Bayer 04 remembers Franz Beckenbauer

Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO: "With the passing of Franz Beckenbauer, football has lost a unique personality. He was appreciated and admired all over the world and achieved extraordinary things for the game as a player, coach and official. On behalf of our entire club, I would like to express our deep condolences on the death of Franz Beckenbauer and our deepest sympathy to all his family and friends. His services to football can hardly be put into words."

Simon Rolfes, Bayer 04 managing director for sport: "Franz Beckenbauer's death is not merely a great loss for German football. Our country has lost an extraordinary personality, a world-class sportsman who was respected and admired beyond our borders. Franz Beckenbauer was an idol of many generations, one of the best, if not the best German footballer of all time. A great player and 1974 World Cup-winning captain, who later also showed huge charisma as DFB team manager and won the 1990 World Cup with his team almost as if it was a matter of course. Bayer 04 Leverkusen honours the memory of a man who made sporting history. Our deepest sympathy goes to the family and friends of Franz Beckenbauer."

As a player, Beckenbauer won a host of trophies, particularly with FC Bayern Munich. He was named Germany's Footballer of the Year four times and won the Ballon d'Or twice. After 13 successful years in his native city, the former world-class libero moved to New York Cosmos, where he played alongside Brazilian legend Pelé, among others. At the end of his playing days, he returned to Germany and celebrated another Bundesliga title with Hamburger SV in 1982.

Beckenbauer won the World Cup with West Germany both as a player in 1974 and as team manager in 1990. Germany also owes the hosting of the 2006 World Cup to Der Kaiser, who headed the bidding team and also served as president of FC Bayern Munich and vice-president of the German FA (DFB) for many years.