Franz Beckenbauer receives UEFA President's Award

PanARMENIAN.Net - Michel Platini celebrated Franz Beckenbauer's "memorable contribution to football as a player, coach and administrator" as 'Der Kaiser' received the UEFA President's Award, UEFA official website reported. Franz Beckenbauer, a shining symbol of German football, and a winner of the highest football prizes as a player and coach, is the latest great to have the honour of receiving the UEFA President's Award. 'Der Kaiser' collected the 2012 prize from Michel Platini in Munich on Wednesday, Feb 27.

A skilful and purposeful midfield player in his younger days, Beckenbauer was behind a tactical innovation in the game when he converted to a libero, sweeping up behind the defence. It was in this role that he captained Germany to two major titles – the UEFA European Championship in 1972, and the FIFA World Cup on home soil in 1974.

"Franz Beckenbauer has made a memorable contribution to football as a player, coach and administrator," said UEFA President Michel Platini. "His versatility and skill, allied to his qualities as a leader, marked his distinguished playing career, in which he won a host of honors at club and national team level – and he can lay claim to having invented the role of libero as a tactical innovation.

Beckenbauer was born in Munich on 11 September 1945. The son of a postal official, he made his debut for FC Bayern München as an 18-year-old, and went on to play 396 Bundesliga matches for the club, scoring 44 goals and inspiring them to some of their greatest triumphs – the 1967 European Cup Winners' Cup, four Bundesliga titles and three successive European Champion Clubs' Cups, in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

He played 103 times for West Germany, scoring 14 goals – including four in the 1966 World Cup finals as his side finished runners-up. His elegant prowess as a player was recognized with European Footballer of the Year awards in 1972 and 1976.