Franz Beckenbauer naît le 11 septembre 1945 dans la proche banlieue munichoise, à Giesing, tout près du stade. Il n'y a pas longtemps que les canons se sont tus et la vie est d'autant moins facile chez les Beckenbauer qu'ils ne sont pas riches. Mais ce sont des gens gais et Franz dit volontiers aujourd'hui: «J'ai eu une jeunesse très heureuse et j'en suis encore reconnaissant à mes parents».On aime également le football dans la famille Beckenbauer. Avec son frère, de quatre ans plus âgé, Franz joue dès qu'il sait marcher, le plus souvent avec des balles de chiffon. Il est si passionné que son père l'emmène un jour chez le cordonnier proche et fait fixer quelques crampons sous une vieille paire de boulions. Ce sont les premières chaussures de football du futur artiste.
Il y fait une ascension classique dans les équipes déjeunes. On apprécie déjà bien sûr l'élégance, l'adresse et le rayonnement de Franz. Au point qu'un dirigeant du T.S. V. 1860 Munich - alors le plus grand club de la ville, avant le Bayern-vient le voir: «Tu as des qualités, garçon, lui dit-il. Mais tu n'en feras rien si tu restes ici. Viens chez nous, tu y seras heureux et tu progresseras. »
Franz rosit de plaisir. Il va réfléchir à la chose, certes, mais sa résolution est prise. Il ira à Munich 1860, au « Sech-zig» comme on dit familièrement.
C'est alors qu'un match oppose le S.C. 1906, son club, au T.S.V. 1860. On a le sang chaud à Munich. Une controverse sur le terrain engendre une belle bagarre entre supporters et dirigeants des deux clubs. Franz reçoit une gifle de celui-là même qui lui proposait de l'accueillir. Munich 1860?Jamais! Franz se rend au Bayern et sollicite une licence. Un conte de fées va commencer.
His World Cup career started in 1966 when West Germany lost to England at Wembley in the final with Beckenbauer in an unusual midfield position marking Bobby Charlton. Kaiser Franz scored four goals in that World Cup which introduced him to the world audience.
In Mexico 1970, Beckenbauer is most remembered for playing on with an obvious shoulder injury in the classic 4-3 semifinal defeat to Italy. Heavily strapped he refused to be sustituted and battled throughout the full 120 minutes only to see his side lose the close contest. A win in the bronzematch over Uruguay was some consolation.
His third and last World Cup was hosted by his own country in 1974. West Germany and Kaiser Franz peaked at the right time and won the whole thing. The memorable final win against Holland and Johan Cruyff was of course the highlight. The triumph in Munich meant that Beckenbauer - as one of only two players in World Cup history (Wolfgang Overath the other) - had the complete collection of medals at the World Cup (Gold, silver, bronze).
His club career started off in little SC 1906 München as a boy before signing for much more famous Bayern Munich where he stayed for nigh on twenty years. It was a highly successful time. Bayern rose to the top of German and European football with Beckenbauer as the undoubted star. Many coveted titles were won such as three European Cups on the trot (1974-76), one Cupwinners Cup and a World Club Cup title in addition to numerous trophies on the domestic scene.
After quitting the national team, Franz spent the twilight years of his career with New York Cosmos in the North American pro league joining Pele and other stars. The success continued and shortly before retiring Beckenbauer returned to the Bundesliga to play for Hamburger SV where he mopped up another Bundesliga title - his final - in 1982.
Beckenbauer took over as coach for the German national team in 1984 and guided them to the final in 1986 and to the title in his last match in charge in 1990 against Argentina. It made him the first man to captain and coach a World Cup winning side. The Kaiser has since been highly involved in football as president for Bayern Munich, as commentator in newspapers and also with Germany's 2006 World Cup campaign.
After quitting the national team, Franz spent the twilight years of his career with New York Cosmos in the North American pro league joining Pele and other stars. The success continued and shortly before retiring Beckenbauer returned to the Bundesliga to play for Hamburger SV where he mopped up another Bundesliga title - his final - in 1982.
Beckenbauer took over as coach for the German national team in 1984 and guided them to the final in 1986 and to the title in his last match in charge in 1990 against Argentina. It made him the first man to captain and coach a World Cup winning side. The Kaiser has since been highly involved in football as president for Bayern Munich, as commentator in newspapers and also with Germany's 2006 World Cup campaign.
Deutsch
21. April 2006
1983, 100 Minutes
Folder :
