German president: Beckenbauer was 'most popular' sportsman

DPA
·1 min read
The then President of the 2006 World Cup Organizing Committee, Franz Beckenbauer, presents the golden soccer for the 2006 World Cup final in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Franz Beckenbauer, considered the greatest German football legend, died on Sunday at the age of 78, his family told dpa on Monday. Peer Grimm/dpa
The then President of the 2006 World Cup Organizing Committee, Franz Beckenbauer, presents the golden soccer for the 2006 World Cup final in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Franz Beckenbauer, considered the greatest German football legend, died on Sunday at the age of 78, his family told dpa on Monday. Peer Grimm/dpa
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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said that no one shaped German football like Franz Beckenbauer who has died at age 78.

"In Franz Beckenbauer, we are losing the best-known and most popular representative of German sport in the world. We will not forget him,"
Steinmeier said.

"He made football history as a player, national team coach and coach. He was an exceptional figure," Steinmeier said.

"With his leadership style and his playing philosophy, Franz Beckenbauer made the German national team an outstanding ambassador for our country throughout the world.

"We will always be grateful to him for that. And the summer fairytale in our country in 2006 would also have been unthinkable without him."

The president also mentioned Beckenbauer's social engagement, saying: "With his foundation, he supported people with disabilities and people who were ill and in need through no fault of their own."