44 Fun Facts About Franz Beckenbauer

What was Franz Beckenbauer's famous nickname?

Der Kaiser: accounts of its origin differ, from a photo beside an emperor's bust to him stopping a Schalke star nicknamed the King.

Beckenbauer is credited with inventing which modern playing role?

The sweeper, or libero: rather than only mopping up behind the defence, he carried the ball forward and launched attacks from the back.

Which team handed Beckenbauer's side their only defeat at the 1974 World Cup?

East Germany: in the only World Cup meeting of the two German states, the shock loss sparked a frank team meeting, and the hosts went on to win the title.

Which local club did the young Beckenbauer support and dream of playing for?

TSV 1860 Munich: shortly before he was due to join, an 1860 youth player slapped him during a match, so he signed for Bayern instead.

Why was the teenage Beckenbauer at first barred from West Germany's youth team?

He fathered a child out of wedlock: youth coach Dettmar Cramer fought the decision and got him into the team.

Beckenbauer coached West Germany to the 1990 World Cup title in which host country?

Italy: after the final in Rome, while his players celebrated, he stood apart, alone and lost in thought.

Which trophy did Bayern win in 1967, Beckenbauer's first continental honour?

Cup Winners' Cup: Bayern won it barely two years after climbing out of the second tier into the Bundesliga.

Which English club did Beckenbauer's Bayern beat in the 1975 European Cup final in Paris?

Leeds United: Peter Lorimer had a goal for Leeds ruled out for offside before Bayern scored twice to win 2-0.

Why did Beckenbauer lead West Germany from 1984 as 'Teamchef', not coach?

He had no coaching licence: he had never done coaching training, so fully licensed coaches worked beside him as assistants.

Which American club did Beckenbauer join in 1977?

New York Cosmos: he reportedly made the move partly for private reasons, amid a crisis in his marriage.

With which club did Beckenbauer win his final Bundesliga title as a player, in 1982?

Hamburger SV: injuries, including a torn kidney, limited him to ten league games that season.

Beckenbauer was Germany's first player with what?

100 caps: his 1977 move to America ended his West Germany career, leaving him on 103.

Whose record of 72 caps did Beckenbauer break in 1973?

Uwe Seeler: in the 1970 World Cup quarter-final, his backward header helped West Germany come back from 2-0 down to beat England.

Which national coach gave Beckenbauer his West Germany debut in a 1965 World Cup qualifier?

Helmut Schön: the 2-1 win in Stockholm that day clinched West Germany's place at the 1966 World Cup.

In his first World Cup match, in 1966, Beckenbauer scored twice against which team?

Switzerland: West Germany won 5-0 in Sheffield, and Beckenbauer went on to score in the quarter-final and semi-final too.

Which England player was Beckenbauer told to man-mark in the 1966 World Cup final?

Bobby Charlton: England's manager Alf Ramsey told Charlton to shadow Beckenbauer in turn, so the two cancelled each other out.

Which award did Beckenbauer share with Geoff Hurst and Ferenc Bene at the 1966 World Cup?

Bronze Boot: his four goals made him joint third top scorer even though he played in a defensive role.

What injury did Beckenbauer play through in the 1970 'Game of the Century' against Italy?

A dislocated shoulder: West Germany had already used both permitted substitutes, so he played on with his arm strapped in a sling.

Whom did West Germany beat 3-0 in the final of the 1972 European Championship?

Soviet Union: Gerd Müller scored twice in the 3-0 in Brussels.

Whom did West Germany beat 2-1 in the 1974 World Cup final?

Netherlands: Berti Vogts shadowed their star Johan Cruyff, and Gerd Müller scored the winner just before half-time.

Beckenbauer was the first captain to lift which trophy, in 1974?

The FIFA World Cup Trophy: Brazil had been allowed to keep the old Jules Rimet Trophy for good after winning it a third time in 1970.

Who beat West Germany on penalties in the 1976 European Championship final?

Czechoslovakia: Antonín Panenka won the shoot-out by gently chipping his penalty, a kick now named after him.

