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      Chelsea hit with bizarre transfer conundrum as ‘Blues BANNED from offloading Ian Maatsen despite agreeing Dortmund loan’

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      CHELSEA star Ian Maatsen has agreed to join Borussia Dortmund on loan, according to reports.However, the left-back is unable to sign for his new club with the Blues currently banned from offloading him.
      Ian Maatsen is set to join Borussia Dortmund on loanCredit: Getty
      Dortmund have a £2million deal in place to sign Maatsen on loan until the end of the season.
      Reports suggest the player will pen a new contract at Stamford Bridge to put Chelsea in a strong negotiating position amid talk of a permanent move in the summer.
      But Maatsen’s switch this month is on hold due to a little-known transfer rule.
      Clubs are allowed to loan out up to seven players to foreign sides at one time.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      Chelsea have already hit the maximum amount and they now must rip up a current deal to see Maatsen leave.
      Romelu Lukaku, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Angelo Gabriel, Hakim Ziyech, David Datro Fofana, Gabriel Slonina and Diego Moriera are all on loan with clubs abroad.
      There has been rumours that Ziyech could see his spell end with Galatasaray after struggling with injuries and form.
      Meanwhile, Moriera has found it tough to get minutes at Lyon and is another recall option.
      Most read in Football
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      Speculation also suggests that Fofana may see his time end at Union Berlin – but he would then be sent back out on loan to Sevilla.
      The maximum of seven foreign loans rule was put in place two years ago to stop teams stockpiling talent.
      Players are exempt from the regulation if they are both club-trained, meaning they have spent at least three years in the club’s youth academy, and are aged under 21.
      Maatsen is not spared from this rule because his 21st birthday came before the cut off at the end of last season.
      Chelsea have already been busy in the loan market this January, sending Alex Matos to Huddersfield and recalling Andrey Santos from his season at Nottingham Forest. More

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      Franz Beckenbauer was a German football machine whose off-field disgrace couldn’t overshadow his greatness on the pitch

