As of: January 23, 2024, 6:15 a.m
By: Alexander Kaindl
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Franz Beckenbauer left his mark – as a footballer and as a person.
Alfred Draxler accompanied him for a long time and now paid tribute to a special quality of the emperor.
Munich – Now the emperor is playing in heaven.
Franz Beckenbauer died on January 7, 2024 at the age of 78, with him saying goodbye to another great footballer forever.
Pelé, Diego Maradona, Bobby Charlton – and now also the German icon: In the recent past, many of the greatest to ever play the game have passed away.
FC Bayern with a big memorial service for Franz Beckenbauer
The mourning for Beckenbauer knew hardly any limits in Germany.
Almost 50,000 people flocked to the Allianz Arena for his memorial service on January 19th, and FC Bayern Munich put on a ceremony that set a benchmark nationally and internationally.
A number of companions came to pay tribute to Beckenbauer.
Including Alfred Draxler.
The sports journalist had known the emperor for decades.
In the
Sport1
one-two he said on Sunday afternoon: “It was a very worthy and very great event.
Franz was also recognized accordingly.
Uli Hoeneß spoke from my heart.”
Praise for Beckenbauer memorial service: “Only FC Bayern can do that”
Draxler seemed visibly touched in the live broadcast and added: "I'm going to do the Effe here right now." He was alluding to Stefan Effenberg, who couldn't continue speaking during a Beckenbauer statement the previous week and even the TV group had to leave for a short time.
However, Draxler was able to continue his explanations.
He finally had a big compliment in store for FC Bayern: “I think only FC Bayern can do something like what happened on Friday.
And that was great.” And finally he also talked about his friend Franz Beckenbauer again – including goosebump-inducing statements.
Alfred Draxler (r.) and Franz Beckenbauer at a joint event in 2014. © Sven Simon / Imago
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Alfred Draxler with an emotional one-two statement: “Says more about Beckenbauer than anything else”
“I think a lot of good things have been written about Franz Beckenbauer in the last few days.
I want to say one more thing: his achievements have been recognized.
We always said that Franz Beckenbauer was a big world star.
The greatest footballer in the world that the Germans have ever had.
And yet he was always down to earth.
I believe that nothing says more about Franz Beckenbauer than his grave.”
Beckenbauer was buried in the immediate family circle on January 12th.
Plain, simple, intimate – just the way you want it.
“He could have had a grave of honor in a fine cemetery in Bogenhausen,” Draxler continued in the
Sport1
one-two.
“But he went where he came from.
Namely to Giesing.
And he really wanted to go to his parents' grave.
And he wanted to be close to his deceased son.
That says more about Franz Beckenbauer than anything else.”
Draxler on Beckenbauer: “A really, really great man”
At the end, Draxler paid further tribute to the late emperor.
However, it wasn't about the two world championship titles, the brilliant outside-foot passes or the great fighting heart on the pitch.
No, it was about Franz Beckenbauer as a person: “He was always down to earth.
He always knew where he came from.
And that's how he lived his life.
And that’s why he was a really, really great man.”
(akl)