Power Ranking: Top 10 greatest players to play soccer in the US
By Kris Whelan
No.4- Franz Beckenbauer
The former German defender is the only player to win three European Cups as a captain. He won a total of four Bundesliga titles for Bayern Munich, a World Cup and a European cup for Germany. After his career with Bayern he went to New York Cosmos where he won three North American Soccer League titles and was inducted in to the American Soccer Hall of Fame. Beckenbauer won a total of 103 caps for his country and is widely regarded as one of the best German soccer players of all time.
Franz was born in Munich on September 11th, 1945 and began playing soccer from the age of nine. He made his professional debut for Bayern Munich in 1964. He would go on to captain the side and become one of the most iconic German players of his, or any generation. As captain of the team, he won three league titles in a row and amazingly achieved the same feat with three European cups in a row. A versatile player who took no prisoners is the reputation that proceeded him. He is said to have invented the ‘Sweeper’ role, something he experimented with in the Bayern back four.
Beckenbauer won best German player of the year on four occasions over ten years, and managed to win the Ballon d’Or twice, in 1972 and 1976. He represented Germany in three World Cups, making the World Cup Dream Team in each of them, winning the competition once in 1974. He would go on to win a World Cup as a manger also, one of only two people to achieve the player/manager world cup double.
After leaving Bayern he would play 105 times for the New York Cosmos in his first stint at the club, he returned to New York after a league winning season with German side Hamburger. In his second stay with New York he managed 27 appearances, and is fondly remembered by all American fans who saw him play.
"“The message he sent out was: ‘Don’t even try it. Coming out to face me is a waste of your time.'” – Sir Bobby Charlton “He’s the hero of our nation. It hasn’t happened by chance, he’s earned it by hard work.” – Gunter Netzer, former Germany international and team-mate"
Next: No.3- Johan Cruyff