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      HE WAS known as Der Kaiser.The ultimate German footballing machine.
      Beckenbauer pioneered the sweeper positionCredit: Rex
      Later in life he was banned from footballing activities – but that did not overshadow his greatness on the fieldCredit: AP
      A World Cup winner as player and manager.
      The heartbeat of the Bayern Munich side that dominated Europe in the mid-70s, who invented a new position on the pitch – and then tried to make “soccer” work in the USA.
      One of the first ex-players to move into the realm of the suits, the movers and shakers.
      But whose life ended in off-field disgrace.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Banned and shunned – and accused of being one of the worst double-dealers in Fifa’s cluttered field – even before ill-health and dementia claimed him as a victim through his later years.
      Yet for most who loved football, it is the image of Franz Beckenbauer the player, the graceful, insightful, elegant swan of a booted hero, not the grasping anti-hero, which will always remain.
      A symbol of Germany’s move from a pariah nation to Europe’s most powerful footballing force.
      The man whose friendship with Bobby Charlton, forged on the field of combat, lasted for years. Enduring and deep.
      Most read in Football
      And with his passing, just a few months after Charlton himself died, another of the links with English football’s greatest day has broken, leaving just half a dozen of the men who were on the Wembley turf on July 30 1966.
      In Germany, unsurprisingly, the response to the news of Beckenbauer’s death at the age of 78 was a deep mourning.
      Bild, the country’s top-selling paper, said: “Germany says goodbye to its greatest footballer.
      “World champion as a player in 1974 and as a coach in 1990.
      “The creator of the summer fairy tale in 2006.”
      Lothar Matthaeus, Beckenbauer’s skipper in that 1990 triumph, added: “The shock is deep, even though I knew he wasn’t feeling well.
      “Franz’ death is a loss for football and for Germany as a whole. He was one of the greatest, as a player and a coach but also off the field.”
      That is true and while the image of Der Kaiser was tarnished by his flaws, the beauty of its initial incarnation will remain far longer.
      POSTAL WORKER DAD
      Born to a Munich postal worker and his wife, just four months after the collapse of the Nazi regime and the end of World War Two in Europe, the schoolboy Beckenbauer was a fan of 1860 Munich.
      But a tear-up with the 1860 centre-half – Beckenbauer was a centre-forward at the time – in a local youth tournament saw him decide to join Bayern at 14 instead.
      Four years later, he was banned from the West German youth set-up because his girlfriend was pregnant, only for the national team’s assistant manager Dettmar Cramer to intervene on his behalf.
      By 1965, he was part of the emerging new Bayern side, team-mates including Gerd Muller and Sepp Maier and soon a full international, making his debut in the decisive World Cup qualifying win in Sweden.
      It was enough for coach Helmut Schoen. From then on, Beckenbauer was a certainty, and ever-present – a captain in waiting.
      Despite playing as a deep-lying midfielder, Beckenbauer scored four goals, including the Goodison semi-final winner over the Soviet Union, to earn his side their Wembley date.
      But Schon and Ramsey, wily foxes both, recognised the same thing, sending Charlton and Beckenbauer out to nullify each other.
      It worked, for both. But England and Geoff Hurst danced away with the trophy.
      1966 REVENGE
      Four years later, Beckenbauer and Germany got revenge in Leon, the Bayern man beginning a comeback from two down as he drove an angled shot past Peter Bonetti.
      That World Cup win did not come, though, not yet, with Beckenbauer playing the latter stages of the 4-3 extra-time semi-final defeat by Italy with his arm in a sling, after Schon had used both his allowed substitutes.
      By then Beckenbauer had become “Der Kaiser” – The Emperor – although his claim that it came about because he posed in front of a bust of former Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I might not have been entirely true.
      No matter. He was Der Kaiser, unquestionably, the ball-playing libero – an attack-minded sweeper who came out from the back to make the play.
      Captain of Schoen’s side as they demolished the Russians to win the Euros in Brussels in 1972 and having led Bayern to the first of three straight European Cup triumphs when he lifted the World Cup in his home city a few weeks later.
      Even after he pulled up the drawbridge on his West Germany career after 103 caps to join New York Cosmos, there was a final hoorah as he played two seasons at Hamburg, adding a fifth Bundesliga crown.
      His ascent to the managerial role was no surprise. Nor was the success, beaten only by the Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina in 1986, it was the South Americans who were vanquished in the repeat match-up in Rome four years later.
      A return to Bayern as boss saw more silverware before Beckenbauer, the grand old statesman, became the German FA’s vice-president, asked to lead their bid for the 2006 World Cup.
      Which is where things became more murky.
      While the 2006 tournament was a huge success, it later emerged the “summer fairy tale” had been won on the back of an illicit deal which saw £1m enter his bank account from South Africa, while he also earned £3m from a covert sponsorship deal.
      And Beckenbauer was also a member of the Fifa executive committee which awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively in 2010.
      Read more on The Sun
      Documents later suggested he had received £3m-plus from Russia while he voted for Qatar despite being an ambassador for Australia’s bid.
      Yet what matters, far more, is the legacy on the pitch. Der Kaiser represented an ideal. Even if he could not always live up to it.
      He won the World Cup as Germany manager in 1990Credit: AFP
      His death has plunged Germany into national mourningCredit: Rex
      Beckenbauer helped popularise football in the US by moving to the New York CosmosCredit: Rex
      His later life was dominated by scandal owing to his dealings with FifaCredit: EPA More

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      Gary Lineker leads tributes to Franz Beckenbauer as ‘one of the absolute greats of our game’ dies aged 78

