Bayern Munich retires No. 5 shirt to honour Beckenbauer

Bayern Munich retires No. 5 shirt to honour Beckenbauer

Bayern Munich has retired the No. 5 shirt in honour of Franz Beckenbauer, the club announced on Sunday.

“Dearest Franz, you made this club what it is today, a byword for the greatest possible success, a unique style and profound humanity, as a player, coach, president and companion. You gave FC Bayern the charisma that continues to have an impact today,” Bayern Munich President Herbert Hainer said at the club’s Annual General Meeting.

Beckenbauer, who passed away in January this year, led Bayern to three European Cups as the skipper and also captained West Germany to a World Cup title. Later in his career, he also managed the country and led it to the World Cup trophy.

“The No. 5 will be reserved for a unique legacy, because our club and its history are simply unthinkable without Franz,” Hainer added, after he proposed this decision to the members present in the meeting.

The defender-turned-coach scored 74 goals in 582 games for Bayern. For country, he played 103 times, scoring 14 goals. Beckenbauer won the Ballon d’Or in 1972 and 1976.