Soccers Planet: Players_Legend

Showing posts with label Players_Legend. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Players_Legend. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Marco Van Basten

Marco Van Basten made his debut for Ajax in the 1982 Dutch League Championship by coming in as a sub for Johan Cruyff and scoring a goal. Two years later he was a starter for the Amsterdam club and scored 28 goals in 26 games. In that same season he made his debut for the Dutch National team. The following season crowned him as the greatest European attacker, scoring 37 goals in 26 games and winning the "Golden Boot".

After an entire winter of negotiations, Berlusconi managed to wrest Van Basten from the clutches of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Van Basten left Holland having scored 127 goals in 129 games, and won 3 league titles and 1 Cup Winners Cup. He made his debut at San Siro in 1987, but in his first year he only made a few appearances for the red-and-black due to an injury that kept him from playing most of the season.

In the following season Van Basten imposed himself as the leader of the team because of his numerous goals, assists and wonderful play. His contributions to the third and fourth Champions Cups won by Milan were fundamental. He won France Football's "Golden Ball" award three times and became champion of Europe with the Dutch National team in 1988. In the triumphant 1991/92 season with Milan he won the goal-scoring title with 25 goals.

Dribbling, ball skill, power, and precision are the qualities which have made him enter by force into the history of soccer, not only at the club level but at the international level as well. At the end of the 1992/93 season a prolonged injury kept him away from the fields of play. Because of this injury, he left soccer for good two years later.

Diego Armando Maradona

Diego Armando Maradona is by many regarded as the greatest player in the history of the game. He was born on October 30th 1960 in Lanus outside Buenos Aires. There he played for Los Cebollitos (The little onions), before he joined Argentinos Juniors. At 16 he was Argentina's youngest-ever international when he played against Hungary. Two years later he captained the World Youth Cup winners and was soon transferred to Boca Juniors for £1.000.000. The success continued and he was voted South American Player Of The Year in 1979 and 1980.

In 1982 Maradona joined Spanish giants Barcelona for a world record transfer fee of £5.000.000. The same year the World Cup was held in Spain and Maradona made his World Cup debut on his new home ground Estadio Nou Camp. The tournament didn't end as Maradona had hoped and he was sent off against Brazil in the second phase, as Argentina bowed out.

In his first season for "Barca" he helped them win the league, league cup and the Super Cup. Two years later, another world record fee of £6.900.000 took him to success-starved Napoli, and in 1987 they won a league and cup double. A year earlier he had captained Argentina to a second World Cup triumph. It was a World Cup that forever will be synonymous with Maradona. He scored 5 goals in that tournament, including two against England. Both are among the most controversial in World Cup history. The first was the infamous "Hand of God" and the second probably the greatest goal ever scored in a World Cup game, as he ran from his own half showing magic displays and leaving seven English players for dead.

Success continued with Napoli as he again steered them to a league title and in 1989 even a triumph in the UEFA cup. In 1990 the World Cup was held in Italy and Maradona captained Argentina to yet another final. The Germans were once again the opponents and this time they proved too strong for the Argentineans. That loss was to be the beginning of the end for Maradona. Two drug scandals have created black spots on his name and reputation. Several come-backs have been tried since 1991 and after helping Argentina qualifying for the 1994 World Cup in USA, Maradona looked fit for fight again. A marvelous goal against Greece in the first match gave proves for that.

But in the next game against Nigeria he was caught for drug abuse, and the World Cup story of Diego Armando Maradona got a sad ending. That match meant that Maradona equaled the record of matches played in the World Cup of 21, held by Uwe Seeler and Wladislav Zmuda (Later beaten by Lothar Matthäus). Maradona retired from international football after that with a gallery of good and bad memories. But he is by neutral football lovers regarded alongside Pelé as the greatest player of them all.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Careca

Antonio de Oliveira Filho, better known as Careca, was among his country’s most promosing players in the early eighties. His powerful right-foot shot and pace made him lethal in front of goal. He started his career in Guarani and would have played up front for Brazil in their magic World Cup team of 1982 had he not been injured on the eve of the finals.

He moved to Sao Paulo after the World Cup in Spain and had several successful seasons there and was Brazilian champion of 1986 beating his old club Guarani in the final. The World Cup was held in Mexico that same year, and Careca was determined not to miss it again. He played a key role in yet another great Brazilian team which reached the quarterfinals and were beaten by France on penalties in one of the classic games in soccer history. Personally, Careca had a great tournament and scored five goals making him second on the topscorers’ list after Lineker.

