European football mourns Franz Beckenbauer: the sports papers hail 'the player we all wanted to be' after the German legend's death at the age of 78… and even the Italians believe he was the best defender ever!
The football world mourns German legend Franz Beckenbauer. His death at the age of 78 dominated the headlines on Tuesday.
Newspapers across Europe devoted space to obituaries and tributes, with the image of 'Der Kaiser', the World Cup victory following West Germany's victory in 1974, predominating.
“Our Kaiser is dead” read the front page headline of the German newspaper Bild, with photos of Beckenbauer as a player, as a World Cup-winning coach and in subsequent ambassadorial roles.
But the respect and admiration for Beckenbauer extended far beyond his homeland.
In Spain, Mundo Deportivo blacked out the front cover, except for an image of the West Germany captain lifting the trophy after they defeated the Netherlands 2–1 in the 1974 final in Munich.
The death of German football legend Franz Beckenbauer, aged 78, dominated headlines across Europe on Tuesday – German tabloid Bild said: 'Our Kaiser is dead'
Spanish newspaper Marca reported Beckenbauer's death, saying 'we all wanted to be him'
Mundo Deportivo reflected the universal respect for the German with a black front
The image of Beckenbauer winning the World Cup in 1974 was prominently featured in the news coverage
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Marca imagined the first 'libero' with the ball at his feet and said: 'We all wanted to be Beckenbauer'.
Diario Sport called him 'the last myth' as they also depicted him winning the World Cup as a player and credited him with 'revolutionizing football from defense with his exceptional class.'
The love for Beckenbauer continued in Portugal, where A Bola dedicated its front page to him, and even in the Netherlands, where AD Sportwereld reflected the universal respect for the man.
The French sports newspaper L'Equipe dedicated their front page to Beckenbauer – with a mention also for Welsh rugby legend JPR Williams.
Le Figaro's sports section showed a beaming Beckenbauer holding the 1974 World Cup trophy and calling it “a symbol of a dominant German team.”
They also noted his three consecutive European Cup successes with Bayern Munich between 1974 and 1976, and his Ballon d'Or victories in 1972 and 1976.
In Italy, where they value a good defender, La Gazzetta dello Sport declared him 'the greatest defender of all time'.
Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta paid Beckenbauer the ultimate tribute by calling him the 'greatest defender of all time'
'Der Kaiser' was also on the front page of the Portuguese sports newspaper A Bola on Tuesday
Beckenbauer was also the lead story on the front cover of the French sports newspaper L'Equipe
Le Figaro said he was 'the symbol of a dominant German team' as part of their tribute
There was respect for Beckenbauer in the Netherlands, despite his role in beating the brilliant Dutch team of 1974
Their subtitle described Beckenbauer as “the No. 1 German talent in the world who brought elegance to the field.”
The World Cup winner died on Sunday, his family confirmed, as tributes poured in from the football world.
Beckenbauer's health has gradually deteriorated since his son Stephan died in 2015. Since then, the iconic former player and manager has struggled with Parkinson's disease and dementia, and undergone heart surgery.
Franz Beckenbauer, one of the greatest footballers ever, has died at the age of 78
The German icon is one of three men to have won the World Cup as both a player and manager
Beckenbauer won the World Cup for West Germany as a player, in 1974, and as a manager in 1990 (pictured with Bobby Moore in 1985)
He is survived by his wife Heidi and his four other children.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that husband and father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family,” a statement said.
“We ask that you grieve in silence and not ask questions.”