This was the memorial service for Franz Beckenbauer in the Allianz Arena
FC Bayern bid farewell to Franz Beckenbauer on Friday with an emotional memorial service. Guests from all over the world attended the event in the Allianz Arena, which was held under the motto “Player, Man, Emperor”.
Among the 30,000 visitors were numerous companions and friends of the Kaiser as well as the two professional FC Bayern teams, both men’s and women’s.
fcbayern.com summarizes the memorial service:
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Prologue and “Good Friends” choir
Before the official part, the program included the prologue – with musical accompaniment from Noah Fischer and his saxophone, the Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn brass band and the Tölz Boys‘ Choir. It was a successful mixture of emotional and lively songs such as Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York”, in reference to Beckenbauer’s time as a player for Cosmos in the USA, or the “Star of the South”.
At the same time, the stadium filled up noticeably. Of course, “Gute Freunde” was also sung, it was the emotional highlight of the pre-program, when all the visitors in the stadium sang along.
Wreath-laying ceremonies
The transition to the main part of the memorial service was marked by the placement of floral wreaths around the central circle. These included wreaths from the 1990 World Cup team, FIFA, UEFA, the Bavarian Football Association, the Bavarian Minister President Dr. Markus Söder, the Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“It is wonderful that so many people have come here to bid farewell to our Emperor in this unique setting. Franz Beckenbauer is no longer with us, but he will always be present,” said Stephan Lehmann, who hosted the ceremony.
Paul Breitner, Rainer Bonhof, Andreas Brehme, Günter Netzer, Wolfgang Overath, Lothar Matthäus, Franz “Bulle” Roth, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Georg “Katsche” Schwarzenbeck, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Berti Vogts laid roses on behalf of all the mourners.
The speech by President Herbert Hainer
FCB President Hainer gave the first memorial speech and emphasized once again: “Franz was a friend to everyone. He never forgot where he came from, a role model for all generations. You simply had to admire him. I admired him.”
Hainer described the fact that Beckenbauer always had an open ear for his counterpart as a “gift” and added: “The fact that we took time for each other is his legacy.” FC Bayern was fortunate to have experienced an “imperial era”. Hainer promised: “It is now up to us to live on this history. FC Bayern will always remain an ‚empire‘ – forever.”
Frank-Walter Steinmeier: “He has rendered outstanding services to our country”
Federal President Steinmeier also emphasized Beckenbauer’s human values. “Nobody can estimate how much sympathy he has brought us. He has rendered outstanding services to our country.”
As a well-traveled man, he noted that “people all over the world knew, revered and loved” Franz Beckenbauer. “His fairness was never inferior to his talent. We bid farewell to a great German. Thank you for everything.”
The speech by the Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder
Söder, the Bavarian Minister President, shed light on Beckenbauer as a person from the perspective of three generations who experienced him as a player, coach and World Cup organizer. “Franz Beckenbauer is a shining light, an idol, a kind of soccer god, a timeless icon. He took everyone seriously and valued them,” he reported from his own experience.
“Success on the pitch is one thing, but success as a person is particularly impressive.” Franz Beckenbauer’s light shone brightly and far beyond any shadows.
Uli Hoeneß: “He was generous without end”
The speech by Honorary President Uli Hoeneß
FCB Honorary President Hoeneß followed on seamlessly from this. His words – memories of times together on the pitch, the class of the “Kaiser” on the ball, and the special bond between the two – once again reflected the extraordinary character Beckenbauer possessed. “His ability to take care of others was one of his most important qualities. He was generous without end,” Hoeneß reported, adding: ”If he did anything, it was with meticulousness and diligence. His masterpiece was when he brought the 2006 World Cup to us.”
Emotionally, he said: “Dear Franz, I miss you very much.”
He may have spoken from the soul of many. There was prolonged applause. And even the sun flashed out and bathed some of the mourners in warm light. Imperial weather.
Musical accompaniment by Jonas Kaufmann, prayer by Cardinal Reinhard Marx
The Munich-born star tenor Jonas Kaufmann provided the musical accompaniment during the memorial service, performing the songs “Con te partiro (Time to say) goodbye”, “E più ti penso (from Once Upon a Time in America)” and “Nessun dorma”.
Cardinal Reinhard Marx also said a prayer at the end of the memorial service.
Rest in peace, Franz Beckenbauer.
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