He was a teammate, player and assistant coach of Franz Beckenbauer. In the starInterview, Klaus Augenthaler talks about Beckenbauer’s powers of persuasion on the phone, the 1990 World Cup triumph and the Schafskopf evenings together.
Mr. Augenthaler, you are something like a world champion despite yourself. Franz Beckenbauer had to persuade you in 1990 to come back to the national team, from which you had said goodbye three years earlier. How was the team boss able to change your mind?
There were two phone calls. In the first he said: “Klaus, I would like to have you with me in Italy. You are my head of defense. We want to really do something at the World Cup.” I said: “Franz, that’s not possible. I have groin problems, my Achilles tendons hurt, and I also have a newborn child at home. I can’t cope.” He replied: “We’ll manage that. If you’re in pain, take a break. Then someone else will play.”