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      GARY LINEKER has led tributes to “absolute great” Franz Beckenbauer after the German legend died aged 78.The ex-England striker saluted “the most beautiful of footballers”.
      Franz Beckenbauer has been described as ‘technically the best ever’Credit: AFP
      Gary Lineker says Beckenbauer was a ‘beautiful’ person and playerCredit: Alamy
      Iconic defender Franz Beckenbauer skippered West Germany to a 2-1 victory over Holland in the 1974 World Cup finalCredit: Rex
      Former Bayern Munich defender Beckenbauer was one of only three men to win the World Cup as a player (1974) and manager (1990) – both times with West Germany.
      BBC presenter Lineker posted: “Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died. One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP.”
      Ex-Three Lions’ goalkeeper Peter Shilton wrote: “Very sad to hear that the great @beckenbauer has sadly passed away, he was a fantastic player reaching world class status.”
      And Sun columnist Piers Morgan hailed Der Kaiser as a “sublime defender, great manager, magnificent ambassador for the game”.
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      Liverpool great Sir Kenny Dalglish gave a personal slant on the tragedy.
      The former Anfield player and manager said: It fills me with deep sadness to hear about the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, a true icon of the game.
      “It was a privilege to share one of my proudest moments with him when he presented my 100th cap for Scotland. My thoughts are with him and his family at this time. RIP Der Kaiser.”
      Xabi Alonso – a former midfielder hero for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern and Spain – also referred to the timeless standing of two-time Ballon d’Or winner Beckenbauer.
      Most read in Football
      The Bayer Leverkusen manager said: “Rest in peace, Emperor!”
      Munich-born Beckenbauer was famous for his comfort in possession and majestic way of bringing the ball forward.
      That left ex-Chelsea and Scotland striker David Speedie describing the three-time European Cup winner as “ahead of his time”.
      Speedie wrote: “Sad to hear one of the games all time greats Franz Beckenbauer has passed away. 
      “Der Kaiser was ahead of his time, he changed the way the we played football. He leaves behind a legacy many of can only dream about having as a footballer. ‘RIP Franz Beckenbauer.”
      Beckenbauer helped West Germany KO England 3-2 at the 1970 World Cup, having lost against Bobby Moore’s men in the final at Wembley in 1966Credit: Getty
      Fans online agreed – as praise for his imperious style pouring in.
      One wrote: “The most complete player that ever walked this earth probably.
      “Franz Beckenbauer could defend like Maldini and dribble like Maradona while having the passing skills of Pirlo and the scoring ability of Beckham when he wanted to. No wonder he’s the only defender with 2 Ballon D’Or.”
      Another stated: “Di Stefano said he‘s a walking spectacle, Pele called him a master, Beckham said he was the greatest ever, R9 said he was technically the best and Henry called him a God.”
      Ex-Newcastle and Manchester City keeper Shay Given posted: “RIP Franz Beckenbauer. A true legend of the game.”
      Former Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Norway frontman Jan Age Fjortoft called the icon “one of the greatest players of all time”.
      Read more on The Sun
      He added: “I had the privilege to have him as a colleague at Sky Germany. He was always open and kind. And shared his wisdom and knowledge. Rest in Peace, Kaiser.”
      And comedian David Baddiel wrote: “The great Franz Beckenbauer gone now, so soon after Bobby Charlton. Bobby was given the job of keeping him quiet in the 1966 World Cup final. Maybe this is a very profound example of man to man marking. RIP.” More

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      Why was Franz Beckenbauer called Der Kaiser?

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      FRANZ Beckenbauer was one of the world’s most recognisable footballer’s, winning the World Cup as both a player and manager.Beckenbauer died at the age of 78 on January 7, 2024. Here’s what we know about him.
      Franz Beckenbauer won the World Cup as a player and manger
      Why was Franz Beckenbauer called Der Kaiser?
      Beckenbauer was one of the most decorated footballers in history, winning major trophies as both a player and manager.
      He was known as Der Kaiser, which translates to English as as The Emperor.
      He first labelled Der Kaiser by a magazine that said he resembled former Bavarian king Kaiser Ludwig II.
      This knickname followed him throughout his career, and was further cemented as he captained West Germany to World Cup glory in 1974, as well as winning as manager with his country in 1990.
      READ MORE ON BECKENBAUER
      Who did Franz Beckenbauer play for?
      Beckenbauer started his professional career at Bayern Munich, the club in which he would make his name at.
      Beckenbauer made 584 appearances in total for the Bavarian club, scoring 75 times.
      His time in Munich was successful, winning four Bundesliga titles and three European cups in his 13 years at the club.
      After leaving Bayern, Beckenbauer joined New York Cosmos, playing there from 1977 to 1980.
      Most read in Football
      He then returned to Germany, this time joining Hamburg, helping them win the Bundesliga in 1982, which qualified them for the European cup.
      Beckenbauer then returned to New York Cosmos in 1983 for his second spell.
      When did Franz Beckenbauer retire?
      Beckenbauer retired in 1983, finishing his career with New York Cosmos.
      He became West Germany head coach in 1984, and oversaw a hugely successful period.
      He led the team to the 1986 World Cup final in Mexico, losing 3-2 in the final to a Diego Maradona inspired Argentina.
      He then led the team to the Semi finals of Euro 88, losing to rivals The Netherlands on home soil.
      In 1990 in Italy, Beckenbauer became only the second manager after Brazil’s Mario Zagallo to win the World Cup as a player and manager.
      West Germany defeated England on penalties in the semi final before avenging their final defeat four years earlier against Argentina, winning 1-0 with Andreas Brehme scoring the winner from the penalty spot.
      Beckenbauer left the West Germany job in 1990, to join Marseille. In his only season at the club, he won Ligue 1 and lost in the European cup final to Red Star Belgrade.
      He then had two successful spells with Bayern Munich, between 1993 and 1994, and then again in 1996.
      Read more on The Sun
      He won the Bundesliga and the UEFA Cup in his two spells, leaving his post for the final time in June 1996, his final job in management.
      He later was president of Bayern Munch and the Vice-president of the German Football Association. More

