German and World Cup football legend Franz Beckenbauer – widely considered one of the greatest players of all time – has passed away at the age of 78.
The sublimely talented defender won an array of trophies and honours across his glittering career, including a World Cup with West Germany as both a player and a manager, and two Ballon d’Or awards.
He was likewise famed for carving out his role as a sweeper – sitting slightly behind his team’s defensive line and sweeping up any man or ball that broke through.
Former England striker Gary Lineker, paying tribute to Beckenbauer, described him as “one of the absolute greats of our game”.
“Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP,” he wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
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