Careca was soon tempted to join a top club in Europe and after staying another season with Sao Paulo, he teamed up with Diego Maradona and fellow Brazilian Alemao in Napoli in 1987. Careca was now ranked as one of the best strikers in the world and with Napoli he won several trophies, among them the Scudetto (Serie A championship) and the UEFA Cup beating Stuttgart with Careca as one of the goalscorers.

After six years in Napoli, he moved to Japan in 1993 as one of the foreign stars trying to set the Japanese league alight. Careca was then 33 and spent three years in Asia before returning home to Brazil in 1997. He was nearly forty when he retired having played in the lower leagues for a couple of years.

Emilio Butragueño

Nicknamed “The Vulture”, Emilio Butragueño went on to become one of the most lethal strikers in the Europe in the 1980s. He was a smart player and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time scoring most of his goals from inside the penalty box. He was born in Madrid and started playing for Real, the club he was about to serve for most of his career. Emilio formed a deadly partnership with Mexican Hugo Sanchez during many successful seasons.

Butragueño scored a goal in his international debut for Spain against Wales in October 1984, just months after Spain finished second in the European Championship. He was a regular in the team by the 1986 World Cup in Mexico as Spain looked like serious title contenders. They progressed rather easily from their first round group and met Denmark in the second round, a replay of the semifinal at Euro 84. Butragueño experienced one of his finest days as soccerplayer as he became the first man since Eusebio in 1966 to score four goals in a World Cup match as Spain ran out 5-1 winners against one of the tournament favourites. A defeat to Belgium on penalties in the following round ended Spain’s dream of a first World Cup title.

Emilio failed to show his real class in Italy four years later and did not manage to score a single goal in the four games he played as Spain reached the second round. He was then the new team captain and took more responsibility in the defensive work and let Julio Salinas do the running up front. It was to be the last tournament he played for Spain. At clublevel, Butragueño had much more success winning five straight league championships with Real Madrid during the second half of the eighties. He left Real in 1995 for a career in Mexican soccer and retired a couple of years later.

Paul Breitner

Nicknamed “Der Afro” for his big curly hair, Paul Breitner was a starplayer at an early age. He signed for Bayern Munich when he was nineteen in 1970 and made his debut for the West German national team the following year. Paul started his career as a full-back, but moved up in midfield towards the end of his career. He had a very good right foot shot which he used frequently with great results.

Breitner was a member of some of the finest teams Europe has produced. West Germany won the European Championship in 1972 and two years later, on home soil, they mopped up their second World Cup title. Breitner scored three goals from his defensive position, two long range thunderbolts against Chile and Yugoslavia and a penalty in the final against Holland. Also in 1974, Bayern Munich won the European Cup making it a fantastic year for “Der Afro”. At 22, he had already won everything a footballer could dream about winning.

Breitner now searched abroad for new challenges. Real Madrid was next destination and he continued to win more trophies in the Spanish capital. When he came back to Bayern after three years in 1977, he had won two league championships with Real and a Spanish Cup title. Paul’s international career was in the meantime temporarily over. Disagreements with the coaching staff and certain players made him stay away from the West German national team for several years, but he changed his mind on the eve of the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Rummenigge was one of several players who said the team needed him after a run of poor results in the build-up to the finals.

In his midfield role, Breitner guided West Germany to the final where Italy beat them 3-1. Breitner scored the West German goal making him only the third man, after Pelé and Vava, to score in two World Cup finals. He retired in 1983 having won many trophies including seven league championships in Spain and West Germany. Breitner was also named German Player of the Year once.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Andoni Zubizarreta

Born in Vitoria, Andoni Zubizarreta, belongs to an exclusive list of players who have appeared in four World Cups. He had to wait for several years to break into the national team because of the presence of Luis Arconada, but made his debut against Finland in 1985. “Zubi” began his career in Athletic Bilbao and made his league debut for them in 1982. He had established himself as the national team goalkeeper before the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and gave some quality performances as Spain reached the quarterfinals and lost to Belgium on penalties.

Zubizarreta’s greatest asset as a goalkeeper was his positioning. He was seldom forced to make spectacular saves because of his ability to read the game. A goalkeeper without any special weaknesses, Zubi kept himself at the top for many years because of his great all-round abilities. In 1986, Barcelona signed him and Zubi spent eight wonderful years at the Nou Camp. He played some of his best games for Spain in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, especially against Uruguay and Belgium, but Yugoslavia won and knocked them out in extra-time already in the second round.