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      Franz Beckenbauer death updates: Tributes pour in for World Cup winner and Bayern Munich legend

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      THE world is mourning the sad death of World Cup winner and Bayern Munich legend Franz Beckenbauer.Beckenbauer was twice named European Footballer of the Year and appeared 103 times for West Germany.
      The Bayern Munich legend has also lifted a European Cup Winners’ Cup and his death has sent shock waves around the sporting world.
      Stay up to date with all the tributes…
      ‘Absolute great’ – Gary Lineker
      Gary Lineker has paid tribute to the legend’s ‘grace and charm’.
      Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died. One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP.— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 8, 2024
      A superstar – on and off the field
      Beckenbauer won the Ballon d’Or in 1972 and 1976, and retired from playing in 1984 following a spell with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League.
      Despite no coaching experience, he was appointed West Germany manager that year and led his country to the final of the 1986 World Cup and then to the trophy itself at Italia 90.
      There followed a brief spell in charge of Marseille in France before Beckenbauer returned to Bayern, leading the club to the Bundesliga title in 1994 and the Uefa Cup two years later. Beckenbauer also had spells as president at Bayern and vice-president of the German Football Association.
      From one legend to another
      Sir Kenny Dalglish has paid tribute to Franz Beckenbauer on X, calling him a ‘true legend’ of the game.
      It fills me with deep sadness to hear about the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, a true icon of the game. It was a privilege to share one of my proudest moments with him when he presented my 100th cap for Scotland. My thoughts are with him and his family at this time. RIP Der Kaiser pic.twitter.com/32p8T2rEkI— Sir Kenny Dalglish (@kennethdalglish) January 8, 2024
      How Franz Beckenbauer became synonymous with adidas in the 80s
      Franz Beckenbauer became synonymous with adidas in the 80s after endorsing the brand.
      Although adidas still enjoys huge celebrity football endorsements in the modern game such as the likes of Paul Pogba, Toni Kroos and Lionel Messi, it was really Beckenbauer that brought the three stripes and football connection into fruition.
      Franz Beckenbauer: a football poet, gracefully weaving his artistry into the romantic fabric of the beautiful game.𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲, 𝗥𝘂𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻, 𝗗𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿. pic.twitter.com/LE02O4hVpy— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) January 8, 2024
      ‘Outstanding personality’
      Lothar Matthäus, who was Beckenbauer’s captain in 1990 and a close friend, told German newspaper Bild: “The shock is deep, even though I knew that Franz wasn’t feeling well. His death is a loss for football and for Germany as a whole.
      “He was one of the greatest as a player and coach, but also off the field. Franz was an outstanding personality – not only in football – and he enjoyed worldwide recognition.
      “Everyone who knew him knows what a great and generous person Franz was. A good friend has left us. I will miss him – we will all miss him.”
      Piers Morgan pays tribute to football legend
      RIP Frank Beckenbauer, 78. German football legend who was one of only three men to win the World Cup both as player and coach. Sublime defender, great manager, magnificent ambassador for the game. pic.twitter.com/OqP9v6CA3d— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 8, 2024
      Everything you need to know (3)
      In addition to his sensational club career, Der Kaiser starred for his country, playing 103 times for West Germany and scoring 14 goals.
      He became West Germany captain in 1972, and subsequently skippered them to Euros glory that year before lifting the World Cup two years later.
      Beckenbauer also enjoyed great success as a manager, guiding his country to further World Cup glory at Italia 1990, Marseille to Ligue 1 success in 1991 and Bayern to Bundesliga and Uefa Cup trophies between 1993 and 1996.
      Everything you need to know (2)
      Having stacked up four Bundesliga titles, four German Cups, three European Cups and a Cup Winners’ Cup, the man dubbed “Der Kaiser” left Bayern after 18 years to move Stateside with New York Cosmos.
      Beckenbauer starred alongside the likes of Pele and Carlos Alberto in the Big Apple, winning the North American Soccer League three times before returning to Germany in 1980, subsequently adding yet another Bundesliga title with Hamburg.
      Franz Beckenbauer’s glittering career – everything you need to know (1)
      Franz Beckenbauer began his legendary career with hometown club Bayern Munich after catching their eye aged just 14.
      The defender went on to debut with Bayern at 18 in 1964.
      He went on to play over 500 times for the Bundesliga giants, winning everything there was to win in the game.
      How Franz Beckenbauer became synonymous with adidas in the 80s
      Franz Beckenbauer became synonymous with adidas in the 80s after endorsing the brand.
      Although adidas still enjoys huge celebrity football endorsements in the modern game such as the likes of Paul Pogba, Toni Kroos and Lionel Messi, it was really Beckenbauer that brought the three stripes and football connection into fruition.
      Franz Beckenbauer: a football poet, gracefully weaving his artistry into the romantic fabric of the beautiful game.𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲, 𝗥𝘂𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻, 𝗗𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿. pic.twitter.com/LE02O4hVpy— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) January 8, 2024

