Contents
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Page 1 — Old bills and other farewell messages
Page 2 — Then come Söder and Hoeneß
What are the right words to say about a dead person? The question is difficult, even more so with someone as great as Franz Beckenbauer, about whom everyone has an opinion and about whom there is a lot to say.
On Friday afternoon, twelve days after Beckenbauer’s death, this general question is surprisingly also present at the memorial service taking place this Friday in the Munich football arena. Because it won’t just be about Beckenbauer, but also about old unfinished business with the media and political messages.
A week ago, Franz Beckenbauer was buried in a small circle, in the family grave in a cemetery in the Giesing district, where he came from. Now fans, friends and everyone who wants to can say goodbye together. Today there are a few thousand people dressed in black standing above the south curve, where the loudest Bayern fans usually stand. Above them is a banner saying goodbye to the south curve, white writing on black fabric: “The figure of light is going on its final journey – rest in peace, Emperor.” In the opening program, the Tölzer Boys’ Choir sings some church music classics and as an encore Nobody can split good friends.
5,000 people came to the funeral service for Uwe Seeler in the summer of 2022. When the memorial service for Beckenbauer began at 3 p.m., the Allianz Arena (75,000 seats) was about half full. Some people wonder why there are so few. But it’s cold and early. 300 kilometers further south, in Antholz, they had moved a biathlon race forward so that ARD could broadcast it live. Just like BR, RTL, N-TV, Sky, Dazn and Pluto TV. Also ZEIT ONLINE. Bratwursts are being sold in front of the arena, and some have brought a beer with them – a football-style memorial service.
Beckenbauer was not a fallen idol for a long time
The lectern is in the north curve, on the left is a picture of the very young Beckenbauer, in the middle he is with the national championship trophy, on the right he is older in the traditional jacket. At the beginning, Bayern’s long-time stadium spokesman, Stephan Lehmann, says a sentence that is often said, but which is undoubtedly true for Beckenbauer: “Franz Beckenbauer will never be forgotten.”
Germans generally have problems letting their idols remain idols. At some point almost everyone in this country is knocked off their pedestal. Especially in sports. Things were different for Beckenbauer for a long time. And that certainly had something to do with the fact that – in contrast to Boris Becker, for example – he didn’t seem as if he thought he was anything better. The five speakers – Herbert Hainer, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Markus Söder, Uli Hoeneß and Cardinal Marx – also emphasize this in unison.
And in fact the first two speakers, Bavarian President Herbert Hainer and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, only talk about the beautiful and admirable things in Beckenbauer’s life. Steinmeier thanks you on behalf of the country, expressly as Federal President, as he emphasizes. “Thank you, Franz Beckenbauer! Thank you for everything!” Cardinal Marx, who later says a prayer, sends greetings from the Pope, with whom he had emailed earlier today.
They only disagree on one thing: What would Franz think about this funeral service in his honor? Whether he would be happy or rather surprised at so much fuss about himself. Or whether he would wave away in surprise. They imagine different things.
What are the right words to say about a dead person? The question is difficult, even more so with someone as great as Franz Beckenbauer, about whom everyone has an opinion and about whom there is a lot to say.
On Friday afternoon, twelve days after Beckenbauer’s death, this general question is surprisingly also present at the memorial service taking place this Friday in the Munich football arena. Because it won’t just be about Beckenbauer, but also about old unfinished business with the media and political messages.
