballer, having won countless accolades both as a player and manager. Upon receiving the news of his death, the football world came to a standstill, with everyone mourning the passing away of a legend.</p>

<p>From winning plenty of trophies at the club level to winning the World Cup in 1974, Franz had tasted success at the highest level and was a pioneer of German football.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/germany-and-bayern-munich-legend-franz-beckenbauer-passes-away-at-78-677958">Germany's World Cup winning captain Franz Beckenbauer passes away at 78</a></strong></p>

<p>"Franz Beckenbauer was definitely the biggest German footballer of all time, and above all one of the greatest men who I have known," said DFB vice president Hans-Joachim Watzke.</p>

<p>Franz was also one of the only three players ever to win a World Cup as a footballer and a manager. Though he lifted the title as a player during his prime in the 70s, Franz led Germany to a World Cup trophy in 1990 as a manager.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, outside of being the four-time German Player of the Year, Franz won the FIFA Order of Merit and was also awarded the coveted Ballon d’Or prize twice. His list of accolades also include&nbsp;the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award (2007) and FIFA Presidential Award (2012).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Not just as a footballer but also as part of the boardroom, Franz succeeded at all levels. From holding several positions at Bayern Munich, from being the club's president to becoming its advisory board's chairman to later becoming FIFA’s vice president, the legendary German footballer had seen it all.</p>

<p>Here is how everyone reacted to his death -</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">German legend Franz Beckenbauer has passed away today aged 78.<br />
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RIP, Franz. 👑🕊️ <a href="https://t.co/IwdSA5KaiT">pic.twitter.com/IwdSA5KaiT</a></p>
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1744394306125692982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died. One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP.</p>
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1744399058884493742?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are deeply saddened by the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, one of football's greatest ever players<br />
<br />
A World Cup winner as both player and manager, 'Der Kaiser' was as elegant as he was dominant<br />
<br />
He will forever be remembered <a href="https://t.co/dJDF4eAuod">pic.twitter.com/dJDF4eAuod</a></p>
— Premier League (@premierleague) <a href="https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1744402203043942438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Franz Beckenbauer, one of European football's greatest sons, has passed away aged 78.<br />
<br />
"Der Kaiser" was an extraordinary player, successful coach and popular pundit who shaped German football like no other. <a href="https://t.co/rW12ArNnNh">pic.twitter.com/rW12ArNnNh</a></p>
— UEFA (@UEFA) <a href="https://twitter.com/UEFA/status/1744403806194970839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It fills me with deep sadness to hear about 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 Der Kaiser <a href="https://t.co/32p8T2rEkI">pic.twitter.com/32p8T2rEkI</a></p>
— Sir Kenny Dalglish (@kennethdalglish) <a href="https://twitter.com/kennethdalglish/status/1744409380164903307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bayern and Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer has passed away at the age of 78, his family has confirmed to <a href="https://twitter.com/dpa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dpa</a><br />
<br />
RIP, Kaiser 🕊️ <a href="https://t.co/Zic2h4I43D">pic.twitter.com/Zic2h4I43D</a></p>
— Bayern &amp; Germany (@iMiaSanMia) <a href="https://twitter.com/iMiaSanMia/status/1744394118069891462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We're saddened to hear of the passing of Franz Beckenbauer.<br />
<br />
He was the first person to win the FIFA World Cup as captain (1974) and manager (1990). <a href="https://t.co/ixPAClBiBm">pic.twitter.com/ixPAClBiBm</a></p>
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) <a href="https://twitter.com/GWR/status/1744404062961840377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We mourn the loss of a legend of world football.<br />
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Rest in peace, Franz Beckenbauer. 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/P1ahQkbp8B">pic.twitter.com/P1ahQkbp8B</a></p>
— Fenerbahçe English (@Fenerbahce_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fenerbahce_EN/status/1744407429071122720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A true icon of our game.<br />
<br />
We are truly saddened to hear the passing of Franz Beckenbauer.<br />
<br />
Rest in peace. 🖤 <a href="https://t.co/0fefeosJeD">pic.twitter.com/0fefeosJeD</a></p>
— Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray) <a href="https://twitter.com/Galatasaray/status/1744403132665188405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">FC Barcelona offers its condolences for the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, legend of world football who has left us today at the age of 78. Rest in peace.</p>
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/1744404641431929264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A true footballing icon.<br />
<br />
Rest in peace, Franz Beckenbauer. <a href="https://t.co/RqARHeg0jl">pic.twitter.com/RqARHeg0jl</a></p>
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1744407991267319995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Germany’s greatest footballer ever, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away aged 78 on Monday, the German Football Association confirmed. Regarded as perhaps the best defender to grace this game, Franz was a decorated footballer, having won countless accolades both as a player and manager.

