Beckenbauer (also known by his nickname "Der Kaiser") is still considered the greatest german footballer of all time and one of the all time greats in general.

Beckenbauer made his Bundesliga Debut for Bayern Munich in 1964 with 18 years of age and won his first title 2 years later, when he won the german cup. He went on to represent Germany in the 1966 World Cup in England, where he was voted the best young player of the tournament and finished 2nd with Germany, behind world champions England.

The years after that, Beckenbauer was winning one title after another. He won the european cup winners cup in 1967 with Bayern Munich, won the German championship in 1969, won the german championship 3 times in a row between 1972 and 1974 and won the european champions cup between 1974 and 1976. His career highlights though, must have been winning the european championship in 1972 and the world championship in Germany in 1974, against the "total voetbal" team from Holland, that was captained by Johan Cruyff.

In 1977, Beckenbauer ended his active Career at Bayern Munich and the German team and went to New York Cosmos in the US, with his buddy Pele, where he won the North American Soccer League 3 times (1977, 1978, 1980.) It was a promotion tactic to spread the sport around the US.

After that, Beckenbauer returned to Germany and played 2 more years at the Hamburger Sport Verein in Hamburg, where he became german champion once again, in 1982. This was the end of his active playing career.

Beckenbauer took a 2 year break, until he took the job as coach of the german national team in 1984, eventhough he had no official coach license. To the surprise of all, Beckenbauer took the germans all the way to the World Cup final in Mexico, where they lost to Diego Maradonas Argentina. After that, Germany played in the euros of 1988 in Germany, where they lost to arch rivals and later champions Holland in the Semis. Beckenbauers greatest hour as coach came, when Germany won the 1990 World Cup in Italy, facing Maradonas Argentina again and getting Revenge. Beckenbauer is with Mario Zagallo from Brazil, the only man who became world champ as an active player and as a coach.

Beckenbauer left the German team afterwards and coached Olympique de Marseille in France for one year, where he even reached the European champions cup final, which they lost to Red Star Belgrade. After that, he went back to Bayern Munich where he became Vice President and 3 years later became president, holding that position for 15 years. Besides being President of Bayern, he was Vice President of the german football association from 1997 till 2010, was member of the FIFA executive Commitee from 2007 till 2011 and was responsible for bringing the World Cup tournament in 2006 back to Germany.

Some people might love him and some people might hate him, but you have to respect what he did for the great sport of Football, especially here in Germany.

Alles gute zum Geburtstag Franzl.