by Guendalina Galdi
From Sacchi to Capello, then Boninsegna, Voeller and beyond: how the world of football reacted to the death of the “Kaiser”
A “great”, a “perfectionist”. A “football legend”. The death of Franz Beckenbauer caused sadness and stimulated memories. He brought his football back into the news, that of the Seventies and that of footballers capable of winning a World Cup on the pitch and then replicating the same joy in the role of technical commissioner. Football without the «Kaiser» loses something historic: «We have lost a legend of our sport. Great as a footballer and then also as a coach – the memory of Arrigo Sacchi -. He regretted it more because he was still quite young, even though I knew he had been ill for some time. It’s a great sadness, we are all poorer.”
Capello on Beckenbauer: «Twice Golden Ball defender…»
Fabio Capello, who faced Beckenbauer, remembers one detail in particular: «Having played against us in the national team in Rome, we drew. In the end he complained that the grass was too short and he couldn’t kick half-point as well as he did. This anecdote always stuck with me, he was a perfectionist. As a person I met him like this, without speaking to him. As a player, he won the Ballon d’Or twice as a defender, I said it all.” And there are those who remember how it was yesterday when in the “match of the century” (Italy-Germany 4-3) he played with a broken shoulder.
Boninsegna: «He played with his shoulder on his neck»
Roberto Boninsegna was also on the pitch that day and his memory of the “Kaiser” could only be “a Mexican memory. When at the Azteca stadium we managed to beat the great Germany in extra time. It was the match of the century and he was the absolute director, the one who dictated the tempo – he told LaPresse -. He was the real captain on the pitch, the real team man. He is among the greatest of all time, for us in that period he was. Then he fell and hurt himself but he could run. He had his shoulder in his neck, they are indelible images. When you make a World Cup semi-final you play until the end and in a certain sense we have to thank him for that too, for those great overtimes. It went well for us, even if that match cost us the final a bit. But it was great Germany, with great players like him.”
Voeller: «With Beckenbauer I lose a good friend»
Legend for all, friend for a few. Among these is Rudi Voeller: «I am incredibly sad, the news of his death touches me very much. I consider it one of the great privileges of my life to have known and experienced Franz Beckenbauer. He has been a source of inspiration for more than a generation, he will forever remain the shining light of German football. With Beckenbauer, German football is losing its greatest personality, I am losing a good friend.”
Lawyer (as the family wanted) no, defender yes. One of the greatest ever. Such for those who saw him play and for those who experienced it through stories and films. He passed away on Sunday, the football day par excellence, but the announcement came the next day, even though Walter, his brother, had anticipated that his condition had worsened, speaking of a “deterioration significant”. He who in a documentary did not deny that he was “a Sunday child spoiled by happiness” but who did not believe in luck, but in hard work. And speaking of famous phrases, once, speaking about death, he said: «It comes to a certain point and no one can hide. You must see her as a friend who accompanies you into another life.”
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January 8, 2024 (modified January 8, 2024 | 7:07 pm)
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