As of: January 21, 2024, 4:55 a.m
By: Marius Epp
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Around 50,000 people in the Allianz Arena mourned the late Franz Beckenbauer on Friday.
Funeral speeches were given by Herbert Hainer, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Markus Söder and Uli Hoeneß.
Beckenbauer funeral service
: star tenor sings,
Paul Breitner
cries
Uli Hoeneß
gives a moving speech – and praises
Beckenbauer
for his “masterpiece”
Federal President honors
Beckenbauer
:
Steinmeier
bows to “natural diplomatic talent”
Everything you need to know about the
Beckenbauer memorial service
can be found here in the
ticker
.
4:18 p.m.: The funeral service for Franz Beckenbauer is over.
4:17 p.m.:
Stadium spokesman Stephan Lehmann says goodbye to the approximately 50,000 guests at the memorial service.
“Franz Beckenbauer will always remain in our hearts.
I wish you a safe journey home.
The Allianz Arena will shine for them – in the name of Franz Beckenbauer.”
4:11 p.m.:
Tenor Jonas Kaufmann takes the stage again and delivers his last contribution to the funeral service: “Nessun dorma”.
4:08 p.m.:
Cardinal Reinhard Marx is the next speaker.
He asks for a moment of silence and prays for the “Emperor.”
Uli Hoeneß gives a moving speech – and praises Beckenbauer for his “masterpiece”
4:02 p.m.:
Hoeneß struggles with his emotions and says goodbye with the poignant words: “Dear Franz, you've been dead for twelve days now. To be honest, I miss you a lot.
Rest in peace.
A peace that you unfortunately haven't been able to enjoy in the form you deserve over the last few years.
Thank you."
3:59 p.m.:
Hoeneß describes the 2006 World Cup as Beckenbauer's "masterpiece" and shares an anecdote: When FC Bayern became champions in the dramatic final in Unterhaching, Beckenbauer was at a FIFA event in the Fiji Islands.
“Franz walked through the hotel in his underpants at four in the morning and sang 'Get up if you're Bavaria' in front of Sepp Blatter's room.” He also praised Beckenbauer for building the stadium where his funeral service is taking place today.
“The Allianz Arena would never have been built if Franz hadn’t brought the World Cup to Germany.”
Bavaria's honorary president Uli Hoeneß found emotional words for his close friend Franz Beckenbauer at the funeral service.
© Imago / kolbert-press
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3:56 p.m.:
The honorary president of FC Bayern honors his late friend: “If you had a problem, you went to Franz. He stood up for us.
That was one of his most important qualities, that he cared about others.
He was always there for others.”
3:53 p.m.:
Uli Hoeneß, who had a particularly close relationship with Franz Beckenbauer, gives the next speech.
“Dear Heidi, dear Franz Beckenbauer’s family, dear guests of honor, dear friends of FC Bayern Munich.
58 years ago I was an exchange student in Newton, Birmingham.
The German national team played against Spain and Argentina during the World Cup.
That was the first time I really saw Franz live as a player.
I thought to myself, man, I was captain of the student national team after all, if you could play with him, that would be the best.
Four years later, in 1970, I signed a contract with FC Bayern along with Paul Breitner.
Franz, Sepp and Gerd Müller, they came straight from the World Cup in Mexico and I thought to myself: Are you going to say Mr. Beckenbauer?
Are you now saying: What was it like at this World Cup?
No, he came to me and said: I am Franz. And that's how he was always."
3.45 p.m.:
Söder shares his memories of the 1990 World Cup: “My feeling was: everyone played to become world champion not for themselves, but for him.” The sun is shining for Franz Beckenbauer in the Allianz Arena.
“It's a sign from heaven that today is imperial weather,” says Söder and talks about his first encounter with the “Emperor”: “I didn't know him as closely as others.
I met him once.
I stood politely, friendly, a little further back.
But he still came to me and asked me: 'Hello, and who are you?'
He was a friendly person.
Franz Beckenbauer will never be alone.
“God bless Franz Beckenbauer,” the Prime Minister concluded his speech.
