Chancellor Scholz is shocked by Beckenbauer’s death
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also mourns Franz Beckenbauer. “World champion as a player and coach: Franz Beckenbauer was one of the greatest footballers in Germany and for many ‘the emperor’ – also because he inspired enthusiasm for German football for generations,” Scholz wrote on the social network X: “We will miss him . My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Federal President Steinmeier praises Beckenbauer as an exception
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier honored the late football legend Beckenbauer as an “exceptional phenomenon”. In a letter of condolence to Beckenbauer’s widow Heidrun Beckenbauer published by the Federal President’s Office, Steinmeier wrote: “Probably no one has had such an impact on German football as Franz Beckenbauer. As a player, team manager and coach, he has written football history.” The summer fairy tale with the 2006 home World Cup would have been unthinkable without Beckenbauer. “As in many other places, he allowed himself to be put into service here.” Steinmeier also praised Beckenbauer’s social commitment.
“We will miss him”: Matthäus mourns Beckenbauer
Former world champion captain Lothar Matthäus is also crying for his friend Franz Beckenbauer. “The shock is deep, even though I knew that Franz wasn’t feeling well,” the record national player told the “Bild-Zeitung”: “His death is a loss for football and for all of Germany. He was one of the greatest as a player and Coach, but also off the pitch.”
Matthäus won the World Cup title in Rome in 1990 as team boss with Beckenbauer, who died on Sunday at the age of 78. Beckenbauer, Matthäus emphasized, was “an outstanding personality, not just in football,” “he enjoyed worldwide recognition. Everyone who knew him knows what a great and generous person Franz was. A good friend has left us. He will I miss him – we will all miss him!”
Former Munich footballer and current Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso also expressed his condolences: “Rest in peace, Emperor!”