Four years later in USA, Zubi again had a fine tournament, but Italy beat them with a last-minute goal from Roberto Baggio in the quarterfinal. He bowed out of international football after the 1998 World Cup where he made a dreadful error against Nigeria, pushing the ball into his own net and was partially responsible for Spain’s first round exit. Despite this, Zubizarreta could look back at a very successful career having won many honours including, six Spanish league championships, three Spanish Cup titles, a European Cup Winners’ Cup title and a European Champions Cup title. He played more than 600 league games in Spain and won 126 caps, both are Spanish records.

Carlos Valderrama

This colourful and talented midfielder has been regarded as one of the very best in his position in South America over the past decade or so. Valderrama made his debut for Colombia in October 1985 losing 3-0 to Paraguay, but established himself soon and won the captaincy at an early age. At clublevel, he started playing for Colombia’s first division side Union Magdalena in 1981. He also played for Millionarios and Deportivo Cali before he signed for French side Montpellier in 1988, a club he won a French Cup championship with two years later. Valderrama also played for Spanish team Valladolid before he returned home to his native Colombia to play for Atelitico Junior where he also won two league championships.

Known as “El Pibe” (the kid), Carlos Valderrama is easy recognizable with his big curly blonde hair and all his jewelry. He was an accurate passer of the ball and a playmaker of finest caliber. He is also one of very few players to have captained his country in three World Cups. His biggest World Cup moment was when he dribbled past several players and delivered a pinpoint pass to teammate Rincon who scored the necessary equalizer three minutes into injurytime against eventual winners West Germany in 1990. That goal meant Colombia qualified to the second round.

In 1994, Colombia were one of the hottest candidates to win the World Cup, much thanks to a 5-0 thrashing of Argentina in Buenos Aires in the qualifying rounds, and even though Valderrama was on top of his game, Colombia disappointed a lot and got knocked out already in the first round. Neither in France four years later, at the age of 37, could “El Pibe” and his teammate get past the first round. He joined Tampa Bay Mutiny in the MLS in 1996 where he has had success as one of the best players.

Roger Milla

Roger Milla at 38 was the star of the Cameroon team of 1990, scoring four goals as they became the first African side to reach a World Cup quarter-final. Born at Yaounde the capital of Cameroon, Milla began with Eclair Douala, then played for Leopards of Douala. With his next club, Tonnerre of Yaounde, he won Cameroon league and cup medals.

Africa's Footballer of the year in 1976, he moved to France in 1977 and spent two seasons at Valenciennes before being transferred to Monaco. He had four seasons with Bastia and between 1984 and 1987 was was with St. Etienne before a move to Montpellier. He won the French cup with Monaco in 1980 and with Bastia in 1981 and collected a French Second division championship medal with St. Etienne. After 152 goals in the French league, he retired to the French Reunion Islands to play for Saint Pierre, helping them win the local league title in 1990.

After 81 full caps, Milla was tempted out of retirement for his second World Cup, returning after the coach got the nod of approval from the other players. In five games, all as a "super-sub", Milla scored the two goals which beat Romania and the two that beat Colombia. In the quarter- final against England he was involved in Cameroon's two goals. Milla, who changed his name from Miller to sound more African, is the oldest man to score in the final stages of a World cup. He was 42 when he scored against Russia in the 1994 World Cup.

Mario Alberto Kempes

Mario Alberto Kempes, born in Belville, Cordoba in 1954, began his career at local club Instituto Cordoba before quickly moving on to Rosario Central where he netted 85 goals in just 105 matches and established himself as a notorious goalscorer. Known as a hard-working forward, Kempes liked to attack from outside the penalty area with his surging runs goalwards and was not the traditional center-forward operating solely inside the box. His style was difficult for many defenders to handle. They never knew where they had him.

Kempes was the only foreign based player called up by coach Menotti before the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. The lanky forward had been topscorer in Spain's Primera Liga in each of the past two seasons and was determined to show on home soil that he could deliver against the best on the sport's greatest stage as well. In 1974, at 20 years of age, he failed to get on the score-sheet in West Germany and after the first round groupstage in 1978, his name was still missing among goalscorers in the tournament.

But things would change dramatically when Argentina's team was forced out of Buenos Aires because of ending up as runners-up in their group. Argentina's new venue for the second phase matches was Rosario, the city where Kempes' career took off in the early 1970s. It was here that "El Matador" found the goalscoring form that made him topscorer in the tournament.

First he sank Poland with both goals in the 2-0 win, then two more against Peru in the 6-0 demolition before he returned to Buenos Aires and the Final as a changed man. Kempes scored two more against the Netherlands and assisted Bertoni for Argentina's third in the 3-1 win. Needless to say, Kempes mopped up every major personal award after the finals.

In Europe he had two successful spells at Valencia (1976-81 & 1982-84). He helped them win the Spanish Cup in 1979 and the European Cupwinners Cup plus the European Super Cup the following year. Kempes made 247 appearances and scored 146 goals in all competitions for Valencia.