Germany’s greatest footballer ever, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away aged 78 on Monday, the German Football Association confirmed. Regarded as perhaps the best defender to grace this game, Franz was a decorated footballer, having won countless accolades both as a player and manager. Upon receiving the news of his death, the football world came to a standstill, with everyone mourning the passing away of a legend. From winning plenty of trophies at the club level to winning the World Cup in 1974, Franz had tasted success at the highest level and was a pioneer of German football. ALSO READ: Germany's World Cup winning captain Franz Beckenbauer passes away at 78 "Franz Beckenbauer was definitely the biggest German footballer of all time, and above all one of the greatest men who I have known," said DFB vice president Hans-Joachim Watzke. Franz was also one of the only three players ever to win a World Cup as a footballer and a manager. Though he lifted the title as a player during his prime in the 70s, Franz led Germany to a World Cup trophy in 1990 as a manager. Meanwhile, outside of being the four-time German Player of the Year, Franz won the FIFA Order of Merit and was also awarded the coveted Ballon d’Or prize twice. His list of accolades also include the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award (2007) and FIFA Presidential Award (2012). Not just as a footballer but also as part of the boardroom, Franz succeeded at all levels. From holding several positions at Bayern Munich, from being the club's president to becoming its advisory board's chairman to later becoming FIFA’s vice president, the legendary German footballer had seen it all. Here is how everyone reacted to his death - German legend Franz Beckenbauer has passed away today aged 78. RIP, Franz. 👑🕊️ pic.twitter.com/IwdSA5KaiT — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2024 × Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died. One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 8, 2024 × We are deeply saddened by the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, one of football's greatest ever players A World Cup winner as both player and manager, 'Der Kaiser' was as elegant as he was dominant He will forever be remembered pic.twitter.com/dJDF4eAuod — Premier League (@premierleague) January 8, 2024 × Franz Beckenbauer, one of European football's greatest sons, has passed away aged 78. "Der Kaiser" was an extraordinary player, successful coach and popular pundit who shaped German football like no other. pic.twitter.com/rW12ArNnNh — UEFA (@UEFA) January 8, 2024 × It fills me with deep sadness to hear about 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 Der Kaiser pic.twitter.com/32p8T2rEkI — Sir Kenny Dalglish (@kennethdalglish) January 8, 2024 × Bayern and Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer has passed away at the age of 78, his family has confirmed to @dpa RIP, Kaiser 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/Zic2h4I43D — Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) January 8, 2024 × We're saddened to hear of the passing of Franz Beckenbauer. He was the first person to win the FIFA World Cup as captain (1974) and manager (1990). pic.twitter.com/ixPAClBiBm — Guinness World Records (@GWR) January 8, 2024 × We mourn the loss of a legend of world football. Rest in peace, Franz Beckenbauer. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/P1ahQkbp8B — Fenerbahçe English (@Fenerbahce_EN) January 8, 2024 × A true icon of our game. We are truly saddened to hear the passing of Franz Beckenbauer. Rest in peace. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/0fefeosJeD — Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray) January 8, 2024 × FC Barcelona offers its condolences for the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, legend of world football who has left us today at the age of 78. Rest in peace. — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 8, 2024 × A true footballing icon. Rest in peace, Franz Beckenbauer. pic.twitter.com/RqARHeg0jl — Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 8, 2024 ×

Football world mourns death of German legend Franz Beckenbauer. See who said what

<p>Franz Beckenbauer, one of Germany's greatest soccer players, who captained the team to World Cup victory in 1974 then won the tournament again as manager in 1990, has died at the age of 78, German news agency DPA reported on Monday.</p>

<p>Beckenbauer was a classy, dominant presence on the pitch for West Germany and Bayern Munich in the 1960s and 70s, using the calmness on the ball and effortless distribution that marked his midfield performances to virtually invent the central defensive sweeper role where he found most success.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">German legend Franz Beckenbauer has passed away today aged 78.<br />
<br />
RIP, Franz. 👑🕊️ <a href="https://t.co/IwdSA5KaiT">pic.twitter.com/IwdSA5KaiT</a></p>
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1744394306125692982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>He collected 103 caps for West Germany, winning the 1972 European championship and then the World Cup on home soil having lost in the final to England in 1966.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rugby-ireland-wing-mark-hansen-ruled-out-of-six-nations-with-dislocated-shoulder-677848">Rugby: Ireland wing Mark Hansen ruled out of Six Nations with dislocated shoulder</a></strong></p>

