On Friday at the Allianz Arena in Munich the world of football paid tribute to Franz Beckenbauer, who died just under two weeks ago at the age of 78. The German football legend had great success in the past with Bayern Munich.
Fans and guests were welcomed to a commemorative moment at the Allianz Arena on Friday. On the pitch around the central circle were several crowns, including those of Europe’s top clubs, FC Barcelona and Liverpool. The ceremony was attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, as well as several international football officials such as Nasser Al-Khelaïfi (Paris Saint-Germain), Joan Laporta (Barcelona) and José Martinez ‘Pirri’ (Real Madrid). . German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz were also present, as were Antwerp coach Mark van Bommel and Jean-Marie Pfaff. Both gentlemen played for Bayern during their playing careers and therefore knew Beckenbauer.
©AFP
The tribute began to the tune of Con Te Partiro and ended withNessun Dorma, two arias performed by the Munich tenor Jonas Hofmann. The ceremony lasted an hour and fifteen minutes, the stadium was one third full (around 25,000 people).
Beckenbauer died Jan. 7 at age 78 and was buried privately a week ago. As a player for Bayern Munich, he won the European Cup three times and led (West) Germany to the world title as captain in 1974. With Beckenbauer as president, Bayern replaced the old Olympiastadion with the purpose-built Allianz Arena in 2005.
The Beckenbauer family. © ANP/EPA © Photo News © Photo News
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2024-01-19 17:18:44
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