Besides Beckenbauer, which German defender had won the Ballon d'Or by 2025?

Matthias Sammer: moved back into defence at Borussia Dortmund, he won it in 1996 after starring in Germany's European Championship win.

Who partnered Beckenbauer in West Germany's midfield at the 1966 and 1970 World Cups?

Wolfgang Overath: Günter Netzer starred at Euro 72 while Overath was injured, but Overath won the place back and started every 1974 World Cup game.

Which Spanish club did Beckenbauer's Bayern beat in the 1974 European Cup final replay?

Atlético Madrid: Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck's long shot in the last minute of extra time forced the replay, which Bayern won 4-0.

Whom did Beckenbauer replace as West Germany manager in 1984?

Jupp Derwall: after West Germany went out in the first round of Euro 1984, public pressure forced him to resign.

Which team beat Beckenbauer's West Germany in the 1986 World Cup final?

Argentina: four years later Beckenbauer's side beat the same opponents in the 1990 final.

Who scored the late penalty that won the 1990 World Cup final for Beckenbauer's West Germany?

Andreas Brehme: Rudi Völler had been brought down in the area six minutes from time, and Brehme's spot kick was the only goal.

Along with Beckenbauer, which two men have won the World Cup as both player and manager?

Mário Zagallo and Didier Deschamps: Zagallo took over Brazil only months before the 1970 finals, replacing the coach who had led them through qualifying.

Which French club did Beckenbauer briefly manage from 1990?

Marseille: within months he moved upstairs as sporting director, and his successor Raymond Goethals took the team to the European Cup final.

Beckenbauer stepped in as Bayern's caretaker coach in 1996 and won which European trophy?

The UEFA Cup: Bayern had sacked Otto Rehhagel days before the final's first leg, and Beckenbauer led them past Bordeaux.

Who succeeded Beckenbauer as president of his old club in 2009?

Uli Hoeneß: he resigned as president in March 2014, the day after being sentenced to prison for tax evasion.

Beckenbauer's 2006 World Cup bid beat which country by one vote?

South Africa: Oceania's delegate Charles Dempsey abstained, citing 'intolerable pressure' on the eve of the vote.

Why did FIFA's ethics committee ban Beckenbauer in 2014?

Not cooperating with an inquiry: FIFA later said he became willing to cooperate, but in 2016 it still fined and warned him.

Why was the Swiss criminal case against Beckenbauer closed in 2020?

The statute of limitations had expired: FIFA's own ethics case against him ran out of time the same way in 2021.

Beckenbauer wrote a column for which German publication for 34 years?

Bild: during Germany's poor Euro 2000, he coined the word 'Rumpelfußball', which won a prize for new words.

Beckenbauer is the one real footballer in which troupe's philosophers' football sketch?

Monty Python: for most of the match the philosophers wander about lost in thought, until Archimedes cries 'Eureka!' and Socrates heads the only goal.

Why did Beckenbauer's mobile number, ending in six sixes, backfire?

Callers thought it was a sex line: 'sechs', German for six, sounds like 'sex', so men kept ringing him.

In which country did Beckenbauer become tax resident after moving in 1982?

Austria: when untaxed World Cup sponsorship money came to light in Germany in 2010, he said he had already paid the tax there.

Beckenbauer's farewell match in June 1982 pitted his club against whom?

The Germany national team: he topped up the gate money to a round million marks to launch his foundation for disabled and needy people.

Which England player said the Germans always win after losing to Beckenbauer's 1990 side?

Lineker: his equaliser had taken the semi-final to extra time, before West Germany won the penalty shoot-out.

Which Munich stadium took the address Franz-Beckenbauer-Platz 5 in May 2025?

Allianz Arena: FC Bayern chose the house number 5 in reference to the shirt number he wore.

Which two players did the AIPS rank above Beckenbauer in its 2024 poll of the century?

The International Sports Press Association voted him third best footballer of the past 100 years.

Which Munich district, working-class in his youth, did Beckenbauer grow up in?

Giesing: his father had little interest in football, but he still joined a local club as a boy.