<p>His Bayern Munich team was the best club side in the world during the mid-1970s, winning three successive European Cups and three successive Bundesliga titles, and Beckenbauer himself was twice named European footballer of the year.</p>

<p>As national team manager his West Germany team lost in the 1986 World Cup final to Argentina but triumphed four years later in Italy as a combined German team.</p>

<p>Beckenbauer, nicknamed Der Kaiser ("The emperor"), was one of three men to have won the World Cup as player and coach and his death comes three days after the first to do it - Brazil's Mario Zagallo. France's Didier Deschamps is the other.</p>

<p>After coaching, Beckenbauer moved into football administration but in 2016 he was fined by FIFA's ethics committee for failing to co-operate with an inquiry into corruption over the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.</p>


Franz Beckenbauer, one of Germany's greatest soccer players, who captained the team to World Cup victory in 1974 then won the tournament again as manager in 1990, has died at the age of 78, German news agency DPA reported on Monday.

Franz Beckenbauer, one of Germany's greatest soccer players, who captained the team to World Cup victory in 1974 then won the tournament again as manager in 1990, has died at the age of 78, German news agency DPA reported on Monday. Beckenbauer was a classy, dominant presence on the pitch for West Germany and Bayern Munich in the 1960s and 70s, using the calmness on the ball and effortless distribution that marked his midfield performances to virtually invent the central defensive sweeper role where he found most success. German legend Franz Beckenbauer has passed away today aged 78. RIP, Franz. 👑🕊️ pic.twitter.com/IwdSA5KaiT — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2024 × He collected 103 caps for West Germany, winning the 1972 European championship and then the World Cup on home soil having lost in the final to England in 1966. ALSO READ: Rugby: Ireland wing Mark Hansen ruled out of Six Nations with dislocated shoulder His Bayern Munich team was the best club side in the world during the mid-1970s, winning three successive European Cups and three successive Bundesliga titles, and Beckenbauer himself was twice named European footballer of the year. As national team manager his West Germany team lost in the 1986 World Cup final to Argentina but triumphed four years later in Italy as a combined German team. Beckenbauer, nicknamed Der Kaiser ("The emperor"), was one of three men to have won the World Cup as player and coach and his death comes three days after the first to do it - Brazil's Mario Zagallo. France's Didier Deschamps is the other. After coaching, Beckenbauer moved into football administration but in 2016 he was fined by FIFA's ethics committee for failing to co-operate with an inquiry into corruption over the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Germany’s World Cup winning captain Franz Beckenbauer passes away at 78

Lawyers for football legend Franz Beckenbauer Wednesday rejected claims he was paid millions as chairman of Germany&#39;s World Cup organising committee and sought to hide the sum from tax authorities.<br />
<br />
News website Spiegel Online had reported that Beckenbauer drew a fee of more than five million euros ($5.6 million) and that he failed to report the payment to tax authorities.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The report was yet another embarrassment for Beckenbauer, 71, who is being investigated by Swiss authorities in relation to corruption allegations over the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany.<br />
<br />
According to Spiegel, the payment to Beckenbauer was taken from a donation of 12 million euros made by a World Cup sponsor, the gambling company Oddset.<br />
<br />
But Beckenbauer&#39;s attorneys at Nesselhauf law firm rejected the claim, saying in a statement that the earning arose from his advertising work and that he had &quot;been promptly taxed at his Austrian residence&quot;.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Separately, Theo Zwanziger, who was then boss of the German Football Federation, also told Die Welt daily that the sum was &quot;not payment for his work at the organisation committee&quot;.<br />
<br />
Rather, it was a fee for Beckenbauer&#39;s PR work with the tournament&#39;s sponsors, he said.<br />
<br />
But the Spiegel claims had sparked anger from current DFB boss Reinhard Grindel, who accused the man nicknamed &quot;the Kaiser&quot; (the emperor) of lying and misleading the public.<br />
<br />
<strong>&#39;Unaware he was paid&#39;</strong><br />
<br />
&quot;We know that Franz Beckenbauer worked for Oddset in the context of the World Cup. But we were not aware that he drew a sum of 5.5 million euros ($6.2 million) from the budget of the organisation of World Cup 2006,&quot; Grindel said in a statement.<br />
<br />
&quot;Obviously, given these conditions, we cannot say that he had worked on an unpaid basis for the organising committee,&quot; the DFB boss added in a statement from Athens, where he was attending a UEFA congress.<br />
<br />
Beckenbauer did not declare the sum to tax authorities for four years, according to Spiegel.<br />
<br />
But following checks by tax authorities, the DFB was ordered to pay a million euros in withholding taxes on the sum in 2010. Beckenbauer subsequently repaid those taxes levied to the DFB.<br />
<br />
His lawyers Wednesday confirmed the repayment&nbsp;and said the withholding tax had been levied because Beckenbauer was not a German resident then.<br />
<br />
Beckenbauer captained Germany to the 1974 World Cup and coached the side that won the trophy in Italy in 1990.<br />
<br />
But his reputation has been badly tarnished by his role in the ongoing scandal over the awarding of the 2006 World Cup finals to Germany.<br />
<br />
Swiss authorities are investigating him, along with three other members of the organising committee over &quot;allegations of fraud, criminal mismanagement, money laundering and misappropriation&quot;.<br />
<br />
The probe came after a Spiegel report last October that a secret fund of 10 million Swiss francs was used to buy the hosting rights of the 2006 World Cup.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The money allegedly came from the late Robert Louis-Dreyfus, ex-boss of Adidas, at Beckenbauer&#39;s request, and was handed over in 2000, just before Germany were awarded the 2006 finals by a narrow vote.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
In May, an independent inquiry commissioned by the DFB said it could not rule out that Germany bought votes to secure the 2006 World Cup.<br />
<br />
Beckenbauer has always denied any wrongdoing.<br />
<br />
(AFP)

