Tribute to the eternal Beckenbauer at the opening of Munich

The remembered Franz Beckenbauer, a universal football legend who died on January 7, will be honored at the opening ceremony of Euro 2024 that will take place this Friday in Munich before the match between Germany and Scotland that kicks off the continental tournament. . The ‘Kaiser’ will receive the tribute when his widow Heidi jumps onto the pitch at the Allianz Arena to receive the Henri Delaunay trophy in his name, the same one that will be raised on June 14 by the team that is crowned champion at the Olympic Games. of Berlin.

Heidi will be accompanied in the presentation of the cup by the two living captains of the European champion German teams: Bernard Dietz (1980) and Jurgen Klinsmann (1996). As UEFA points out, it is about representing the three German teams that have won this title since the tournament existed in 1960.

Beckenbauer was the captain of West Germany in the 1972 Euro Cup, in which they won the tournament by defeating the Soviet Union in the final, and participated in the victory in the 1974 World Cup. In addition, he led the ‘Mannschaft’ as coach to the title in the 1990 World Cup. He also played for the historic Bayern Munich, winner of three European Cups in a row between 1974 and 1976. There he also won five Bundesliga titles, four as a footballer and one as a coach, and two Ballon d’Or awards.

He also presided over his beloved Bavarian club and the German people remember his enormous work leading the organization of the 2006 World Championship, an example of things done well. Ahead of his time as a defender and eternal footballer, Beckenbauer died at the age of 78 at his home while he was sleeping, in peace and surrounded by his family, as reported by Heidi herself and her children in a statement they issued jointly after his loss.