In ten days, Bayern will first invite “friends and companions from national and international sports, culture and politics, as well as all fans and the entire football family in general, to say goodbye to the unforgettable ‘Kaiser’ in a special, emotional setting.” The focus of the celebration is the memory of Beckenbauer, who died on Sunday at the age of 78.
As FC Bayern also announced, the club has now received letters of condolence from all over the world. “The joint celebration in the FC Bayern stadium is intended to create an opportunity to honor Franz Beckenbauer in the environment in which he reached people’s hearts in a unique way: on the football field,” it said. Further details will follow in advance.
Mourning after Beckenbauer’s death
After the death of Franz Beckenbauer, the sports world bows to one of its most colorful personalities.
Companions, celebrities and fans all over the world bow to one of the most important footballers in history. “The whole world of football and beyond is mourning the loss of our friend Franz,” said Rummenigge and was the first to suggest an incomparable farewell for his former coach and long-time confidante.
Rummenigge rushed forward
“FC Bayern should organize a memorial service in the stadium as a thank you and in memory of him, which would never have existed without him!”, the former Bayern CEO told the “Bild” newspaper. The Allianz Arena, which opened in 2005, can accommodate 75,000 people.
picturedesk.com/dpa Picture Alliance/Eibner press photo Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is hoping for a big-scale farewell to Beckenbauer
Bayern have their Bundesliga home game against Hoffenheim in the arena this Friday (8:30 p.m.). The lettering “Thank you Franz” will also shine on the Allianz Arena in the next few days. Coach Thomas Tuchel and his players posed before training on Tuesday with a jersey with a “Thank you Franz” print as well as an original jersey of the former exceptional footballer, which he wore on June 26, 1965 in the promotion round to the German Bundesliga in the historic 8-0 win against Tennis Borussia Berlin had worn.
As the Munich team also announced, captain Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller and Co. then wore mourning ribbons during training in memory of the honorary president. “The team, as the heart of the entire club, stands alongside its family and friends in mourning,” the record champions said in a statement.
Minutes of silence in the league and cup
The German Football League (DFL) has announced a minute’s silence at all games for the coming Bundesliga weekend. The DFL announced this on Tuesday in Frankfurt/Main. The teams are also required to wear mourning ribbons.
The German Football Association (DFB) also announced a minute’s silence for its competitions. Among other things, Beckenbauer will be remembered with a minute’s silence before the games in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup at the end of January and beginning of February.
Renaming of the DFB Cup suggested
Berti Vogts, who had become world and European champions at Beckenbauer’s side, suggested a tribute. “It is important that his name is not forgotten by the following generations of footballers. Maybe the DFB should think about naming the DFB Cup after Franz Beckenbauer, for example,” said the 77-year-old, who played with the “Kaiser”.
picturedesk.com/dpa/Frank Leonhardt In 1990, Vogts was Beckenbauer’s assistant, after which he followed him as national coach
The former professional and national coach received approval: Olaf Thon, who was able to lift the World Cup trophy in 1990 under coach Beckenbauer, called Vogts’ suggestion “not a bad idea”. The former and long-standing Bremen manager Willi Lemke said: The proposal was “definitely appropriate”.
The street and stadium should bear Beckenbauer’s name
An application was submitted to Mayor Dieter Reiter in the Munich city council to name a street after Beckenbauer. A book of condolence was available in the town hall, and another book from the State Chancellery will be available in the residence from Wednesday.
The long-time successful Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld suggested renaming the Munich football stadium. “He helped build FC Bayern’s charisma together with Gerd Müller, Uli Hoeneß, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and a few others. “That’s why it would be a good fit if the Allianz Arena were renamed the Franz-Beckenbauer-Arena,” said the 74-year-old Swiss. But he doesn’t know whether the sponsor would play along.