Spiegel Online had reported that Beckenbauer drew a fee of more than $5.6 million, but failed to report the payment to the tax authorities

Lawyers for football legend Franz Beckenbauer Wednesday rejected claims he was paid millions as chairman of Germany's World Cup organising committee and sought to hide the sum from tax authorities. News website Spiegel Online had reported that Beckenbauer drew a fee of more than five million euros ($5.6 million) and that he failed to report the payment to tax authorities. The report was yet another embarrassment for Beckenbauer, 71, who is being investigated by Swiss authorities in relation to corruption allegations over the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany. According to Spiegel, the payment to Beckenbauer was taken from a donation of 12 million euros made by a World Cup sponsor, the gambling company Oddset. But Beckenbauer's attorneys at Nesselhauf law firm rejected the claim, saying in a statement that the earning arose from his advertising work and that he had "been promptly taxed at his Austrian residence". Separately, Theo Zwanziger, who was then boss of the German Football Federation, also told Die Welt daily that the sum was "not payment for his work at the organisation committee". Rather, it was a fee for Beckenbauer's PR work with the tournament's sponsors, he said. But the Spiegel claims had sparked anger from current DFB boss Reinhard Grindel, who accused the man nicknamed "the Kaiser" (the emperor) of lying and misleading the public. 'Unaware he was paid' "We know that Franz Beckenbauer worked for Oddset in the context of the World Cup. But we were not aware that he drew a sum of 5.5 million euros ($6.2 million) from the budget of the organisation of World Cup 2006," Grindel said in a statement. "Obviously, given these conditions, we cannot say that he had worked on an unpaid basis for the organising committee," the DFB boss added in a statement from Athens, where he was attending a UEFA congress. Beckenbauer did not declare the sum to tax authorities for four years, according to Spiegel. But following checks by tax authorities, the DFB was ordered to pay a million euros in withholding taxes on the sum in 2010. Beckenbauer subsequently repaid those taxes levied to the DFB. His lawyers Wednesday confirmed the repayment and said the withholding tax had been levied because Beckenbauer was not a German resident then. Beckenbauer captained Germany to the 1974 World Cup and coached the side that won the trophy in Italy in 1990. But his reputation has been badly tarnished by his role in the ongoing scandal over the awarding of the 2006 World Cup finals to Germany. Swiss authorities are investigating him, along with three other members of the organising committee over "allegations of fraud, criminal mismanagement, money laundering and misappropriation". The probe came after a Spiegel report last October that a secret fund of 10 million Swiss francs was used to buy the hosting rights of the 2006 World Cup. The money allegedly came from the late Robert Louis-Dreyfus, ex-boss of Adidas, at Beckenbauer's request, and was handed over in 2000, just before Germany were awarded the 2006 finals by a narrow vote. In May, an independent inquiry commissioned by the DFB said it could not rule out that Germany bought votes to secure the 2006 World Cup. Beckenbauer has always denied any wrongdoing. (AFP)

Football: Beckenbauer was 'paid millions' as WC2006 chair