Germany is in mourning. "Our Kaiser is dead," read the front page of Tuesday's Bild. But Franz Beckenbauer's passing at the age of 78 is a loss felt all around the world. He is one of the faces of football, "the greatest defender ever" in the words of Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport, a legendary libero who redefined the role.
As a sweeper, Beckenbauer didn't just clean up after others, he served as a deep-lying play-maker, while regularly stepping into his former position in midfield to join attacks. Essentially, he made being a defender cool.
As Marca said, "We all wanted to be Beckenbaeur!" And that's no exaggeration. For football fans of all ages, Beckenbauer wasn't just an example to follow, he was a mythical reference point, the seemingly unattainable standard of excellence by which all others are measured.
