Bayern Munich have unveiled the bronze statue of club legend Franz Beckenbauer.
The statue is 1.5 times larger than the Kaiser was in real life, and showcases him playing in the early 1970s, when he captained the club to a Bundesliga three-peat. It now stands not far from Beckenbauer’s friend and teammate Gerd Müller’s own statue, right outside the Allianz Arena.
A number of recognizable people were
at the ceremony, which was held a day after the Kaiser’s 80th birthday. Beckenbauer’s widow Heidi was present, as was Bayern president Herbert Hainer. Beckenbauer’s former teammates Sepp Maier, Paul Breitner, and Franz Roth were also there, among others.
“This monument is a piece of FC Bayern’s DNA cast in bronze. Dear Franz, now you stand here next to your partner Gerd Müller. You two are living symbols and eternal role models for all future generations, who show us how to take people on a unique journey, how to create extraordinary life stories,” said Hainer. “Life, ladies and gentlemen, is fleeting. Football is fleeting. But legends remain – in the midst of FC Bayern fans, in the midst of the people, in the midst of us.”
This is only the latest of the many honors that Beckenbauer received after his passing in January 2024. The Allianz Arena’s address, where Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller’s statues stand, has now been named Franz-Beckenbauer-Platz 5. His number 5 has now been officially retired by the club as well. The German Supercup has also been renamed the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, with Bayern becoming the inaugural winners under the new name last month.
The statue, though…one can imagine Franz would raise an eyebrow at how he was portrayed. Look no further than the embedded image.
