FRANZ BECKENBAUER

1964- 1977 GAMES 584 CLUB BAYERN MUNICH

BEFORE The Bundesliga was still in its infancy when a baby- faced Beckenbauer burst onto Bayern Munich’s first- team scene ahead of the 1964- 65 season. Germany was a different place then: the Berlin Wall was a mere three years old, Köln had been crowned champions of the country’s newly formed professional top flight... and Bavarian behemoths Bayern weren’t even in it.

LEGACY Die Roten won the Regionalliga Sud in Beckenbauer’s debut season, though, with the 19- year- old playing every minute of their second- tier campaign. Originally a midfielder, his positional intelligence and leadership skills soon led to him being deployed at the heart of the defence – a masterstroke by Yugoslav coach Zlatko Cajkovski.

Sweepers were already familiar in the ’ 60s, but none had ever played the position quite like Beckenbauer. Not only did he dictate play from deep with his stellar passing range, he frequently streamed forward in possession, breezing past opponents to support attacks. The libero role was born, and Beckenbauer was an early proponent.

Bayern claimed their first Bundesliga title in 1969, with Beckenbauer their talismanic captain. He added three more from 1972- 74 and pocketed four German Cups in 13 years at his local team, not to mention two Ballons d’or ( in 1972 and ’ 76). ‘ Der Kaiser’ saved his most influential displays for Bayern in Europe, however, completing a hat- trick of European Cup triumphs between 1974 and ’ 76.

Beckenbauer left to join Brazilian icons Pele and Carlos Alberto at the New York Cosmos in 1977, having won everything possible with Die Roten. When the novelty wore off after three years, he returned to Germany, signed for Hamburg and bagged a fifth Bundesliga medal. A winner if ever there was one.

BEST MOMENT Collecting the European Cup with Bayern, World Cup with West Germany ( in Munich’s Olympiastadion) and Ballon d’or in 1974. A decent 12 months.