Bayern Munich has said goodbye to club legend Franz Beckenbauer with a memorial service attended by thousands of fans at the Allianz Arena.
The German legend, who won the World Cup as both player and manager, died on January 7 at the age of 78.
England players Harry Kane and Eric Dier joined the rest of the Bayern squad – plus famous names from the club’s past – in paying their respects.
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was also in attendance to celebrate ‘Der Kaiser’, as well as Beckenbauer’s wife Heidi and his children.
The defender first joined Bayern at the age of 14 and went on to play 584 times for the club, helping them win three European Cups and four Bundesliga titles.
English players Eric Dier (left) and Harry Kane (right) joined the Bayern Munich players in paying tribute to German football legend Franz Beckenbauer at his memorial service
Dier and Kane sit between Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller at the Beckenbauer memorial
Tens of thousands packed the stadium on Friday afternoon for Bayern’s memorial service
Thousands of fans came to the Allianz Arena to pay respects to German legend Beckenbauer
Beckenbauer’s wife Heidi in the stands with son Joel and daughter Francesca
The Germany icon is one of three men to have won the World Cup as both player and manager
Floral tributes sent by football clubs from around the world were laid around the centre circle
A wreath from the German World Cup winners of 1990 is carried out onto the pitch
Beckenbauer was an integral part of the West Germany team that won the 1974 World Cup after he’d been part of the squad that lost to England eight years prior.
As West Germany’s coach, he guided them to global success at Italia ’90 and later steered Bayern to the Bundesliga title in 1994 and the UEFA Cup in 1996.
Despite sub-zero temperatures in Bavaria, thousands attended the moving memorial service at the club’s stadium on Friday afternoon.
Rainer Bonhof, Andreas Brehme, Paul Breitner, Lothar Matthäus, Günter Netzer, Wolfgang Overath, Franz Roth, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Georg Schwarzenbeck, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Berti Vogts were among the Bayern legends there.
This listened to performances from the tenor Jonas Kaufmann, with a mass crowd singalong of Beckenbauer’s song ‘Gute Freunde’.
He also performed ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ in an emotional opening to the ceremony.
The Tölz Boys’ Choir performed the club anthem ‘Stern des Südens’ from their position in the stands and Höhenkirchen Siegertsbrunnen brass band also played.
The saxophonist Noah Fischer performed a rendition of Frank Sinatra hit ‘My Way’ on the pitch.
A banner reads ‘The last journey – rest in peace, Kaiser!’ inside the Allianz Arena in Munich
Images of Beckenbauer lifting the European Cup for Bayern in the 1970s featured strongly
Dier has only just joined Bayern on loan but Kane has made a blistering start to his career there
The Tölz Boys’ Choir performed the club anthem ‘Stern des Südens’ from the stands
The Blaskapelle Hohenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn perform at the Allianz Arena on Friday
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in attendance at the Allianz Arena for the memorial
A supporter wipes away a tear during the tributes to German legend Beckenbauer on Friday
In a symbol of the universal respect for Beckenbauer within football, floral wreaths sent from other clubs – including Liverpool and Barcelona – were laid around the centre circle.
England defender Dier signed on loan from Tottenham last week, having fallen out of favour under Ange Postecoglou. He will spend an initial six months in Germany, with the option of a one-year extension.
Kane joined Bayern from Tottenham back in the summer for £100million and has made a blistering start with 26 goals in his first 23 games in all competitions.
Addressing the service, German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: ‘So many people are saying goodbye to Franz Beckenbauer, not just in Germany but all over the world.
‘People everywhere knew, admired and loved Franz Beckenbauer. We say goodbye to a wonderful footballer and person.
‘On behalf of all Germans, I say thank you for everything, Franz.
‘Franz Beckenbauer, who was born in Munich, who celebrated his successes here, who became a world champion here, has now been buried in Munich. He always knew where his home was.
‘We grieve with his family. All of us in Germany have much to thank him for. Thank you, Franz Beckenbauer.’
Former Bayern player Karl-Heinz Rummenigge holds a red rose as he pays his respects
Snow and ice lay on the ground outside the Allianz Arena amid sub-zero Munich temperatures
Bayern’s next home game comes up on Sunday when they entertain Werder Bremen
Bayern are next in action in the Bundesliga when they entertain Werder Bremen on Sunday afternoon, as they attempt to catch leaders Bayer Leverkusen now the winter break is over.
The legendary player had withdrawn from public life in recent years because of health issues such as a heart problem, sight loss and Parkinson’s disease.
The German newspaper Bild reported Beckenbauer was too ill to attend last year’s reunion of his 1990 World Cup-winning team in Grassau, Bavaria.
Beckenbauer was laid to rest at a small private ceremony in Munich on January 12. He was buried at the Perlacher Forest cemetery, just 2km from where he grew up.
He is buried in a plot next to his son Stephan, who died of a brain tumour at the age of 46 in 2015. Beckenbauer’s parents are also buried in the cemetery.
Bayern wore specially customised shirts during last weekend’s game with Hoffenheim, with a minute’s silence held before all Bundesliga games.
They also illuminated the Allianz Arena with the words ‘Thank you Franz’ in the days following his death.
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