Behind the “Kaiser” was a charismatic, humorous, and down-to-earth man who, despite worldwide fame, never forgot his roots. Family, friends, and home gave him strength while he became a legend on the world stage. Here we see the Franz who was much more than just a football icon.

Franz was the father of five children: Thomas (1963), Michael (1966), Stephan (1968–2015), as well as Joel (2000) and Francesca (2003). At just 18 years old, Franz became a father for the first time in 1963. This briefly put his sporting career at risk, as moral standards at the time were much stricter, and one was still considered a minor until the age of 21. Coaches Dettmar Cramer and Sepp Herberger managed to convince the members of the DFB’s “pedagogical circle” to nevertheless give Franz a chance in the youth national team.

Franz with his sons Stephan, Michael, and Thomas during the 1971/1972 season (Foto: IMAGO / Werek)

His places of residence changed with the phases of his life: from Munich’s Giesing and later Grünwald, his path led him in 1977 to New York, where he was in the spotlight of American soccer with Cosmos. He then moved to Sarnen in Switzerland, lived from 1982 in Oberndorf near Kitzbühel, and finally, from 2005, in Salzburg with his wife Heidi and their children Joel and Francesca. Away from the spotlight, he found a retreat there where he could recharge and appreciate the simple things in life.

His aura reached far beyond football: he knew how to inspire people without putting himself at the center. Smiling, humorous, and always with a certain elegance, he approached others. This made him not only the “Kaiser” on the pitch, but also an extraordinary personality in life.

Family photo with Franz, Heidi, Joel, Francesca, and the two dogs (Bild: Privat)

One passion that accompanied him for many years was golf. On the courses around Salzburg and Munich, he found not only sporting challenge but also relaxation and companionship. The “Beckenbauer Golf Course” in Bad Griesbach is named after him, and from 2013 to 2017 it hosted stages of the PGA European Tour. The charity tournament “Kaiser Cup” became, over decades, a meeting place for friends and supporters of the Franz Beckenbauer Foundation. The sport gave him the opportunity to combine nature, tranquility, and competition. There, he showed the same composure that had distinguished him on the football pitch.

Franz did not think only of himself. With the Franz Beckenbauer Foundation, founded in 1982, he set a strong example of social commitment. The foundation supports people with disabilities as well as those who are ill or in need through no fault of their own. It was an expression of his sense of responsibility and his desire to give something back to society.