MUNICH: A bronze statue of Germany football legend Franz Beckenbauer was unveiled outside Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on Friday, a day after what would have been his 80th birthday.
Known as the ‘Kaiser’, the German word for emperor, for his elegant and commanding playing style, the statue is the latest in a series of honours for Beckenbauer, who died in January 2024 aged 78.
The statue depicts Beckenbauer looking ahead with his right foot on the ball. It is a characteristic pose in his typical ‘Libero’ position behind the defence which he is widely credited with reinventing during the 1970s.
Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2025