Bayern Munich invites Rummenigge to honor Beckenbauer in a fitting way

Bayern Munich legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge proposed a memorial service at the Allianz Arena, the Bavarian club's stronghold, to honor legend Franz Beckenbauer, who died yesterday, Sunday, at the age of 78, while another legend, Berti Vogts, suggested naming the German Cup “Kaiser”. “In the future.

Rummenigke, who played alongside Beckenbauer at Bayern Munich before serving as the club's CEO, told Bild newspaper on Tuesday: “Bayern owes the Kaiser an honorable tribute.”

He added, “The whole football world and many others mourn the death of our friend Franz. A memorial service should be organized for him at the Bayern stadium, without him it would not have been established.”

The German Football Association confirmed it was consulting with the Beckenbauer family and Bayern Munich about paying tribute to the late legend, but talks would not begin until the end of the mourning period.

The German Football Association did not comment on a proposal by Vogts, who won the World Cup with Beckenbauer in 1974 and succeeded him as coach of the German national team in 1990, to name the German Cup after Beckenbauer.

Vogts told the “Rheinische Post” newspaper: “It is important that his name is not forgotten by the next generation of footballers. For example, the German Football Association should consider naming the German Cup after Franz Beckenbauer.”

Beckenbauer joined Bayern Munich as a young player and soon became a key player at the Bavarian club, with whom he won four Bundesliga titles, three European titles, one Intercontinental Cup title and four German Cup titles.

Beckenbauer played alongside Brazilian legend Pele at the New York Cosmos club, where he played professionally for two years before returning to Germany via Hamburg, but ended his busy career in 1993 after another short professional stint with the Cosmos.

A year later, Beckenbauer became the coach of the German national team, and after losing the 1986 World Cup final to Argentina, led by its star, the late legend Diego Maradona, Beckenbauer returned to win his country the 1990 World Cup. By defeating Argentina as well.

Beckenbauer was interim coach of Bayern Munich.He served as club president between 1994 and 2009 and as chairman of the organizing committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.