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German footballer and coach Franz Beckenbauer pictured in 1968.
Image: SvenSimon/picture allianceImage: SvenSimon/picture alliance

Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer was one of the greatest names in world football. The German legend won all there is to win both as a player and a coach, but his legacy was also tarnished by corruption allegations.

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All Content on this topic

Deutschland DFB-Zentrale in Frankfurt am Main - Durchsuchung

Police raid German FA in tax evasion probe

The raid comes amid a growing scandal surrounding Germany's successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
November 3, 2015
FIFA Theo Zwanziger

Zwanziger believes bribe was paid to land 2006 World Cup

The former DFB boss has presented a document that he claims to be evidence that a FIFA official was bribed.
October 27, 2015
Deutschland Franz Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer: 'Mistake' but 'no votes bought'

German football icon Franz Beckenbauer has admitted that a mistake was made in the run-up to the 2006 World Cup.
October 26, 2015
DFB-Präsident Theo Zwanziger

Zwanziger had 'no knowledge' that FIFA payment was dubious

The former DFB boss said while he was in office, he believed the payment was above board.
October 24, 2015
Franz Beckenbauer Sportfunktionär

FIFA confirms investigation into Franz Beckenbauer

The former Bayern Munich and Germany legend was listed among FIFA officials facing adjudicatory chamber scrutiny.
October 21, 2015
Niersbach looks at a table

VW, 2006 World Cup, and Germany's reputation

Allegations of football corruption, diesel emmissions cheating - is Germany's respectability in tatters?
October 19, 2015
Franz Beckenbauer Sportfunktionär

Beckenbauer denies cash-for-votes

German football legend Franz Beckenbauer says he never paid to secure votes for Germany's successful 2006 World Cup bid.
October 19, 2015
Wolfgang Niersbach and Franz Beckenbauer

FIFA investigates World Cup bribery allegations in Germany

German football was thrown into crisis with reports surfacing that officials had used bribes to land the 2006 World Cup.
October 16, 2015
Deutschland Dettmar Cramer Ex-Fußball-Trainer schwarz/weiß

Dettmar Cramer dies aged 90

Dettmar Cramer coached football all around the world and enjoyed defining success with Bayern Munich.
September 18, 2015
Bildergalerie Franz Beckenbauer 70. Geburtstag - Matze Knop

Franz Beckenbauer: 70 years of 'The Emperor'

For decades he was the über footballer, but even at the age of 70 Franz Beckenbauer continues to dazzle.
September 11, 201513 images
Bildergalerie Franz Beckenbauer 70. Geburtstag - 2011

Beckenbauer turns 70

Germany's leading light in football stands for success as a player, a head coach and an official.
September 11, 2015
FIFA Kongress Blatter

Soccer world deeply divided after Blatter's re-election

The football world remained deeply divided a day after FIFA President Blatter was re-elected for a fifth four-year term.
May 30, 2015
FC Bayern 1973

Bayern Munich love to win early

History shows that the Bavarian superclub does love to seal the league title early.
April 27, 2015
Udo Lattek

Legendary coach Udo Lattek dies

Legendary Bayern Munich coach Udo Lattek has died, aged 80.
February 4, 2015
Deutschland Fußball World Cup 2014 - Franz Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer: 24 teams is too many

In interview, German football legend Franz Beckenbauer speaks his mind about FIFA and EURO 2016.
September 6, 2014
Soccer players on the field

Go West, Bayern Munich!

Record-breaking German team Bayern Munich is touring the US, conquering hearts, minds and wallets.
August 6, 2014
Deutschland Fußball World Cup 2014 - Franz Beckenbauer

Beckenbauer's ban lifted

Soccer's world governing body, FIFA, has lifted a ban from taking part in any football-related activity imposed on Franz Beckenbauer. This came after he had failed to answer questions about alleged corruption.
June 27, 2014
Franz Beckenbauer ARCHIV

Beckenbauer answers

In apparent connection with allegations of corruption, Franz Beckenbauer has answered the questions put to him by FIFA's chief investigator. Whether Beckenbauer's ban will be lifted remains uncertain.
June 19, 2014
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David Raish on Beckenbauer ban

German soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer has been banned from all football-related activities for 90 days, after allegedly failing to cooperate with an inquiry relating to Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid.
June 13, 201401:09 min
Franz Beckenbauer DFB Party 2014

FIFA suspends Beckenbauer

German soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer has been banned from all football-related activities for 90 days, after allegedly failing to cooperate with an inquiry relating to Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid.
June 13, 2014
Symbolbild WM Katar 2022

Qatar World Cup concern

World Cup sponsors Sony and Adidas have voiced concern over new allegations that bribes were paid to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup. The controversy comes less than a week before the 2014 tournament kicks off in Brazil.
June 8, 2014
Uli Hoeness

Five years for Hoeness?

The prosecution in the high-profile trial of Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has called for a prison sentence of five-and-a-half years for tax evasion. A verdict is expected on Thursday afternoon.
March 13, 2014
Raul Gonzales celebrating a goal for Schalke April 8, 2012. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

The stars of the Bundesliga

Meet the Bundesliga heroes of the last five decades.
July 12, 201313 images
Former Munich president, Franz Beckenbauer, right, talks to Bayern Munich's coach Jupp Heynckes. during a dinner in Berlin Saturday night May 12, 2012. (Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Pool/AP/dapd)

Considering retirement?

