The emperor was also in the imperial hall

Dhe Rhine-Main region was associated with mixed sporting memories for Franz Beckenbauer, the German football legend who died on Sunday. The then team manager of the German national team presented the World Cup on the Roman balcony in 1990 after returning from the World Cup in Italy. In a sense, this was also the belated visit of the “Emperor” to the Imperial Hall of the town hall. Back then, Beckenbauer signed his name in the Golden Book of the city of Frankfurt. Meanwhile, Beckenbauer experienced some serious defeats on the region's football fields.

Seven defeats in the Waldstadion

Bayern's record in away games against Eintracht, for example, reads astonishingly poorly: two early victories at the start of his career were followed by only draws and seven defeats in the 1970s. Beckenbauer never had such a bad record in any other stadium in Germany, not even against then-arch-rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach or feared opponents 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Bayern lost so often in that decade. Once, in 1975, the emperor and his loyal followers even lost 6-0.

In 1974, Bayern, full of world champions, also lost the first game of the Bundesliga season following the tournament with the same result at the Offenbacher Kickers on the once feared Bieberer Berg. When it wasn't against Eintracht or OFC, the region remained associated with special sporting moments for Beckenbauer.

The 1-0 victory in the World Cup intermediate round game against Poland in 1974, which paved the way to the final in which Beckenbauer captained Germany against the Netherlands to the World Cup title, is unforgettable. In Frankfurt he also secured the DFB Cup in 1969 after Bayern won the 2-1 final against Schalke 04. After that game, Beckenbauer was nicknamed “Kaiser Franz” for the first time after he juggled the ball with provocative nonchalance on the pitch to the annoyance of the opposing fans.

Since the defeated “King” Stan Libuda was the ruler at Schalke at the time, the tabloid press crowned Beckenbauer emperor. The nickname for the “light figure” was born. Away from the pitch, Beckenbauer was a frequent guest at the Ball des Sports, which has been held in Frankfurt as well as in Wiesbaden and Mainz in recent decades. He also cut a good figure on the floor like few footballers next to him.