3:39 p.m.:
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder climbs the stairs to the lectern.
“Franz Beckenbauer is dead. Was that such a shock for you too?” asks the CSU politician at the beginning.
“Each of us associates the story of Franz Beckenbauer with personal memories.
The history of FC Bayern and that of Franz Beckenbauer are inextricably linked.” Söder honors Beckenbauer as “one of the very greatest Bavarians”.
Federal President honors Beckenbauer: Steinmeier bows to “natural diplomatic talent”
3:28 p.m.:
Steinmeier continues: “He was also a libero off the pitch.
He took the liberty of not being like everyone else.
Unforgettable, his 'let's take a look'.
He remained grateful for his gifts.
His Franz Beckenbauer Foundation has helped many people in need.
I've really traveled around the world a lot.
Franz Beckenbauer was known and appreciated everywhere.
He was a natural diplomat.
He has rendered a service to our country.
He not only gave this country a summer fairy tale, but also a friendly view of the world.
At the moment of greatest success he was humble.
The international star always knew where his home was.
We mourn with Heidi Beckenbauer and his family.
Thank you, Franz Beckenbauer.” Steinmeier leaves the stage to applause after a successful and dignified farewell.
3:25 p.m.:
“Franz Beckenbauer was known all over the world, he was admired all over the world.
We are not only saying goodbye to a great footballer, but also to a great person.
We say goodbye to a great German.
That’s why, as Federal President, I say: Thank you Franz Beckenbauer, thank you for everything,” says Steinmeier.
3:23 p.m.:
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier takes the lectern in the Allianz Arena.
3:21 p.m.:
Tenor Jonas Kaufmann sings “E più ti penso”
.
Franz Beckenbauer had a preference for Italian opera music.
3:15 p.m.:
The Bayern president says about his late friend: “FC Bayern will always remain an empire – forever.
The world has always looked up to him.
But Franz never looked down on people.
You just had to admire this man.
I had the honor of being his friend.
He gave people so many moments of happiness - and they will last forever.
You will remain in our hearts forever.
Thank you,” Hainer concludes his contribution.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Wolfgang Overath and Lothar Matthäus accompanied Franz Beckenbauer for decades.
At the funeral service they laid flowers for the shining light of German football.
© Imago / MIS
3:12 p.m.:
Hainer finds moving words for the late Beckenbauer: “Franz was a friend to everyone.
That’s what made him this unique personality.
I'm sure he would have been happy to see everyone here.
But he would also have said: 'What?
Are you all here because of me?
But it wouldn't have been necessary."
Franz never forgot where he came from.
Every person is equal - that's what they were taught from an early age.
He lived these values.
He was a role model for all generations.
An eternal free spirit for whom the chalk lines of the field were no limits.”
3:09 p.m.:
Bayern President
Herbert Hainer gives the first funeral speech.
He welcomes the most prominent guests including Chancellor Scholz, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter.
Beckenbauer funeral service: star tenor sings, Paul Breitner cries
3:03 p.m.:
Star tenor Jonas Kaufmann sings an Italian aria.
Some of the most important companions enter the arena with a red rose - including Paul Breitner and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Lothar Matthäus and Berti Vogts.
Beckenbauer's friend Breitner has tears in his eyes.
3 p.m.: The funeral service for Franz Beckenbauer begins. Stadium spokesman Stephan Lehmann welcomes the guests with a short introduction.
2:58 p.m.:
A few minutes before the start of the official memorial service, Chancellor Olaf Scholz also entered the arena.
World champion coach Jogi Löw is also there - as are the ex-managers at FC Bayern who were chased: Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic greet each other with a casual handshake.
The audience gradually takes their seats and the arena is full.
The funeral service is about to begin.
Update, 2:50 p.m.:
The Tölzer Boys Choir sings Franz Beckenbauer's song “Nobody can separate good friends”.
At the beginning of the ceremony, wreaths are laid on the lawn in honor of the emperor.
The official part of the ceremony begins in ten minutes.
