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Franz Anton Beckenbauer 11 September 1945 – 7 January 2024) was a German professional football player and manager. Nicknamed “Der Kaiser” (“The Emperor”), Beckenbauer was a versatile player who started out as a midfielder, but made his name as a central defender. He is often credited as having invented the role of the modern sweeper (libero). With success at club and international level, he is one of nine players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the European Champions Cup, and the Ballon d’Or.
