Franz Beckenbauer

Born

September 11, 1945

Died

January 7, 2024 (aged 78)

Known as

association football player, association football coach, professional athlete, functionary, coach, sports executive

Franz Anton Beckenbauer was a German professional football player, manager, and official. Nicknamed der Kaiser, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential players of all time. Beckenbauer was a versatile player who started out as a midfielder, but made his name as a centre-back. He is often credited as having invented the role of the modern sweeper.

Biography from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.