FC Bayern Munich is holding a memorial service for Franz Beckenbauer in the arena. BR television and ARD broadcast the event live, BR24Sport reports in the ticker.
At a large memorial ceremony in the Munich Arena, representatives from politics and sport, fans and joy say goodbye to Franz Beckenbauer.
3:23 p.m.: “Thank you for everything” – applause for the Federal President’s words
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier takes the lectern: “I don’t know whether the angels in heaven play sports. But if they do, then they heard the Bavarian voice: ‘Let’s go out and play football’ (..) The voice of the emperor. The Voice of Franz Beckenbauer.” (…) “Franz Beckenbauer was known all over the world, he was admired all over the world. We are not only saying goodbye to a great footballer, but also to a great person.”
“Thank you Franz Beckenbauer, thank you for everything!” said Steinmeier and those present applauded. “He not only gave this country a summer football fairytale, but he also gave us a new, friendly look at ourselves and we won’t forget that. (…) He has made a great contribution to our country” – the words are once again applauded of the Federal President. At the end, Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his condolences for the grieving family around Beckenbauer’s widow Heidi.
3:17 p.m.: Opera singer Jonas Kaufmann sings another piece: “E più ti penso”.
3:08 p.m.: “Franz brought the shine”
The first speaker of the afternoon is Herbert Hainer, President of FC Bayern Munich: “Franz was a friend of everyone (…) He would have been happy that so many people came together for him. But Franz would also have said: ‘What? You Are you all here because of me?'” (…) “The entire football world became darker. (…) The world looked up to him, but he never looked down from above. (…) Mia san Franz. (.. .) We will miss him. The Bayern president continued: “FC Bayern will always remain an empire – forever.”
3:01 p.m.: Moderator and stadium announcer Stephan Lehmann welcomes those present. After the welcoming words, star tenor Jonas Kaufmann sings the Italian version of “Time to say Goodbye” (“Con te partiro”). Important companions of Beckenbauer take to the pitch – including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Paul Breitner, Berti Vogts and Lothar Matthäus.
3 p.m.: The stadium fills up. The sun shines into the Munich arena. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder and Uli Hoeneß are already sitting in the stands. Many other representatives from sports and politics have arrived.
2.50 p.m.: FC Bayern players arrived
Numerous FC Bayern Munich players have now arrived. Coach Thomas Tuchel’s team ended the short training camp in Portugal earlier than planned in order to be able to take part in the memorial service.
2.45 p.m.: Marcus Höfl as a guest in the Blickpunkt sports studio
In the stadium, the wreaths are carried onto the field. Meanwhile, Beckenbauer’s long-time manager and confidant Marcus Höfl is a guest at the Blickpunkt sports studio. He speaks of “shock” and “sadness”, but also that it helped to have to organize the memorial service. “The gratitude and happiness about what we have experienced will prevail,” says Höfl. “I have known Franz for 45 years and have worked with him for a long time. I was one of the people he trusted the most.”
2.30 p.m.: While the fans arrive at the stadium and the supporting program begins, Olaf Thon, Christian Neureuther and Franz “Bulle” Roth are guests in Esther Sedlaczek’s Blickpunkt sports studio.
Christian Neureuther says in the studio: “I heard in the last few days that someone said that Franz in heaven plays football with Pelé. But I think he’ll go skiing with Rosi and then play football with Pelé.”
Beckenbauer died on January 7th at the age of 78. FC Bayern now invites you to say goodbye to the unforgettable ‘Kaiser’ in a special, emotional setting,” as the club announced.
Source: BR24Sport on the radio January 11, 2024 – 3:55 p.m