The 1970 World Cup was a chance for Beckenbauer to showcase himself on the world stage once more. Following his success four years previously, he went into this World Cup with a little more expectation on his back.
"Der Kaiser" helped his country to cruise through the first three matches, but then they came up against their old adversary's, England. At 2-0 down West Germany seemed to be down and out. But Beckenbauer stepped up to the plate and scored a great goal to start a dramatic comeback.
West Germany went on to win the game in extra time. In the semi-finals they came up against Italy in a match which later became known as "the game of the century." One of Beckenbauer's defining moments came in this match when he dislocated his arm, but because Germany had used all their subs, he carried on playing, with his arm heavily strapped.
Italy eventually ran out 4-3 winners, and Beckenbauer's Germany went on to finish third. The year after this, in 1971, Franz Beckenbauer was given the honour of being named the captain of West Germany.
Back at club level he also managed to lead Bayern Munich to another German Cup, the fourth of his career. Even more success came in 1972 when Beckenbauer was again the star man in Munich's Bundesliga winning side.
He also experienced success with his country in 1972, guiding them to victory in the European Championships, giving Germany their first ever win in that competition.
The success kept on coming in the next few years. Bayern Munich managed to win the 1972/73 Bundesliga and the 1973/74 Bundesliga as well, giving them three consecutive league championships.
It was in the latter year that Bayern Munich established themselves as a major player in European club football as they beat off all comers and triumphed in the European Cup.
1974 was Beckenbauer's most successful year as a player. Not only did he guide Munich to that historic league hat-trick, and a European Cup, but he led West Germany into the 1974 World Cup, hosted by Germany themselves. The expectation was high.
West Germany did not disappoint. A victory against the "Total Football" of Holland in the final gave them the World Cup victory, and Beckenbauer became the first ever player to lift the new World Cup trophy. "Der Kaiser's" men had reached the pinnacle of football.
Along with this, West Germany became the first team to hold both the European Championships and the World Cup at the same time, and Beckenbauer became only one of two men to have come first, second and third in a World Cup.
But still Beckenbauer continued to win yet more trophies. He guided Bayern Munich to a historic European Cup defence in 1975, and then in 1976 incredibly won it for a third time in a row!
1976 was also the year in which he guided West Germany to runners-up in the European Championships, what would prove to be his last major tournament for them.
In 1977 he moved from Bayern Munich to America to play for the New York Cosmos. He helped them to the NASL Championship three times before moving back to Germany, this time with Hamburg.
Despite being past his best, he still managed to guide Hamburg to a Bundesliga crown before he moved back to New York Cosmos to see out the remainder of his glittering career.
Overall in his career he played 599 games, scoring 71 times. He also played 103 times for West Germany, finding the net 14 times.
He is a two-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, and two time runner-up. He was also selected in the team of the tournament in every major competition he participated in for West Germany and a four time winner of the German Player of the Year award.
He went on to become a highly successful manager, winning Ligue 1, the Bundesliga, the UEFA Cup, and even the World Cup, becoming a rare double winner of the World Cup as both a player and manager.
He was voted the second best European Player of All Time, and third in the World Player of All Time. A true great, this has been a tribute to Franz Beckenbauer.
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