Franz Beckenbauer’s name will always remain linked to the history of World Cups. The German was the protagonist of three World Cups as a player (England ’66, Mexico ’70 and Germany ’74) and two World Cups as a coach (Mexico ’86 and Italy ’90) and can boast of being part of an exclusive club. This information has been accessed by only two people throughout history, Brazilian Mario Zagalo and Frenchman Didier Deschamps. These three names are the only ones to have won the World Cup as players and coaches so far. The real ‘Kaiser’ (German for emperor) Beckenbauer achieved this, first as captain of the ‘Mannschaft’ in 1974 and later as coach in 1990.
Beckenbauer At first a decent midfielder, he later regained his position and became the paragon of the libero, the extinct figure favored by countless coaches over a long period of the last century. His calling card were the four goals he scored in the first World Cup in 1966; Here he started all six matches played by FRG, who lost only in the final against the hosts England.
Four years later the ‘Kaiser’ once again became the protagonist of the World Cup in Mexico. The German team was on the verge of reaching the final, losing 4-3 to Italy in the semi-finals in the duel that went down in history as the match of the century with its intensity and emotionality. Beckenbauer He played almost the entire extra time with his arm in a sling after injuring his right shoulder due to a hard tackle from Facchetti.
He did so in the next and final World Cup, where he once again played a key role. Being captain allowed him to lift the current World Cup trophy for the first time after defeating the Netherlands in the final. Johan Cruyff.
Beckenbauer He has the honor of always reaching the semi-finals in all the matches he played in the World Cup, both as a player and as a German coach.