Bayern Munich mastermind Jupp Heynckes has hinted at his own retirement after the Champions League semifinal win over Barcelona. The Bavarian establishment would rather like Heynckes, left in photo, to do so.
May 2, 2013
FIFA Men's Ballon d'Or of the Year 2012 nominee Lionel Messi of Argentina watches the trophy during a news conference before the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012 soccer awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich January 7, 2013. REUTERS/Michael Buholzer (SWITZERLAND - Tags: SPORT SOCCER)

Messi makes it four

Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi has been named world footballer of the year for the fourth time in a row, marking another unprecedented achievement. He pipped Andres Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo to the title.
January 7, 2013
Chelsea players cheering, Bayern players dejected after penalty shootout

No more penalty shootouts?

German soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer has been tasked with coming up with an alternative to penalty shootouts to decide drawn matches, according to FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
May 25, 2012
Wolfgang Niersbach

German soccer gets a new boss

German football witnessed a changing of the guard with federation president Theo Zwanziger handing over responsibility to his successor, Wolfgang Niersbach, at a meeting in Frankfurt.
March 2, 2012
Lothar Matthäus

Hot potato

Two Bundesliga jobs came open, but Lothar Matthäus' mobile didn't ring. Why can't he get a shot?
September 22, 2011
Manuel Neuer

Stars don't shine

Does Manuel Neuer's howler on Sunday expose a flaw in Bayern's approach to the Bundesliga?
August 8, 2011
FIFA President Sepp Blatter

Anger and corruption

Despite fresh accusations, Sepp Blatter is set to be re-elected, unopposed, to the FIFA presidency.
May 31, 2011
Munich's Louis van Gaal wipes his face prior to the German first division Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

Under pressure

Discontent, power struggles and inconsistency are undermining Louis van Gaal's position at Bayern.
February 10, 2011
Theo Zwanziger at a press conference in Germany

FIFA leadership

Germany's top soccer official is set to go global, and join FIFA's executive committee.
January 28, 2011
Bayern players looking at an opponent

Bayern's future

Bayern Munich will recover from their current setbacks, but longer term issues are harder to solve.
December 6, 2010
Beckenbauer on his 65th birthday

Bye bye Beckenbauer

The German footballing icon is to stand down from the FIFA executive committee.
November 11, 2010
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer looks at the ball that hit the bar to bounce over the line

Over the line

A disallowed goal for England against Germany has brought memories flooding back for fans.
June 27, 2010
Philipp Lahm, left, and Bastian Schweinsteiger from Germany, center, and Jonas Gutierrez from Argentina

German expectations

There's little consensus on Germany's World Cup prospects, but the semis seem like a good bet.
June 8, 2010
Theo Zwanziger

Zwanziger stays

The DFB board unanimously voted to support president Theo Zwanziger amid a referee scandal.
March 12, 2010
Franz Beckenbauer, President of the German first division Bundesliga team FC Bayern Munich

Encouraging words

Der Kaiser - Franz Beckenbauer - boosts Europe's chances of hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
July 5, 2009
Boris Becker and Lilly Kerssenberg wave to cameras

Perfect match?

Instead of fleeing the paparazzi, Boris Becker has invited the press to his very public wedding.
June 12, 2009
Juergen Klinsmann looking subdued on the soccer pitch

What went wrong?

Sacked Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann plays a blame game ahead of the upcoming Bundesliga finale.
May 22, 2009
Juergen Klinsmann close up shot

Saving face

Bayern have a mountain to climb when they face Barcelona in Champions League play Tuesday.
April 13, 2009
Sepp Maier while he was goalkeeper coach at Bayern Munich

Goalkeeping Great

German keeper of the century, Sepp Maier, turns 65.
February 28, 2009
Franz Beckenbauer, president of the German first division Bundesliga team FC Bayern Munich

Attack on Hoffenheim

Bayern Munich chief Franz Beckenbauer takes a swipe at title contenders Hoffenheim.
January 2, 2009
Klinsmann claps after beating Nuremberg in the German Cup

Undeliverable Promises?

Coach Klinsi has vowed to give struggling Bayern Munich a reason to celebrate this season.
October 7, 2008
Miroslav Klose, Luca Toni and Franck Ribery at the 2007 Oktoberfest

Clear Heads Needed

Juergen Klinsmann refused advice to drown his sorrows as he analyzed Bayern's 5-2 defeat Sunday.
September 21, 2008
Croatia's fans react after Croatia's Darijo Srna scored during the group B match between Croatia and Germany in Klagenfurt, Austria, Thursday, June 12, 2008, at the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland

Humiliation

Germany is reeling after its devastating defeat by Croatia on Thursday.
June 13, 2008
Jens Lehmann

Stand Aside, Jens

Franz Beckenbauer suggests Germany goalie Lehmann should step down after Euro 2008.
June 9, 2008

Bundesliga

Nürnberg Relagated With Duisburg And Rostock
May 17, 2008
Juergen Klinsmann, the next coach of Bayern Munich

Hitzfeld's Legacy

Ottmar Hitzfeld says he's happy to leave a successful Bayern team to successor Juergen Klinsmann.
May 11, 2008
Former soccer player Uwe Seeler, left, and former ski racer Rosi Mittermaier, right, pose in front of their portraits prior to the opening of the exhibition "Hall Of Fame Of German Sports" in Berlin

Hall of Fame Opens

Germany's new Sporting Hall of Fame opens with some debate over some Nazi inductees.
May 6, 2008