Bavaria and Bayern commemorate Beckenbauer

Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder and Bayern Munich leaders on Wednesday commemorated club and Germany football icon Franz Beckenbauer when they signed a condolence book in Munich.

"We mourn the loss of a very, very great Bavarian, the most successful and best footballer Germany has ever had. A man who was a kind of football god, who changed German football and the image of Germans in the world," Söder said. "We will never forget him."

Bayern president Herbert Hainer said: "Franz was not only more important than almost anyone else for FC Bayern, but also for German football and world football. In the past, I have often compared him to Muhammad Ali, who revolutionised boxing, and Franz Beckenbauer revolutionised football.

"Franz Beckenbauer was not only a very, very great footballer, but he also gave Germany an incredible amount. Namely a positive reputation in the world, especially through the 2006 World Cup."

Bayern representatives also included CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen but also former players and officials Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The public has the opportunity to sign the condolence book from later Wednesday onwards. Beckenbauer died on Sunday at age 78.