Franz Beckenbauer aka Der Kaiser- turns 67 today. One of the Mount Rushmore of greatest football players of all times [along with Pele, Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona} Beckenbauer is the greatest German player ever. He was voted in 1999 as the second greatest European Player of the Century behind Cruyff and the third greatest player of the Century in the world behind Pele and Cruyff.
Der Kaiser is one of only two men to win the World Cup as a player and as a coach. He won as a player in 1974 and as a coach in 1990. He is the only player to win the World Cup as a captain and as a coach.
Beckenbauer was a versatile player who started as a midfielder but made his name as a great defender. He invented the position of sweeper. He played for Bayern Munich from 1964-1977 before coming to America to play with the New York Cosmos from 1977-1980. He returned to Germany with Hamburger SV 1980-82 and back to the Cosmos for a final year 1983.
He was the head of the committee that brought the World Cup to Germany in 2006.
slicethelife 
that cosmos team had some big time names. i wish that soccer would really get a foothold here. and not just have some guys come and finish out careers here, like becks or henry.
We need an American Pele or Maradona.. Freddie Adu..fell a little short of the mark! Most over hyped athlete of all time? As far as the hype and no return at all?.. Todd Van Poppel also comes to mind..