Franz Beckenbauer

Today, Lothar Matthäus celebrates his 65th Birthday! 🎉 Few people were as closely connected to Franz as Lothar. Their relationship, built over many years, was shaped by great sporting success and deep mutual respect. Their connection grew far beyond football.❤️ Even to this day, Lothar continues to do great work as an ambassador for the Franz-Beckenbauer-Stiftung! 🤝 Wishing you all the best on your special day, @LMatthaeus10! 🙌 📸: (Archive images Imago ©️)

Remembering Bernd Hölzenbein on what would have been his 80th birthday! 🎂❤️ Bernd was not only a @Eintracht-legend and 1974 World Cup winner, but also a dear friend of Franz. After their playing days, they shared countless memorable moments together, including many rounds of golf ⛳️ - and stayed in close contact throughout the years.🙏 Today would have been his 80th birthday - we remember Bernd as a cherished family friend and send our warm thoughts to his wife Jutta.💭 📸: (Heidi Beckenbauer©️)

Happy Birthday, Sepp! ❤️ A true legend of German football & @FCBayern, and one of the greatest goalkeepers the game has ever seen celebrates his 82nd birthday today! 🇩🇪🧤 Sepp was not only an exceptional player and a trusted teammate of Franz, but also a close friend with whom he shared a strong bond over many, many years. 🙏 All the best on your 82nd birthday, Sepp! 🍀 📸: (Archive images Imago©️)

#OnThisDay in 1900: FC Bayern München was founded! 🔴⚪️ 126 years ago, the German record champions were established. 🇩🇪🏆 Happy birthday, @FCBayern! 🎂💐 📸: (Archive image Imago©️)

𝗗𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀 𝗙𝗖 𝗕𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝗻! ✨🔴⚪ 1️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Jahre voller Geschichten, Triumphe und unvergesslicher Momente. 🏆

#OnThisDay in 1977: Franz played his final match for the national team! 🔚🇩🇪 The game against France was Franz’ 103rd and last game for his country, marking the end of his incredible international career. ⚽️🏆 📸: (Archive image Imago©️)

#OnThisDay in 1971: The New York Cosmos were officially founded! 🔙🇺🇸💚 55 years ago today, the club @NYCosmos came to life under the name that would go down in football history, featuring legends like @Pele and @beckenbauer and winning the NASL championship multiple times! 🏆⚽ 📸: (Archive images Imago ©️)

Today, a very important figure in the history of German football - Jogi Löw - celebrates his 66th birthday! 🎂 Franz and Jogi have always shared great mutual respect and a passion for the game. During his time as head coach of the German national team, Jogi oversaw a generational transition, modernized German football, and in 2014 brought the country its first World Cup title since 1990. 🇩🇪🏆 Wishing you all the best on your special day, Jogi! 🙏 📸: (Archive image: Imago©️)

#OnThisDay in 1966: “𝙂𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚 𝙠𝙖𝙣𝙣 𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙣” was released. 🔙🎶 Issued on December 7, almost 60 years ago, as the B-side to the single “𝘿𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙞𝙣,” the track quickly became a beloved classic in Germany, remembered not only for its melody but also for its powerful message about loyalty, friendship, and standing by one another through all of life’s moments. Franz’s record even made the German single charts! 🎼💫 For many, it was and still is more than just a song - it became a feeling, one that continues to connect generations today. 🎵🤍 📸: (Archive images: Imago©️)

Today, we remember Zlatko Čajkovski, who would have celebrated his 102nd birthday. 🔴⚪️ Known for his tough but effective training methods, Čajkovski shaped young talents like Franz with a unique blend of discipline and guidance. His strict but supportive approach helped set Franz on his path to greatness. ⚽️ “Tschick” Čajkovski was the coach who helped Franz develop into the player he became. Franz once recalled: “𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵.” 🤝 Today, we honor him – a man whose love for the game and influence will never be forgotten. 🕊️ 📸: (Archive images: Imago ©️)

#OnThisDay in 1973: Franz played his 73rd match for the national team - a game that made him the all-time appearance record holder at the time, surpassing his close friend Uwe Seeler. ⚽️👑 As captain, he led his team to a 2–1 victory against Spain in a preparation match for the 1974 World Cup, where the team would go on to lift the trophy. 🏆🇩🇪 📸: (Archive image: Imago©️)

Honoring Robert Schwan - manager and close friend of Franz - on what would have been his 104th birthday. 🙏 Robert was far more than the first full-time manager in German football. He was Franz’s mentor, confidant, and guiding force throughout his legendary career. From the very beginning, he believed in Franz and helped shape not only his path, but also the future of German football. ⚽️ Today, we remember Robert Schwan - the man who stood by Franz through thick & thin and whose belief, loyalty, and friendship supported him throughout his career and beyond. ❤️ 📸: (Archive images: Imago©️)

