About Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer, a retired German professional football player and manager with an estimated net worth of $12 million, was born on September 11, 1945. Beckenbauer earned the moniker “Der Kaiser” for his regal demeanor, power, and leadership. The Austrian emperors come to mind when I hear his first name, Franz.
Franz Beckenbauer, also known as Der Kaiser or “The Emperor” is the only person to have both led and coached a World Cup-winning team.
With the manner he carried the ball out of defense as a libero, the German embodied grace. In fact, whenever the subject of sweepers is brought up, Beckenbauer’s name is inevitably mentioned.
Beckenbauer must be proud of a club career that included eight league titles in Germany and the USA, is still very active in the game today, and was a major force in bringing the World Cup to Germany in 2006.
The Years at Bayern Munich
Beckenbauer started his career at the age of nine in the SC Munchen 06 youth squad. Der Kaiser joined Bayern in 1958 despite having aspirations of playing for his favorite team, 1860 Munich. In his first season in the local league, Bayern earned promotion to the then-newly created Bundesliga.
With players like Sepp Maier and Gerd Muller on the roster, Bayern quickly rose to prominence and won the German Cup and European Cup Winners Cup in 1967.
For the 1968–1969 campaign, Beckenbauer served as captain and guided the team to their first league championship. Around this time, he began experimenting with the sweeper position and quickly established himself as a key weapon for his team on the counterattack. Beckenbauer was able to serve as a last line of defense from his starting position behind the central defenders while also advancing to attack when it was feasible.
From 1974 through 1976, he won three more league championships and three consecutive European Cups as Bayern quickly became a true superpower in the world of soccer.
Beckenbauer, who was twice named European Footballer of the Year, scored 60 goals in 427 games for Bayern before joining the New York Cosmos at the age of 32.
New pastures
It’s impossible to say that Beckenbauer improved as a player after joining the Cosmos, even though he did so while the sport gained popularity in the United States. But he did well, taking home three Soccer Bowl titles and two Trans-Atlantic titles while sporting a Ralph Lauren-designed uniform in front of club-record audiences. Along with Carlos Alberto, another World Cup victor, he played defense together.
He joined Hamburg in 1980, where he spent two seasons and won one Bundesliga championship. It is safe to argue that his stint in New York improved the game in the United States. He would play for the Cosmos for one more season in 1983.
Worldwide Career
Twenty years after making his West Germany debut, Beckenbauer went on to participate in three World Cups.
At the 1966 World Cup in England, he scored twice against Switzerland, but he was unable to stop the hosts from defeating his team.
Beckenbauer participated once more four years later as West Germany advanced to the semifinals before falling to Italy 4-3. Der Kaiser played the game despite having a dislocated shoulder, but he remembers the vibrant tournament in Mexico with nostalgia.
In 1974, Beckenbauer was at the top of his game and playing libero, which was his preferred position. With players like Muller, Maier, and Paul Breitner, West Germany won at home, defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in the championship game.
He was the first player to surpass 100 caps for his nation, earning 103 in all.
In 1972, Beckenbauer and West Germany won the European Championship, adding to his long list of accomplishments. One of the most prominent figures in the history of the sport, he led his nation’s effort to host the World Cup in 2006 and achieved the World Cup as a coach in 1990.
In addition to participating in three FIFA World Cups and two European Championships, Beckenbauer made 103 appearances for West Germany and was voted the European Footballer of the Year (twice). Franz Beckenbauer’s net worth is projected to be $12 million as of 2023. He was a journalist for the tabloid Bild for 34 years before becoming a pundit for Sky Germany in 2016.
