Beckenbauer, renowned for his elegance and dominance on the field, showcased his remarkable skills while playing for West Germany and Bayern Munich in the 1960s and 70s. He revolutionized the game with his composed ball control and seamless distribution, pioneering the central defensive sweeper role, where he excelled.
Beckenbauer career included 103 caps for West Germany, securing the 1972 European championship and later triumphing in the World Cup on home soil, following an earlier final loss to England in 1966. Beckenbauer's tenure at Bayern Munich saw the team emerge as the premier club side globally in the mid-1970s. They clinched three consecutive European Cups and Bundesliga titles. Individually, he earned the prestigious title of European Footballer of the Year twice.
Transitioning to management, he led the West Germany national team to the 1986 World Cup final, although they were defeated by Argentina. However, four years later, as part of a unified German team, they secured victory in Italy. Beckenbauer, affectionately known as "Der Kaiser" ("The Emperor"), became one of three individuals to achieve World Cup success both as a player and a coach, following Brazil's Mario Zagallo. Didier Deschamps of France is the third to accomplish this feat.
Post-coaching, Beckenbauer ventured into football administration. Nonetheless, in 2016, he faced repercussions from FIFA's ethics committee, receiving a fine for non-cooperation with an investigation into corruption allegations surrounding the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.