Franz Beckenbauer, who led the West German national team to World Cup championships as player and coach and whose on-field presence was so dominant that he was nicknamed “Der Kaiser,” died Jan. 7 at 78.
His family announced his death in a statement to German news agencies, without providing further details. He reportedly had Parkinson’s disease, heart ailments and dementia.
Mr. Beckenbauer, one of the greatest European soccer players of all time, spent most of his professional career in his native Munich, propelling the once-second-tier Bayern Munich club to international prominence.
He played in three World Cups and served as captain of the West German national team that won the international crown in 1974.