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German Football Legend, Beckenbauer, Is Dead

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Franz Beckenbauer, who left a unique imprint on German football as a player, captain and coach, has died at the age of 78.

The German Football Association disclosed on Monday.

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“Franz Beckenbauer was definitely the biggest German footballer of all time, and above all one of the greatest men who I have known,” DFB Vice President, Hans-Joachim Watzke, said.

Beckenbauer, one of only three men to win the World Cup as a player and as a coach, passed away on Sunday, the DFB said.

Former captain of the German team in the 1970s, Beckenbauer had in the last years been suffering from health problems and lived mostly withdrawn from the public eye in Salzburg, just across from the German border.

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Known in football-obsessed Germany as ‘the Kaiser’ meaning ‘the Emperor’, Beckenbauer played a central role in some of the country’s greatest sporting achievements, but his legacy was later tarnished for his involvement in scandals surrounding Germany’s successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

– Commanding figure –

Born in Munich in 1945, Beckenbauer helped establish Bayern as his country’s strongest club.

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Alongside Mario Zagallo – who died aged 92 on Friday – and Didier Deschamps, Beckenbauer is one of only three men to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager.

He captained West Germany to the 1974 World Cup title on home soil when they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the Munich final, then managed the team that beat Argentina 1-0 in Rome to lift the trophy at Italia 90.

READ ALSO: AFCON 2023: Morocco Become First Side To Arrive In Cote D’Ivoire [PHOTOS]

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Beckenbauer, a commanding figure on and off the pitch, was named European Footballer of the Year in both 1972 and 1976.

He made 424 appearances in the Bundesliga, scoring 44 goals, including in 13 years for Bayern, before joining Hamburg and New York Cosmos, where he finished his playing career in 1983.

Beckenbauer had stints as manager in club football at both Bayern and Marseille, winning the French league title in 1991 and the Bundesliga in 1994.

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In 1996, he stopped coaching and his role as president of Bayern led to a place on the Executive Committee of football’s governing body FIFA.

Off the field, Beckenbauer led Germany’s successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup, a successful tournament that is still nostalgically referred to in Germany as “das Sommermaerchen” — ‘The summer fairytale’.

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However, the story turned sour in October 2015 when Spiegel broke a cash-for-votes scandal story.

The magazine alleged that, in 2000, the German Football Association (DFB) had bought the votes of four Asian members of FIFA’s 24-strong executive committee to secure the hosting of the 2006 World Cup finals. Beckenbauer had maintained his innocence.

Beckenbauer had heart surgery in 2016 and again in 2017 when worrying news about his ill health began to emerge.

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At the beginning of January 2023, the football icon renounced his presence at the funeral of Pele. A few months later in August, he had missed the traditional annual gathering of Germany’s 1990 world champions.

On each of these occasions, health had been cited as a reason.

The last time he appeared at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena was in August 2022, when he attended a match of Bayern Munich against Borussia Moenchengladbach.

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Enabulele Hails Edo-born Athletes’ International Feats

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The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has expressed delight over the outstanding performance of Edo athletes representing Nigeria on the international stage.

Enabulele, while describing the athletes as worthy ambassadors of the state and the country in general, singled out the impressive participation of seven Edo kickboxing athletes in Team Nigeria at the African Union Kickboxing Championship in Cameroon.

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In a congratulatory message signed by his media aide, Edoko Wilson Edoko, Enabulele lauded the accomplishments of Flora Ugwunwa and Christopher Michael, who clinched gold medals at the 2025 World Para Athletics (WPA) Grand Prix in Tunis, Tunisia.

READ ALSO: NPFL: Go For Victory, Enabulele Tasks Bendel Insurance FC

INFO DAILY reports that Ugwunwa bagged gold in the F54 women’s shot put and discus events, while Michael emerged victorious in the T11 men’s 100m event.

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He said: “The remarkable performance of the country’s para-athletes in Tunisia, where Nigeria finished second overall out of 42 participating nations with 10 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze medals, is highly commendable.”

The Edo sports boss, while recalling the impressive performance of Team Edo during the recently concluded National Sports Festival (Ogun 2024), where Edo kickboxers secured 20 gold medals, said the feat which earned many of them national call-ups.

READ ALSO: Priotize Okpebholo’s ‘Catch Them Young’ Initiative, Enabulele Charges Sports Association Chairmen

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Enabulele reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to grassroots sports development and consistent support for para-athletes and other promising talents who continue to bring pride to Edo State and Nigeria.

“I’m proud of our athletes. Flora, Christopher, and our kickboxing team have done exceptionally well. This is what we want to see—Edo athletes in large numbers representing Nigeria at global events,” he emphasized.

Enabulele added that the achievements of Edo athletes reflect the deliberate investments in sports development by the current administration.

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Full List: Maresca No Longer Needs Nine Players At Chelsea

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Chelsea are preparing for another major squad overhaul this summer, with as many as nine players set to leave Stamford Bridge.

New manager Enzo Maresca is keen to trim the squad further, targeting players who no longer fit into his long-term plans.

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According to BBC Sport, the Italian tactician has identified nine players who are now available for transfer.

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The players reportedly on the exit list include Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, Djordje Petrovic, Armando Broja, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Lesley Ugochukwu.

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Sterling and Félix were both omitted from Chelsea’s squad for the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Sterling, who spent last season on loan at Arsenal, struggled to make an impression at the Emirates and failed to secure a permanent move.

Félix, meanwhile, was on loan at AC Milan from January until the end of the campaign, but the Serie A club have reportedly decided against making the deal permanent.

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NPFL: Go For Victory, Enabulele Tasks Bendel Insurance FC

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The Executive Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has charged Bendel Insurance Football Club to go for victory.

His charge follows the official announcement of the commencement of the 2025/26 season by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Board Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye.

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Announcing the commencement in Abuja, Elegbeleye said the season will run from August 22, 2025, to May 24, 2026.

He emphasized that maintaining a stable football calendar is critical to Nigeria’s improved performance in continental tournaments.

READ ALSO: 2024 NSF: Enabulele Confident Edo Cricket Teams Will Win Medals

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Reacting to the announcement, Enabulele commended the NPFL leadership for the consistency in scheduling.

The Edo Sports Commission Boss who spoke through his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, called on players, coaches, and the entire management of Bendel Insurance FC to approach the new season with renewed vigor and a winning mentality.

We are aware that the league calendar has been stabilized. This means every club must be better prepared. For us at Bendel Insurance, this is a fresh opportunity to compete strongly, win games, and aim for the top. The people of Edo State deserve nothing less,” he said.

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Enabulele also pledged continued support for the team’s technical crew and urged the players to maintain discipline, focus, and unity both on and off the pitch, he also appreciated His Excellency, Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo and his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa for their unwavering commitment and support in elevating the team.

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