Update, 2:38 p.m.:
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and coaching icon Arsene Wenger also enter the escalator in the arena.
The highest Bavarian official gets out of the car: Markus Söder will also give a speech later.
Of course, the current protagonists around the first team professionals will also be in the stadium.
Update, 2:29 p.m.:
A film called “Player, Emperor, Man” will be shown in the Allianz Arena, which reviews the life of Franz Beckenbauer.
Photos that will leave no German football fan indifferent.
Beckenbauer memorial service live: The first celebrities arrive
Update, 2:21 p.m.:
The Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn brass band delivers three pieces to further get you in the mood for the event.
The arena is slowly but steadily filling up.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf have already entered the arena.
Many other celebrities such as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Gerhard Schröder and Maria Höfl-Riesch also arrive.
Update from January 19th, 2:06 p.m.:
The official part of the funeral service for Franz Beckenbauer doesn't begin until 3 p.m., but FC Bayern opened its doors several hours before that.
The unofficial part of the celebration has already begun, saxophonist Noah Fischer provides the first musical contribution, then the Tölzer boys' choir sings - a first goosebumps moment.
Saying goodbye to the “Kaiser” isn’t easy for stadium announcer Stephan Lehmann either.
His voice breaks slightly again and again.
Update from January 19th, 1:15 p.m.:
The official funeral service for Franz Beckenbauer begins at 3 p.m.
In addition to all the celebrities, his family will of course also be present.
However, his in-laws are probably not there.
As
Bild
reports, Margret and Gerhard Burmester will not take part in the ceremony.
Gerhard Burmester told
Bild
: “We are no longer the youngest.
I broke my kneecap and can't walk properly again after the operation.
My daughter Heidrun said we didn't need to come because it would be too tiring.
It was very difficult for us, but there was no other way.”
Big memorial service for the great Franz Beckenbauer in “his” Allianz Arena
First report from January 19th:
Munich – Great personality, great sympathy: It quickly became clear that a “normal” funeral service was not enough to commemorate the late Franz Beckenbauer.
One of the first suggestions came from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: “FC Bayern should organize a memorial service in the stadium as a thank you and in memory of him, which would never have existed without him.” No sooner said than done: it will be big on Friday (January 19th). Funeral service for the “Emperor” took place in the Allianz Arena.
Breitner honors Beckenbauer: “It was an honor to play alongside him”
Companions and fans of the “Emperor” experience poignant moments when Franz Beckenbauer says goodbye.
Tens of thousands will be at the memorial service, and even more people will be watching on television.
“It was a great joy and a great honor to play alongside him,” said Paul Breitner, who will take part in the memorial service as one of many companions.
In addition to Breitner and honorary president Uli Hoeneß, the 1974 soccer world champions include Günter Netzer, Wolfgang Overath and Rainer Bonhof in the stadium.
You can read Hoeneß' last greeting to Beckenbauer here.
Germany pays its last respects to Franz Beckenbauer – of course in “his” Allianz Arena.
© IMAGO/Ulrich Wagner
Beckenbauer funeral service: Hoeneß, Steinmeier, Söder and Co. speak
Hoeneß will speak about the life and work of the “Emperor”.
As did Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder and club president Herbert Hainer.
“Franz was more important than almost anyone else, not only for FC Bayern Munich, but also for German football and world football,” said Hainer.
An hour before the start of the memorial service, which was attended by many football celebrities and representatives from abroad, brass bands played and the Tölzer Boys' Choir sang.
There will also be wreath-layings in memory of Beckenbauer, who died on January 7th at the age of 78.
“Time of mourning” for Franz Beckenbauer: “We will miss him”
“We now have a time of mourning,” said long-time Munich CEO and former teammate Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
“We will miss him very much and we will never forget him,” said Söder.
The arena can accommodate around 50,000 visitors.
Due to special structures for the event, the normal capacity of 75,000 spectators will be reduced.
People who come to the arena at short notice should also have the opportunity to say goodbye to the “Emperor”.
The funeral service will be broadcast on television by several channels.
A star tenor will also sing.
(epp/dpa)