#OnThisDay in 1980: Franz made his debut for @HSV! 🔙 45 years ago today, Franz returned to Germany and stepped onto the @Bundesliga_DE pitch once again - this time wearing the colours of HSV. 🔵⚪️ It marked the beginning of another chapter in his legendary career, which led to winning the Bundesliga title in the following season (1981/82). 🏆⚽️ 📸: (Archive image: Imago©️)

Remembering Andreas Brehme on what would have been his 65th birthday. ❤️ A true hero of German football and the man who scored the decisive goal in the 1990 World Cup final. 🇩🇪🏆 Andi was not only an exceptional player but also a close friend of Franz, with whom he shared countless unforgettable moments and maintained a close bond long after their careers. 🙏 Today, they would have celebrated Andi’s 65th birthday. His legacy lives on not only through his achievements on the pitch, but also through the respect, determination, and love for the game he showed every day.🕊️ 📸: (Archive images: Imago©️)

Today, we remember a German football icon and one of Franz’s oldest and dearest friends: Uwe Seeler would have turned 89 today. 🇩🇪🕊️ Few players have embodied the spirit of the game like Uwe. He inspired millions with his determination, humility, and fair play. Beyond his incredible scoring ability, his loyalty, consistency, and leadership made him a true role model for generations of players and fans alike. As captain of the national team, Uwe took Franz under his wing, and they developed a close friendship. 🙏 When Uwe passed away three years ago, Franz said: “𝘜𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 - 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘏𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘜𝘸𝘦.” ❤️ 📸: (Archive images: Imago©️)

Honoring Gerd Müller – the “𝗕𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻,” one of football’s true greats, who would be celebrating his 80th birthday today! 🙏 A legend of German football and FC Bayern, and one of the greatest goalscorers in the history of the game. Gerd was not only a teammate, but a lifelong friend to Franz – both united by their shared passion for the game and their years of success together. ❤️ Gerd’s instinct for goals and his tireless drive helped shape an era and lift Bayern to the top of world football. Without Gerd and his countless goals, FC Bayern and German football would not be what they are today.⚽️ His legacy lives on. And as Franz once said: “𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘎𝘦𝘳𝘥 𝘔ü𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝟣𝟢𝟢 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘯.” 🗣️ 📸: (Archive images: Imago©️)

Remembering Fritz Walter on what would have been his 105th birthday. 🇩🇪⚽️ Fritz led Germany to its first World Cup triumph in 1954 & is one of the most important figures in German football history. His extraordinary skill on the field, combined with leadership and exemplary sportsmanship, made him a true role model for Franz. On this special day, we want to honor Fritz Walter - who not only inspired young Franz, but left a legacy that continues to have an impact on generations of German footballers. 🙏 📸: (Archive images: Imago©️)

Today, we remember an icon, a legend of the game, and a true friend of Franz: Pelé would have turned 85 today. 👑⚽️ Franz and @Pele shared much more than trophies and success - they shared a lifelong passion and a deep love for football, the game that shaped their lives and that they helped shape throughout their careers and beyond. Franz often spoke of Pelé as “𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.” But his respect and admiration went far beyond football — it was for the warmth, kindness, and generosity that defined Pelé as a person, and for the countless lives he touched all around the world. 🌍🙏 His journey from the streets of Brazil to the world’s biggest stages became a story of hope and possibility. That story continues to inspire all who believe that football - and life - can change the world. Pelé will never be forgotten. And as Franz once said: “𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴, 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯!” ❤️ 📸: (Archive images: Imago ©️)

In 2019, Franz was honored as a founding member of the German Football Hall of Fame – alongside Sepp Maier, Paul Breitner, Berti Vogts, Andreas Brehme, Lothar Matthäus, Günter Netzer, Fritz Walter, Matthias Sammer, Helmut Rahn, Uwe Seeler, Gerd Müller, and Sepp Herberger. 🇩🇪👏 Yesterday, the Hall of Fame welcomed six more German greats into its ranks: We send our warmest congratulations to Bastian Schweinsteiger, Guido Buchwald, Horst Hrubesch, Otto Rehhagel, Jupp Heynckes, and the late Bert Trautmann on their induction! 🙏 📸: (Imago ©️)

Happy Birthday, Wolfgang Overath!🎂 A fierce competitor, Bundesliga icon & World champion in 1974. 🇩🇪🏆 He is one of Germany's great midfielders - and above all, was a dear friend of Franz. Today, Wolfgang celebrates his 82nd birthday, and we send him our best wishes! 🙏 📸: (Archive images: Imago ©️)