Franz Beckenbauer remembered on what would have been his 81st birthday

Franz Beckenbauer, the influential German football figure known as ‘Kaiser’, would have celebrated his 81st birthday on September 11. Beckenbauer was a prominent player for FC Bayern München and the German national team, as well as a successful manager and official for the DFB.

His career included winning the World Cup both as a player in 1974 and as a coach in 1990. As a player, he earned two Ballon d'Or awards and won multiple titles, including five Bundesliga championships and three European Cups. Following his time in Germany, he played for the New York Cosmos in the United States. Beckenbauer passed away in January 2024 at the age of 78.