Sports Farewell to Beckenbauer
“Franz, you’ve been dead for twelve days now. I miss you very much.”
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“You’ve been dead for twelve days now. And to be honest, I miss you a lot.”
As a long-time companion, Uli Hoeneß said goodbye to Franz Beckenbauer with a eulogy. After scolding the AfD and some critics of the Kaiser, Hoeneß became emotional at the end of his speech.
The memorial service for Franz Beckenbauer was a fitting farewell. 30,000 visitors, including high-ranking officials from sports, politics, business and culture, said goodbye in the Munich stadium. In his speech, Uli Hoeneß allowed himself a brief excursion into politics.
It was an emotional afternoon with moving moments. The farewell to Franz Beckenbauer in the Munich stadium was one of the largest commemorations in the history of German sport. On Friday, greats from football, politics and culture paid tribute to the football legend who died on January 7th at the age of 78. Numerous television stations broadcast the memorial service live, and the sun came out right at the beginning. “A sign from heaven that today is imperial weather again,” said Markus Söder, the Bavarian Prime Minister, in his speech.
It was a very dignified event that was attended by around 30,000 people, including Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz as well as Beckenbauer’s widow Heidi and his brother Walter. In addition, the 1974 world champions Uli Hoeneß, Paul Breitner and Günter Netzer as well as the current Bayern professional men’s and women’s teams and national coach Julian Nagelsmann. Also the German World Cup team from 1990.
Many fans had already come to the stadium at midday and entry was free. First, a brass band played, among other things, there were wreaths and a banner with an oversized photo of Beckenbauer in the center circle, and his jersey number five was laid out in red flowers in the penalty area. Beckenbauer’s coffin was not laid out in the stadium; “the emperor” was buried a week ago with his family in Munich.
Brass music as a farewell: The Hohenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn band plays before the memorial service in the stadium
What: REUTERS
The funeral service began at 3 p.m. A lectern was set up on a stand with the stand: “Franz: Player, Emperor, Man.” Eleven companions around Paul Breiter, record national player Lothar Matthäus, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Bastian Schweinsteiger each laid a rose on a wreath in the center circle, The star tenor Jonas Kaufmann sang “Time to say Goodbye” in the Italian version “Con te partiro”. Beckenbauer loved Italian arias, roses were his favorite flowers, red his favorite color. Old black and white recordings of Beckenbauer were shown on the video walls in the stadium, including images of his numerous triumphs.
“FC Bayern will always remain an imperial empire”
Herbert Hainer remembers the late football legend Franz Beckenbauer. “Franz firmly believed that death is just a stage – that it remains a part of us,” said the FC Bayern president at the memorial service in Munich.
The first speech was given by Herbert Hainer, President of FC Bayern. “Franz was a friend to everyone, from his heart,” he said. “He would have been happy that so many people came.” Beckenbauer never forgot where he came from. He lived values, every person was equal to him. “Franz always remained the libero. An eternal free spirit. Wherever he appeared: Franz brought the shine.” Beckenbauer firmly believed that death was only a stage. Beckenbauer is a role model for all generations.
“Mia san Franz”: Bayern President Herbert Hainer gave the first speech
Source: Getty Images/Daniel Kopatsch
“God bless Franz Beckenbauer”
Steinmeier then gave a ten-minute eulogy. Beckenbauer’s widow Heidi had wanted a speech from him as the country’s highest constitutional body. Beckenbauer was loved all over the world, said Steinmeier. “We were thrilled by his skills and won over people by his friendliness. He was a stroke of luck for all of us. We say goodbye to a great German. Thank you, Franz Beckenbauer. Thank you for everything.” Steinmeier recalled Beckenbauer’s one-two passes with legendary striker Gerd Müller and the interaction with Günter Netzer. And said: “As a natural diplomatic talent, he became our country’s most popular ambassador.”
“As a natural diplomatic talent, he became our country’s most popular ambassador”
At the funeral service for Franz Beckenbauer, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also said goodbye to the football legend. “He took life like his friend, the ball,” said Steinmeier. Beckenbauer has “done a service to our country”.
Then it was Söder’s turn – and he received a lot of applause for his speech. Beckenbauer led FC Bayern into a golden era. Beckenbauer made himself immortal with the “Summer Fairy Tale”. “The success as a person is particularly impressive,” says Söder. “Franz Beckenbauer’s light shines brightly.” He also said, based on Beckenbauer’s 1966 song: “No one can separate good friends. God bless Franz Beckenbauer.”
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Uli Hoeneß then spoke. The honorary president of FC Bayern praised Beckenbauer’s willingness to help, his hard work and his generosity. “Taking care of others – that was one of his most important qualities,” said Hoeneß. During his time as a player in New York, Beckenbauer became a global citizen. Bringing the 2006 World Cup to Germany was Beckenbauer’s masterpiece. Without this World Cup in Germany, the Allianz Arena would never have been built, said Hoeneß.
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Everyone was proud at the tournament. “We have to get back there in our country – which everyone is proud of,” said Hoeneß. “But I would like to emphasize very clearly that I do not want the AfD to be part of this process.” In connection with the aftereffects of the 2006 World Cup, Hoeneß spoke of a media campaign and a lot of small-mindedness. He concluded with the sentence: “Franz, you have been dead for twelve days now. I miss you very much. Rest in peace. A peace that you unfortunately haven’t been able to enjoy in the last few years as you deserve.”
Cardinal Reinhard Marx spoke last. He ordered greetings from Pope Francis, called for a minute’s silence and said of Beckenbauer: “Whoever dies doesn’t just go away. He keeps going along.”
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