The impressive bronze figure was created by Italian sculptor Matilde Romagnoli. Her goal was to depict Franz as “breathing” — full of movement, focus, and elegance, just as he was known on the pitch. The statue captures his lightness, his concentration, and his visionary stance. Franz does not appear static, but as a strategist who reads the game before it even begins. The echo of the Kaiser now resonates in bronze in front of the arena he shaped like no other. The monument was unveiled by Heidi Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeneß, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Herbert Hainer, Jan-Christian Dreesen, the artist Matilde Romagnoli, as well as representatives of the Kurt Landauer Foundation e.V. Around 300 invited companions and honorary guests attended the ceremonial unveiling.

President Herbert Hainer said in his eulogy: “This monument is a piece of FC Bayern’s DNA, cast in bronze. It stands for Beckenbauer and everything he embodied: style, attitude, Bayern. Munich receives here more than a monument — a reflection of the city itself: proud, confident, elegant, and down-to-earth.” In the subsequent talk round, stories about the Kaiser were shared. Above all, his grounded nature and the fact that, despite all his successes, he never forgot his roots, took center stage. Paul Breitner added: “Franz never made himself out to be important. True greatness is letting others shine as well.”

The statue was made possible by the Kurt Landauer Foundation e.V. — a gift from fans for fans. On behalf of the foundation, Christian Kröll thanked all supporters: “We are proud that after the Kurt Landauer statue and the Gerd Müller sculpture, we were once again able to realize such a project. We all work on a voluntary basis — and once again, it has been worth it.” The Kaiser now stands in bronze in front of the arena that would not be the same without him. Football is fleeting, but legends remain forever.

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