Poster News reporter Zhao En reports from Shanghai
In the history of football, there have been several football kings, and there are many candidates for the "quasi-ball king", but there is only one "football emperor".
According to German media reports, the "Emperor of Football" Beckenbauer died on January 7 local time at the age of 78. As soon as the news was confirmed, industry insiders and fans posted condolences one after another. With the death of "Emperor Pei", the "five elders of the palace" in football have all fallen so far, and there is no "emperor" in world football since then.
The "emperor" had to rule
Why is Beckenbauer called "Emperor Bei"? It is widely accepted that in 1971, when Beckenbauer visited the Hofburg Imperial Palace, reporters took a photo of him with a sculpture of Franz Joseph I, the founder and first emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Since both men were named "Franz", Beckenbauer got the name "Emperor".
Although there are many theories about the origin of the nickname, throughout his career, Beckenbauer definitely deserves the title of "Emperor". Beckenbauer was born in Munich, Germany, in 1945 and joined the Bayern Munich first team in 1964. During his 13 years with Bayern Munich, Beckenbauer scored 74 goals and helped the club win three Champions Leagues, two Intercontinental Cups, four Bundesliga titles, four DFB Cups and one European Cup Winners' Cup. After leaving Bayern, Beckenbauer moved to the New York Universe, Hamburg, and officially ended his playing career in 1983.
In his national team career, Beckenbauer also had the envy of countless players. In 1972, the Federal Republic of Germany won the 4th European Championship. Two years later, at the World Cup in Germany, Beckenbauer once again led the host country to the championship. Since the previous World Cup trophy, the Remet Cup, had been permanently retained by Brazil, FIFA decided to create a new trophy to be used in the 1974 World Cup, and Beckenbauer became the first captain in the history of world football to lift the Hercules Cup.
After retiring as a player, Beckenbauer coached the Federal Republic of Germany and led the team to another World Cup title, becoming a legend who won this honor as both a player and a coach. During his time in charge of Marseille and Bayern Munich, he led the team to one Ligue 1 title, one Bundesliga title and one UEFA Cup.
In addition, Beckenbauer has held many senior positions at FC Bayern Munich, the German Football Association, FIFA, etc. In 2007, Beckenbauer received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2012, he won the UEFA President's Award and the FIFA President's Award. The dominance of the "Emperor of Football" has been vividly demonstrated in his players, coaches and career paths.
"Emperor" can create an era
In the early morning of the 9th, FIFA wrote: "As a player, coach and official, Beckenbauer is a legend in German and international football. He defined the role of scavenger and libero, and his quick movement and excellent technique allowed him to switch between defense and offense with ease. His elegant style of play and leadership on the pitch earned him the nickname 'The Emperor of Football'. ”
Able to do the dirty work on the defensive end, serve as the hub of the ball when switching between offense and defense, and can also be used as a sharp knife when destroying the city, Beckenbauer's role on the court can be called "all-round panacea". The new positioning of the Liberty not only made the fans shine at the time, but also brought out a lasting influence in the subsequent development of football.
Libero, scavenger, midfielder, central defender, winger, Beckenbauer is like a multi-functional Swiss army knife, dedicating a variety of tricks and steady performances under different tactical requirements. It is no wonder that Dutch football legend Cruyff once said of Beckenbauer: "When you go one-on-one with Beckenbauer on the pitch, you feel timid, the attacking players feel that there is no way out, the defenders feel helpless, and the only way is to let the ball be cut off by Beckenbauer or easily passed by him." ”
Sir Bobby Charlton once commented on him: "The position of a free man was created by God for Beckenbauer, and after he retired, there was no one to compare with him." ”
Therefore, from the perspective of football history, Beckenbauer's contribution is definitely more than just trophies and achievements. He enriches the possibilities of modern football tactics and also provides a more unique template for the countless young players who follow him.
"Emperor" Beard Long
In July 2014, "Golden Arrow" Di Stefano died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 88, in March 2016, Cruyff died of lung cancer at the age of 68, in November 2020, Maradona died of a heart attack at the age of 60, and in December 2022, Bailey died of colon cancer caused by multiple organ failure at the age of 82. In January 2024, with the death of Beckenbauer, all five veteran players known as the "five elders of the palace" in football have passed away, and the era of classical football seems to have quietly come to an end.
On its official website, FC Bayern Munich wrote: "Without Beckenbauer, Bayern Munich would never have become the good club it is today. ”
German legend Rummenigge said: "Beckenbauer rewrote the history of German football and left its mark on it forever. He was my captain at Bayern, my coach of the national team, my president when I was at Bayern, and in all these roles he was not only successful, but also unique. ”
In addition, UEFA also issued a tribute to him: "An extraordinary player, a successful coach, a popular expert, an influential official, a founder of a charity – Beckenbauer will be remembered for all of these and more." UEFA President Ceferin said: "Beckenbauer is one of the greatest players in the history of football and his legacy is unquestionable. Farewell, a true legend. ”
On December 30, 2022, when the football king Pele died, Beckenbauer posted a farewell to his old friend. On January 9, 2024, the late Pele's social media account wrote: "Not only are they good friends, but the football king Pele even calls him brothers. It's a tough farewell for football lovers. Still, we hope it's a wonderful reunion in heaven. ”