Top 5 moments in the career of Der Kaiser - Franz Beckenbauer

#4 Rise of Der Kaiser

Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer (R) played in three World Cups for West Germany

Beckenbauer made his debut for Bayern Munich, then in the Regionalliga Sud – the second division, at the age of 19 as a left winger against Stuttgarter Kickers in 1964. In the same season, he helped the club clinch promotion to then recently formed German Bundesliga.The club soon became a force to be reckoned with in the first division winning the German Cup in 1966/67 and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1967.

In 1966, Beckenbauer was called to the German national team to play in the World Cup in England. The grand event would subsequently secure his status as a bona fide icon in football history.

Beckenbauer scored twice in his first game at the World Cup in the 5-0 defeat of Switzerland. He scored again in the 4-0 drubbing of Uruguay in the quarter-finals. The then 20-year-old Beckenbauer scored yet again in the semi-final against the Soviet Union. Germany lost in the final at Wembley against their traditional enemies England, but Beckenbauer was applauded for his efforts and was awarded with the Best Young Player Award.

At the following World Cup of 1970 in Mexico, the Germans lost to the Italians in the semi-finals in the game widely described as the match of the century. Beckenbauer, now 24, dislocated his shoulder following a foul by Pierluigi Cera in the 70th minute. With his hand strapped to his body with tape, he gave his everything on the pitch for 50 more minutes before narrowly losing the game 4-3. It was the birth of a King.