Steinmeier gives the second speech
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier now stands at the podium and begins the second speech of the ceremony. His opening: “I don’t know if the angels in heaven play sports. But if so, then you will have heard this somewhat Bavarian-sounding voice in the last few days: Go out and play football.”
Applause in the arena
Herbert Hainer interrupts his speech for the first round of applause. “FC Bayern will always remain an empire. “And forever,” he says, waiting for the audience’s reaction. Then comes the next striking statement: “One for all. Mia san Franz.” Kuafmann then sings his second song.
“Mia san Franz”: Bayern President Herbert Hainer gave the first speech
Source: Getty Images/Daniel Kopatsch
Hainer gives the first speech
Herbert Hainer, President of FC Bayern, welcomes the guests: “It is a great honor for us that you all came here,” says Hainer and pays tribute to Beckenbauer: “He was never comfortable with too much fuss about him. A Munich child who became a global citizen. Franz never forgot where he came from. He lived the values no matter where he was. He was possibly way ahead of his time. A role model for all generations. Franz always remained the libero, an eternal free spirit. Wherever he appeared: Franz brought the shine. He proved to us with impressive ease that life is always a game. Today the world is a guest at FC Bayern. Today the world is Franz’s guest. Franz Beckenbauer meant everything to FC Bayern.”
Hoeneß stands behind Beckenbauer’s brother
Uli Hoeneß initially watches the memorial service from the stands. Beckenbauer’s long-time teammate and comrade-in-arms stands behind Franz Beckenbauer’s brother Walter.
Kaufmann singt „Time to say Goodbye“
Jonas Kaufmann, 54-year-old star tenor, sings “Time to say Goodbye”, but in the Italian version “Con te partiro”. The eleven companions come onto the square. Everyone holds roses in their hands. Paul Breitner tears up during the march.
Memorial service has begun
The FC Bayern stadium announcer welcomes the guests. The emperor’s close companions should honor Franz Beckenbauer’s memory: Rainer Bonhof, Andreas Brehme, Paul Breitner, Lothar Matthäus. Günter Netzer, Wolfgang Overath, Franz Roth, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Georg Schwarzenbeck, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Berti Vogts.
“Franz was gullible”
Regarding the payments surrounding the awarding of the 2006 World Cup, which have not yet been clarified, Günther Jauch says: “Franz was in good faith. And many people took advantage of that.”
50,000 guests are expected
The arena is slowly filling up. Oliver Kahn can be seen, as well as DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and DFL boss Hans-Joachim Watzke. Chancellor Olaf Scholz also arrived. There are wreaths around the center circle, one from FC Bayern, one from the DFL and one from FIFA. Banners will be hung in the stands. 50,000 people are expected. Sub-zero temperatures are measured in Munich.
The fans mourn: banners are hung in the arena
Source: dpa/Kay Nietfeld
Christian Neureuther’s comparison with the “Gold Rosi”
Ski legend Christian Neureuther pays tribute to Franz Beckenbauer on ARD: “I lost my Rosi last year and Franz this year. I can’t get that out of my head right now. The two embody something that is unique: this huge heart, this modesty, this existence for each other. When you looked into Franz’s face, you immediately felt that there was a warmth, a cordiality. He lived that too. He helped everyone, he was reliable. You could ask him for something under extreme pressure. That was sensational. To have been able to experience such a person up close is a blessing.”
Beckenbauer’s teammate died
As FC Bayern announced on the day of the memorial ceremony, Beckenbauer’s former teammate Klaus Wunder has died at the age of 73. Wunder moved from MSV Duisburg to Bayern for the 1974/75 season. With a transfer fee of 700,000 German marks, he was the second most expensive transfer in Bundesliga history at the time.
Great weather in Munich
Numerous greats of German football, celebrities from society, business, culture and politics arrive in the Munich arena. Bastian Schweinsteiger is there, Rudi Völler, Uli Hoeneß and Boris Becker. In the center circle there is a round banner that shows Beckenbauer in a jersey with his legendary number five. A brass band plays in the arena. The sky above the stadium is white and blue.
Brass music as a farewell: The Hohenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn band plays before the memorial service in the stadium
What: REUTERS
Günther Jauch pays tribute to Beckenbauer
TV presenter Günther Jauch accompanies the funeral service in Munich for broadcaster RTL. “Everyone knows about the great achievements. But the fact that he remained human through all of this is what sets him apart,” said Jauch, who presented Champions League games together with Beckenbauer: “When he came to our studio, there were 50 people who were part of the team. He came in and always shook hands with everyone. And the same thing again when he’s gone. He was completely different from everyone else. He was just a very special person. And everyone here feels that today.”
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Beckenbauer’s widow wanted Steinmeier
There will be several speeches at the memorial service. Herbert Hainer, President and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of FC Bayern, as well as Uli Hoeneß, Federal President Walter Frank-Walter Steinmeier and CSU boss Markus Söder will talk about Beckenbauer. Steinmeier is supposed to give a ten-minute eulogy, which is what Beckenbauer’s widow Heidi would have wanted, according to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
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Franz Beckenbauer is dead
Funeral service in live stream
It will be one of the largest commemorations in the history of German sport. This Friday afternoon, greats from football, politics, culture and society will pay tribute to Franz Beckenbauer, who died on January 7th at the age of 78. The memorial service in Munich’s Allianz Arena begins at 3 p.m. WELT will broadcast on television from 2:30 p.m. Of course, you can also follow the event in the live stream on welt.de.
