Biography for
Franz Beckenbauer More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

11 September 1945, Munich, West Germany

Nickname

The Kaiser
Kaiser

Height

5' 11¾" (1.82 m)

Mini Biography

Franz Beckenbauer is probably Germany's most popular soccer player, coach and manager ever, known as the "Kaiser". Born and bred in Munich, he joined Bayern Munich at the age of 14. In 1965, he debuted in the German Bundesliga and became famous in the role of the team's sweeper. The following years, he won four league championships and four European cups (1966 Cup Winners' Cup, 1972-74 Champions' Cup). During that period, Beckenbauer also joined Germany's national side and had 103 caps in total. He led the team to the historic victories at the 1972 European Championships and the 1974 World Cup. After personal and professional problems, he accepted a contract to play in the North American Soccer Leauge with Cosmos New York. The team won the US championships on three occasions, but Beckenbauer returned to Germany and retired in 1984 after playing a season with Hamburger SV. Some months later, he was appointed manager of the German national team and coached the team until its final victory at the World Cup in 1990. He became one of two men, winning the cup as player and coach. In the 1990s, he returned to Bayern Munich and coached the team for one season, but finally became the club's president. More recently, Beckenbauer has headed Germany's bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2006 and is now chairman of the organization committee. Although the tabloids have always been interested in his turbulent private life, Franz Beckenbauer is considered "unassailable" in the public's eye.

IMDb Mini Biography By: fippi2000

Spouse

Heidi Burmester	(23 June 2006 - present) 2 children
Sybille Beckenbauer	(1990 - 18 November 2004) (divorced)
Brigitte Beckenbauer	(1966 - 1990) (divorced) 2 children

Trivia

He was West Germany's captain at the 1974 World Cup. They beat the Dutch in the final 2-1.

He coached West Germany to the final of the 1986 World Cup, but they were beaten by Argentina 3-2. In the 1990 World Cup final, the West Germans beat the Argentinians 1-0 and Beckenbauer became the first person to captain and coach World Cup winning teams. It was his last tournament as West German coach.

In the 1966 World Cup final his role was to mark England's Bobby Charlton.

Played for West Germany in the FIFA World Cups of 1966, 1970 and 1974.

Scored a total of 14 goals in his international career of 103 matches.

He scored four goals at the 1966 World Cup.

Played in 103 internationals.

Scored 14 goals for West Germany, an outstanding record for a defender.

Played for the New York Cosmos (1977-1980, 1983) football club.

Played alongside Pele for one season on the Cosmos (1977).

Has five children: Thomas (was born before his first marriage), Stefan, Michael (with Brigitte Beckenbauer), Noel and Francessca (with his present longtime companion Heidi Burmester).

Head of the organisation comittee for FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany.

Personal Quotes

"Bobby (Moore) was my football idol. I looked up to him. I was so proud to have played against him."

"Only two nations can win the World Cup. It will be either France or Argentina, they are the best." (Prior to the 2002 World Cup. Both sides were eliminated in the first round)

"If we come up against England, we shall beat them. That defeat will not happen again. It will be back to normal with a German victory." (After England's 5-1 defeat of Germany in 2001)

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