      From one legend to another
      Sir Kenny Dalglish has paid tribute to Franz Beckenbauer on X, calling him a ‘true legend’ of the game.
      It fills me with deep sadness to hear about the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, a true icon of the game. It was a privilege to share one of my proudest moments with him when he presented my 100th cap for Scotland. My thoughts are with him and his family at this time. RIP Der Kaiser pic.twitter.com/32p8T2rEkI— Sir Kenny Dalglish (@kennethdalglish) January 8, 2024

      What made Franz Beckenbauer so special?
      Beckenbauer is an icon of German football having won 104 caps for West Germany, captaining them to glory at the 1974 World Cup before repeating the feat, as manager, in Italy 16 years later.
      He also won numerous other honours, including a hat-trick of European Cups with Bayern Munich in the mid-70s, when he also established his reputation as a defender of supreme talents.
      ‘Outstanding personality’
      Lothar Matthäus, who was Beckenbauer’s captain in 1990 and a close friend, told German newspaper Bild: “The shock is deep, even though I knew that Franz wasn’t feeling well. His death is a loss for football and for Germany as a whole.
      “He was one of the greatest as a player and coach, but also off the field. Franz was an outstanding personality – not only in football – and he enjoyed worldwide recognition.
      “Everyone who knew him knows what a great and generous person Franz was. A good friend has left us. I will miss him – we will all miss him.”
      Summary – Franz Beckenbauer has passed away at 78
      Football legend Franz Beckenbauer has sadly passed away at the age of 78, his family have confirmed
      The Bayern Munich icon is the only man to have both captained and managed World Cup-winning teams.
      Beckenbauer is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
      He won the highest individual honour in football twice, winning the Ballon d’Or in 1972 and 1976.
      Beckenbauer featured at the 1966 World Cup for West Germany against England.

