GERD MÜLLER VS. FRANZ BECKENBAUER | GERMAN LEGENDS

 🔴 The first on the right is Gerd Müller, the only player to have won all possible individual and team titles. 

He won the World Cup, the European Championship, the Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the Bundesliga, and the German Cup. He was the top scorer in the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, Bundesliga, and German Cup, and scored in the finals of the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, and German Cup. 

He won the Ballon d'Or and was named the best player in the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, and Bundesliga.

⚪️ The second is Franz Beckenbauer, one of the best defenders in history. He won the World Cup both as a player and as a coach with Germany. 

He was named the best player in Germany twice (1974 and 1976). He won the European Cup with Bayern Munich three consecutive times (1974, 1975, 1976), as well as the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972. 

He won the Bundesliga four times and the German Cup four times with Bayern Munich, and the American Soccer League three times with Cosmos. He also won the European Championship with Germany in 1972 and earned the Ballon d'Or twice.

At a time when the German national team had the best defender and the best striker in the world. 

BAYERN MÜNCHEN RETIRE FRANZ BECKENBAUR NO. 5 JERSEY

Franz Beckenbauer passed away at the age of 78 in January this year. Werner Schulze/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Bayern Munich have honoured club and Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer by retiring his No. 5 jersey.

Widely regarded as Germany's greatest ever player, Beckenbauer passed away at the age of 78 earlier this year.

He led his country to glory at the European Championships in 1972 and the 1974 World Cup, and also won three successive league titles and a hat trick of European Cups at Bayern.

His contributions and persona on the field saw him dubbed "Der Kaiser," which translates as "The Emperor."

He had two spells as manager at Bayern, winning the Bundesliga in 1994 and the UEFA Cup in 1996, and also served as club president.

"Forever our Kaiser," Bayern wrote in a post on X.

"In memory of Franz Beckenbauer: FC Bayern will never again give out jersey number 5."

- ESPN

WORLD CUP WINNERS AS PLAYERS AND MANAGERS

 

PELÉ AND FRANZ BECKENBAUER | 1977

 

🇧🇷 Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer 🇩🇪 while playing for New York Cosmos, 1977.

GERMAN LEGEND FRANZ BECKENBAUER DIES AT 78

Franz Beckenbauer won the World Cup with Germany in 1974. Werner Schulze/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Franz Beckenbauer, a World Cup winner with West Germany as a player and coach who was regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has died at the age of 78.

German news agency DPA said the family confirmed Beckenbauer's death via statement.

"It is with deep sadness that we announce that my husband and our father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family," the family said.

"We ask that you allow us to grieve in silence and refrain from asking any questions."

Beckenbauer, born in Munich, shaped German football as a player, coach and official. His elegance and leadership qualities on the pitch with Bayern Munich and his country won him the nickname "Der Kaiser," which translates as "The Emperor." Pelé called him "one of the best I ever saw play."

He won the 1972 and 1976 Ballon d'Or awards and was named Germany's Footballer of the Century in 2000. He received the FIFA Centennial Player and Football Personality Award in 2004.

Beckenbauer defined the role of the Libero, the free player behind the defensive lines who set the pace of the game.

Winning 103 caps for Germany between September 1965 and February 1977, he led Germany's "golden generation" to the 1972 European Championship and triumphed on home soil at the 1974 World Cup.

Beckenbauer is one of three people to have won the World Cup as both a player and coach, alongside Mário Zagallo with Brazil and Didier Deschamps with France.

At club level in Germany, he won three European Cups, a European Cup Winners' Cup, five Bundesliga titles and four German cups with Bayern Munich and Hamburg.

MARIO ZAGALLO, WORLD CUP WINNER AS PLAYER AND A MANAGER, DIES AGE 92

Brazilian won as a player in 1958 and 1962 before winning the tournament as a manager in 1970

 

Former Brazilian manager Mario Zagallo. Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty

 

Mario Zagallo, a four-time World Cup winner as a player and coach for Brazil, has died, aged 92.

Zagallo won consecutive World Cups in 1958 and 1962 before overseeing his country’s tournament wins in 1970 – as manager – and then as an assistant coach in 1994.

Zagallo, who also took Brazil to the final in 1998 where they were beaten by France, became the first person to win the World Cup as both a player and manager.

Franz Beckenbauer and Didier Deschamps have subsequently achieved the same feats for Germany and France respectively.

A diminutive left-winger, Zagallo played for Flamengo and Botafogo in Brazil and won 33 caps for the national team.

As a manager, he was nicknamed The Professor by his players throughout his coaching career, due to his tactical awareness and commanding presence on the bench.

"A social media message posted to Zagallo’s Instagram account read: “It is with great regret that we announce the passing of our eternal world champion, Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo.

“A devoted father, loving grandfather, caring father-in-law, faithful friend, victorious professional and a great human being. Giant idol. A patriot who leaves us a legacy of great achievements.”

Brazilian and Manchester United footballer Casemiro tweeted: “A legend of our football left today. Thank you for everything! Rest in peace, Zagallo.”