Beckenbauer and more: These football legends died in 2024

When “Emperor” Franz Beckenbauer (1945-2024) died in January, the football world stood still for a moment. The greatest German footballer in history went with him. But Beckenbauer was not the only legend that fans in Germany and around the world had to say goodbye to in 2024. Striking: Many of the deceased are directly related to the legendary career of the “Emperor”.

When fans anywhere in the world think of German football, the first name that comes to mind is Franz Beckenbauer. Beckenbauer was German football personified and its greatest figurehead. His death on January 7th hit several football generations to the core. They had grown up with him, admired him as a player, as a coach and as a person. His work as president of the organizing committee for the 2006 World Cup was first applauded, then sharply criticized. What remains of Beckenbauer is more than an elegant pass from the outside of the instep, more than a “let’s see”, more than the World Cup titles in 1974 and 1990 and the “summer fairy tale”. His entire body of work and his unique personality will never be forgotten.

On January 5th, two days before Beckenbauer, Mario Zagallo (1931-2024) died, someone who shared a lot with Beckenbauer. Zagallo, Beckenbauer and the Frenchman Didier Deschamps (56) formed an exclusive trio. So far, only they have managed to become world champions both as players and as coaches. As a player, Zagallo even won two World Cup titles in 1958 and 1962. In 1974 he coached Brazil when Germany won the World Cup with Beckenbauer. As a coach, he was already successful with Brazil at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. In addition to libero Beckenbauer, another person who died in 2024 also excelled there: Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (1939-2024). As one of the first German football professionals, Schnellinger went abroad to Italy in 1963. He scored his only goal in the national team in the legendary semi-final duel against the “Azzurri” in 1970. This led the commentator to famously say: “Schnellinger of all people…” He died on May 20th in Milan.

Throughout his life, Bernd Hölzenbein (1964-2024) was asked about one scene: his alleged “swallow” in the 1974 World Cup final. This initially brought Germany equalizer with a penalty, before Gerd Müller (1945-2021) helped Germany win the title against the Netherlands lap. Team captain at the time: Franz Beckenbauer. The 1-0 lead for Holland in the final in Munich was achieved by the then 22-year-old Dutch super technician Johan Neeskens. He also died in 2024 on October 6th.

The 1990 World Cup final was decided by a single penalty. And Andreas Brehme (1960-2024) safely converted it into the bottom left corner in the 85th minute. Germany were world champions again – and after the game, team boss Franz Beckenbauer made his rounds on the lawn in Rome, lost in thought. Brehme was popular with all football fans, and not just because of his contributions to German football. Everyone will also remember his down-to-earth attitude and his open and honest nature. It is all the more tragic that Brehme died on February 20th at the age of only 63. And that after he personally attended the memorial service for Beckenbauer in Munich on January 19th.

Swedish coach Sven-Göran Eriksson (1948-2024) also celebrated his greatest successes in Rome. In 2000 he led Lazio to the championship and to the international top. He later coached Manchester City, among others. Before Eriksson succumbed to cancer on August 26th, the club he loved fulfilled his last wish in March: Eriksson was allowed to coach the traditional Liverpool FC team. The singing of the Liverpool fans, who honored their former rival with their cult anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” five months before his death, got under the skin.

He never made a secret of his emotions. That’s exactly what football fans loved about Christoph Daum (1953-2024). The cult coach grew up under the most difficult conditions and almost made it to national coach – almost. His alleged cocaine affair prevented an even steeper career in 2000. Von Daum, who succumbed to his long-term battle with cancer on August 24th, remains a person without any mask and an unconditional passion for football. The same applies to the two Bremen legends Willi Lemke (1946-2024), who died on August 12th, and Dieter Burdenski (1950-2024), who died on October 9th. Like Daum, they too made Bundesliga history.