      Everything you need to know (3)
      In addition to his sensational club career, Der Kaiser starred for his country, playing 103 times for West Germany and scoring 14 goals.
      He became West Germany captain in 1972, and subsequently skippered them to Euros glory that year before lifting the World Cup two years later.
      Beckenbauer also enjoyed great success as a manager, guiding his country to further World Cup glory at Italia 1990, Marseille to Ligue 1 success in 1991 and Bayern to Bundesliga and Uefa Cup trophies between 1993 and 1996.
      Everything you need to know (2)
      Having stacked up four Bundesliga titles, four German Cups, three European Cups and a Cup Winners’ Cup, the man dubbed “Der Kaiser” left Bayern after 18 years to move Stateside with New York Cosmos.
      Beckenbauer starred alongside the likes of Pele and Carlos Alberto in the Big Apple, winning the North American Soccer League three times before returning to Germany in 1980, subsequently adding yet another Bundesliga title with Hamburg.
      Franz Beckenbauer’s glittering career – everything you need to know (1)
      Franz Beckenbauer began his legendary career with hometown club Bayern Munich after catching their eye aged just 14.
      The defender went on to debut with Bayern at 18 in 1964.
      He went on to play over 500 times for the Bundesliga giants, winning everything there was to win in the game.
      Beckenbauer – the early years
      Born in Giesling, a working-class district of Munich, in September 1945, Beckenbauer grew up as a fan of 1860 Munich but joined the youth setup at the then unfashionable Bayern instead.
      He was originally a centre-forward and made his debut for the club in 1964, when they were in West Germany’s second tier, as a left winger. 
      Accusations against Beckenbauer
      Beckenbauer’s post-playing life was marred by accusations of wrongdoing, with the then 71-year-old questioned by Swiss prosecutors in March 2017 over suspected corruption linked to the 2006 World Cup, which was held in Germany.
      Beckenbauer headed the initial bid in 2000 and was part of the competition’s organising committee.

      A superstar – on and off the field
      Beckenbauer won the Ballon d’Or in 1972 and 1976, and retired from playing in 1984 following a spell with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League.
      Despite no coaching experience, he was appointed West Germany manager that year and led his country to the final of the 1986 World Cup and then to the trophy itself at Italia 90.
      There followed a brief spell in charge of Marseille in France before Beckenbauer returned to Bayern, leading the club to the Bundesliga title in 1994 and the Uefa Cup two years later. Beckenbauer also had spells as president at Bayern and vice-president of the German Football Association.
      ‘Outstanding personality’
      Lothar Matthäus, who was Beckenbauer’s captain in 1990 and a close friend, told German newspaper Bild: “The shock is deep, even though I knew that Franz wasn’t feeling well. His death is a loss for football and for Germany as a whole.
      “He was one of the greatest as a player and coach, but also off the field. Franz was an outstanding personality – not only in football – and he enjoyed worldwide recognition.
      “Everyone who knew him knows what a great and generous person Franz was. A good friend has left us. I will miss him – we will all miss him.”
      What made Franz Beckenbauer so special?
      Beckenbauer is an icon of German football having won 104 caps for West Germany, captaining them to glory at the 1974 World Cup before repeating the feat, as manager, in Italy 16 years later.
      He also won numerous other honours, including a hat-trick of European Cups with Bayern Munich in the mid-70s, when he also established his reputation as a defender of supreme talents.
      ‘Absolute great’ – Gary Lineker
      Gary Lineker has paid tribute to the legend’s ‘grace and charm’.
      Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died. One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP.— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 8, 2024

      How Franz Beckenbauer became synonymous with adidas in the 80s
      Franz Beckenbauer became synonymous with adidas in the 80s after endorsing the brand.
      Although adidas still enjoys huge celebrity football endorsements in the modern game such as the likes of Paul Pogba, Toni Kroos and Lionel Messi, it was really Beckenbauer that brought the three stripes and football connection into fruition.
      Piers Morgan pays tribute to football legend
      RIP Frank Beckenbauer, 78. German football legend who was one of only three men to win the World Cup both as player and coach. Sublime defender, great manager, magnificent ambassador for the game. pic.twitter.com/OqP9v6CA3d— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 8, 2024 More

