Franz Beckenbauer (✝78) leaves a big gap. A few hours ago it was announced that the football legend died on Sunday. The former German national player has repeatedly struggled with health problems in recent years. This includes several heart operations, an eye attack and the fight against Parkinson’s and dementia. Numerous fans have already contacted us with touching mourning posts. Now some sports stars are also expressing their sadness.
“Rest in peace, Franz,” writes FC Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer (37), among others, on Instagram. His teammate Thomas Müller (34) emphasizes on Franz. We will never forget what you have done for football in Germany.” But also international football stars like Lionel Messi (36) and Xabi Alonso (42) commemorate the athlete online. Rudi Völler (63), who won the world championship title in Beckenbauer’s squad in 1990, also expressed his condolences to the German Press Agency: “A title that would never have been possible without his outstanding coaching performance. The ‘Kaiser’ was an inspiration for more than one generation, he will forever remain the shining light of German football Franz Beckenbauer German football is losing its greatest personality, I’m losing a good friend.” According to Pierre Littbarski (63), they would never have become world champions back then: “We all hoped that I would get better again. It’s one of the saddest days of my life.”
Lothar Matthäus (62) also knew how bad things had been for Beckenbauer recently. “His death is a loss for football and for Germany as a whole. He was one of the greatest as a player and coach, but also off the pitch. Franz was an outstanding personality not only in football, and he enjoyed worldwide recognition,” explains the former national player Bild. Everyone who Franz knew, would have known what a great and generous person he was.
