HSV mourns the death of Franz Beckenbauer

On Sunday, 7th January 2024, Franz Beckenbauer suddenly passed away surrounded by his family, sending shockwaves throughout the world of football. Hamburger SV joins football fans around the globe in mourning Beckenbauer, who influenced German football and sport in his own special way for decades. The Kaiser had a special impact on HSV, as he played for the club between 1980 and 1982 and was part of the side that won the league in the 1981/82 campaign. Beckenbauer’s influence can also be seen in the HSV museum, as he features in the exhibition about the 80s and the old Volksparkstadion. The exhibition makes it clear how important the 103-time German international, who made his return to the Bundesliga with HSV after a spell at New York Cosmos, was to the club and shows how his incredible character allowed him to play such a key role in the club’s history.

The connection between the Kaiser and HSV continued, as the Rothosen always remained close to Beckenbauer’s heart. He was friends with club legend Uwe Seeler up until his death in 2022, and HSV has always felt honoured to have been part of a legend of the game’s career. Beckenbauer wasn’t just a huge influence in Hamburg; he was a true great as a player at FC Bayern, his hometown club, as a coach, and in his various leadership roles at FC Bayern, Germany and FIFA. He is one of only three men to win the World Cup as a player (1974) and as a head coach (1990). “For me, Franz Beckenbauer was and is the shining light who redefined the footballing hopes and dreams of a nation when he led Germany to the World Cup in 1990,” said HSV’s director of sport Jonas Boldt. He added, “May Franz Beckenbauer rest in peace. We send our sincere condolences to his family and will celebrate his life with the utmost respect and recognition.”