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      Franz Beckenbauer dead aged 78: German legend widely regarded as one of greatest footballers of all time passes away

      by

      FRANZ BECKENBAUER has passed away aged 78.The German is widely-regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.
      Franz Beckenbauer has passed awayCredit: Getty
      Beckenbauer won the World Cup in 1974 with West GermanyCredit: Getty – Contributor
      He is widely regarded as one of the best players everCredit: AP:Associated Press
      He was manager of West Germany when they won the World Cup in 1990Credit: Getty
      Beckenbauer was integral in Germany winning the bid to host the 2006Credit: EPA
      The legend passed away surrounded by his familyCredit: Getty
      Beckenbauer with his wife Heidi, son Joel and daughter FrancescaCredit: Getty
      His family confirmed that he died in his sleep surrounded by loved-ones.
      Their emotional statement read: “It is with deep sadness that we announce that my husband and our father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family.
      “We ask that you be able to grieve in silence and refrain from asking any questions.”
      Tributes quickly flooded in, with one reading: “We’ll miss you Kaiser. Legend forever. Rest in peace.”
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      While a second wrote: “The best defender of all-time. RIP.”
      A third commented: “I am absolutely speechless, rest in peace Kaiser.”
      And another added: “RIP legend. Commiserations to his family.”
      The Sun’s Piers Morgan tweeted: “RIP Franz Beckenbauer. Sublime defender, great manager, magnificent ambassador for the game.”
      Most read in Football
      Comedian and football lover David Baddiel added: “The great Beckenbauer gone now, so soon after Bobby Charlton. Bobby was given the job of keeping him quiet in the 1966 World Cup final. Maybe this is a very profound example of man to man marking.”
      Gary Lineker wrote: “Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died. One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP.”
      Beckenbauer’s glittering careerBy Etienne Fermie
      Franz Beckenbauer began his legendary career with hometown club Bayern Munich after catching their eye aged just 14.
      The defender went on to debut with Bayern at 18 in 1964.
      He would play over 500 times for the Bundesliga giants, winning everything there was to win in the game.
      Having stacked up four Bundesliga titles, four German Cups, three European Cups and a Cup Winners’ Cup, the man dubbed “Der Kaiser” left Bayern after 18 years to move Stateside with New York Cosmos in 1977.
      Beckenbauer starred alongside the likes of Pele and Carlos Alberto in the Big Apple, winning the North American Soccer League three times before returning to Germany in 1980, subsequently adding yet another Bundesliga title with Hamburg.
      In addition to his sensational club career, Der Kaiser starred for his country, playing 103 times for West Germany and scoring 14 goals.
      He became West Germany captain in 1972, and subsequently skippered them to Euros glory before lifting the World Cup two years later.
      Beckenbauer also enjoyed great success as a manager, guiding his country to further World Cup glory at Italia 1990, Marseille to Ligue 1 success in 1991 and Bayern to Bundesliga and Uefa Cup trophies between 1993 and 1996.

      Beckenbauer played 103 games for the former West Germany, and played at three World Cups.
      In 1966 he and the late Sir Bobby Charlton were given the tasks of man-marking each other by their respective managers – as the standout players on either side.
      Beckenbauer later captained West Germany’s 1974 World Cup-winning team when they beat Holland.
      Incredibly he missed the 1978 World Cup, as West Germany decided not to pick players that had moved overseas.
      He repeated his 1974 feat as manager, when he led his country to World Cup glory in 1990.
      Beckenbauer – nicknamed Der Kaiser, or The Emperor – is one of only three men, along with Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and France’s Didier Deschamps, to have won the World Cup as a player and as a manager.
      As a player, he lifted the Bundesliga four times with Bayern Munich.
      His glittering career also saw him win the European Cup three times with the German club.
      On an individual level, he won two Ballon d’Or awards in 1972 and 1976 before he moved on to New York Cosmos and Hamburg.
      Fellow Bayern legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said of him: “He was so elegant he wasn’t really German. He just oozed class and quality.”
      As a manager, he coached West Germany and Bayern.
      He later became a club president and he played an integral role in Germany’s successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
      Off the field, Beckenbauer was married three times.
      The icon first married Brigitte Beckenbauer in 1966 and was with her until 1990.
      Then he wed Sybille in 1990 before splitting 14 years later.
      And Beckenbauer leaves behind current wife Heidi, who he married in 2006.
      The football hero had five children with his three wives – four boys and a girl.
      In 2019 it was revealed that he had gone blind in one eye.
      He was not well enough to fly out to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, saying at the time: “I had a so-called infarction in one eye. Unfortunately I can’t see anything on the right.
      “I can handle that. And I have to be careful with my heart.
      “But I will not travel to Qatar. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for our team in front of the TV.
      Read more on The Sun
      “People probably think he never lives long. But I’ll try to stay with you for a while.”

