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Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier honored Beckenbauer with a speech
Photo: Daniel Kopatsch / Getty Images
FC Bayern Munich remembered Franz Beckenbauer with a pompous memorial service.
In honor of probably the greatest celebrity in German football history, the German record champions invited thousands of fans and prominent guests to a memorial event in the Allianz Arena.
Beckenbauer died on January 7th at the age of 78.
He has already been buried privately.
Many celebrities attended the celebration.
Politics was represented by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) and Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU).
Numerous greats from the sports world from FC Bayern, German and international football were present.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, Fifa President Gianni Infantino, current and former Bayern players such as captain Manuel Neuer and Lothar Matthäus, national coach Julian Nagelsmann - the list was long.
Before the speeches began, the guests' arrival was accompanied by music: a brass band and a children's choir played, among other things, the Beckenbauer songs "Nobody can separate good friends" and "Football is our life."
The German opera singer Jonas Kaufmann introduced the funeral ceremony with the song “Con te partirò”, also known as “Time to Say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.
“A role model for generations”
Bayern President Herbert Hainer gave the first speech: “He was a role model for generations.
The world looked up to him, but he never looked down on others," Hainer praised the late club icon: "It's now up to us to continue living this story.
FC Bayern will always remain an empire – forever.”
Steinmeier was the next to speak.
Beckenbauer was “admired, revered, loved” all over the world, said the Federal President.
»No one can really estimate how positive Franz Beckenbauer has been for our country and what sympathy he has brought us around the world.
He has made a great contribution to Germany," said Steinmeier and continued: "All of us in Germany owe him a lot."
Beckenbauer was remembered at Bayern's first game after the winter break last Friday.
A minute's silence was held before the game and the players wore tops with Beckenbauer's number five on them during the warm-up.
“We found ourselves in a conflict between sadness and homage” that evening, said leading player Thomas Müller: “He was a personality, he was also our predecessor somewhere.
We want to carry on his legacy.«
Beckenbauer collected title after title with FC Bayern
Beckenbauer came to FC Bayern as a young player.
The wonderful talent who grew up in the Munich district of Giesing quickly became a top performer and won four German championships and the European Cup three times with the club.
As captain, Beckenbauer led the national team to the title at the home World Cup in 1974. They had already won the European Championship two years earlier.
In 1990, Beckenbauer became world champion for a second time - this time as a coach.
After his active career as a player and coach, Beckenbauer worked as a football official.
He played a central role in Germany's successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
However, a shadow fell on Beckenbauer's reputation when dubious payments worth millions became known.
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