      Franz Beckenbauer captained Germany against England in the 1974 World CupCredit: Getty
      He won 14 trophies with Bayern as a playerCredit: Getty
      He was tasked with marking the likes of Johan Cruyff and Bobby Charlton in his careerCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Beckenbauer, who was married three times, poses with wife Heidi and son JoelCredit: Getty More

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      Tottenham transfer blow as ‘Bayern Munich make last-ditch attempt to sign top target in centre-back hunt’

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      BAYERN MUNICH have joined Tottenham in the race to sign Genoa defender Radu Dragusin, according to reports.Dragusin, 21, has been heavily linked with a move to Spurs this month.
      Bayern Munich want to hijack Tottenham’s pursuit of Radu DragusinCredit: Getty
      The Lilywhites sent scouts to watch him in action earlier this season and they are now prepared to table a bid.
      However, according to German outlet Sport BILD, Bayern Munich are also interested.
      Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel is understood to be keen on the prospect of signing the centre-back.
      However, Tottenham are still leading the transfer race for Dragusin.
      Read More on Football
      The Romania international is reportedly valued at around £26million.
      Dragusin made his professional debut for Juventus in 2020 but struggled to establish himself as a regular first team player.
      He was subsequently loaned out three times to Sampdoria, Salernitana and Genoa.
      The defender completed a permanent move to Genoa last January and has since made 62 appearances.
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      Tottenham are also on the verge of signing Timo Werner on loan until the end of the season.
      The deal is expected to include an option to buy for around £14million. More

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      Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel gives brutal response as he’s quizzed over Eric Dier transfer from Spurs rumours

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      THOMAS TUCHEL gave a blunt response when asked about a potential Bayern Munich swoop for Eric Dier.The Bundesliga champions have been strongly linked with a move for the out of favour Tottenham defender.
      Thomas Tuchel answered a question about Tottenham star Eric DierCredit: Getty
      Dier has struggled for game time at Tottenham this seasonCredit: EPA
      Dier, 29, has agreed personal terms with Bayern over a January switch.
      Asked about the England international, former Chelsea boss Tuchel gave nothing away.
      Quizzed how Dier sounds, Tuchel joked: “English!”
      He then kept his cards close to his chest, adding: “Have you already asked the sporting director? There will be no comment from me.”
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Fans online, rightly or wrongly, claimed that Tuchel’s comments suggested that he wasn’t that keen on signing Dier.
      One wrote: “So Bayern Munich signed Dier without the manager’s consent.”

      While a second commented: “Clearly not his signing.”
      Another added: “In other words, Eric Dier is the idea of the sporting director not Tuchel’s.”
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      Dier has been out of favour at Tottenham this season.
      He did not play a single minute under Ange Postecoglou’s until the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea on November 6.
      The experienced defender has made four appearances in total this term, with his contract set to expire in June.
      Spurs have had to do without Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero for long stretches this season.
      While Ben Davies pulled up with an apparent hamstring issue during Spurs’ 1-0 FA Cup win over Burnley on Friday night.
      After the match, Postecoglou was asked if his side can afford to lose Dier given Davies’ knock.
      The Aussie gave a considered pause before answering: “Yes.”
      Dier has played 364 times for Spurs since signing from Sporting Lisbon for £4million in 2014.
      He played regularly as the North Londoners contended for the Premier League title under Mauricio Pochettino, and featured in the 2019 Champions League final.
      The 49-cap star earned his place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad for Qatar, but has struggled for form since.
      Read more on The Sun
      Tottenham are trying to sign Genoa centre-back Radu Dragusin, while Van de Ven has finally returned to fitness.
      Spurs have also bolstered their front line by agreeing a shock loan deal with RB Leipzig for former Chelsea forward Timo Werner.
      Timo Werner has agreed to join Tottenham on loanCredit: Getty More