In 1981 he moved back to Argentina to play for River Plate - winning an Argentinian championship with them before heading back to Spain in time for the World Cup in 1982. It turned out to be a disappointing tournament for Argentina and Kempes. No goals for "El Matador" and Argentina bowed out in the second phase.

Kempes later moved to a smaller Spanish club, Hercules, before winding down his career in Austrian football for various clubs.

Hendrik Johannes Cruijff

Hendrik Johannes Cruijff, born in Amsterdam 1947, began his career at local club Ajax in 1964 where he quickly blossomed into a star. His excellent skills on the ball, great pace and ability to lift his team-mates to a higher level, made him an invaluable asset to the Ajax-team that would later conquer Europe.

In his trademark jersey #14 Cruijff lifted Ajax to heights the club had never been at before. Six Dutch league championships, four domestic cup titles and then three straight European Cup triumphs 1971-73 plus a European Super Cup and World Club Cup title on top of that as well. Johan Cruijff had taken over the torch from Pele as being the greatest player in the World.

Cruijff left Ajax early in the 1973/74 season for Barcelona after 318 matches and 250 goals when his team-mates elected Piet Keizer as captain instead of himself. It disappointed Johan. "Barca" could offer a better salary as well and that of course helped luring him to the Catalan capital. Cruijff's immediate presence in the team helped Barcelona win a Spanish league championship that same season - their first in 14 years.

In the summer of 1974, the Netherlands with Cruijff as the conductor and captain, impressed everybody in the World Cup in West Germany. Their "Total-Football" style where every player moved position all the time and somehow made the Dutch outnumber their opponents in every area of the field, gave great results as "Oranje" marched towards the Final in Munich in great style. Cruijff was instrumental in the latter stages when Argentina and Brazil were sent packing.

The hosts were opponents in the Final and they hadn't even touched the ball when Cruijff was brought down in the penalty area in the first minute. The second Johan, Neeskens, put Holland in front from the spot. The Germans would however come back and win 2-1. The Dutch, though, won most of the hearts of fans world-wide and their performance in that World Cup made lasting impressions.

Sadly, Johan Cruijff would never play in another World Cup again. He took part in the qualifiers for Argentina '78, but retired shortly before the finals without giving a particular reason. Everybody in the Netherlands tried to persuade him out of retirement, but to no avail.

However, already in 1979 Cruijff was back out on the field again, this time in the North American Soccer League where many other fading stars had gathered. He turned out for LA Aztecs and Washington Diplomats over three seasons before returning to Europe, first a very short spell at Levante in Spain, then to his native Ajax in 1981. He won two more Dutch league championships there and another domestic cup title before ending his glorious career with rivals Feyenoord in 1984. There he won another league and cup double as a 37-year old with youngsters like Ruud Gullit as team-mates.

Johan Cruijff then retired after 752 official career appearances and 425 goals. He was European Footballer of the Year (Golden Ball) winner three times and has since also been a highly successful coach at both Ajax and Barcelona.

Eusebio da Silva Ferreira

Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, also known as "The Black Pearl", was born in Lourenco Marques, Mozambique in 1942. He was brought to Portugal in 1961 by Benfica's coach Bela Guttmann who flew down to Africa personally to check Eusebio out after being tipped by Sao Paulo's coach. Guttmann was so impressed with what he saw that he decided to buy Eusebio from his local club for £7500 straight away.

In one of his first games for Benfica, Eusebio scored a hat-trick against Pelè's Santos. The Black Pearl continued to impress in the European Cup of 1962 where he netted twice against Real Madrid in the Final in the 5-3 win.

Eusebio was simply a one-man-attack; speedy, skillful and powerful not too dependent of supply lines from midfield to be successful. He caused trouble for all defenders and was unstoppable in the Portuguese league where he scored more than a goal per game - 319 in 313 appearances. He helped Benfica win 10 Portuguese league championships and 5 domestic cup titles. On the personal side he was six times topscorer in the Portuguese league and twice Golden Boot winner as topscorer in European football - 1968 and 1973 - and in 1965 he was European Player of the Year (Golden Ball winner).

In 1966 Portugal qualified to the World Cup for their first time. It turned out be some highly successful weeks in England for Eusebio & company. Portugal's #13 managed to show off his class to the world and scored nine goals becoming topscorer in the tournament. In the first round groupstage he tore Brazil apart with a memorable performance scoring twice to eliminate the 1958 and 1962 champions. More success followed even though North Korea led 3-0 at one stage against Portugal in the quarterfinal, Eusebio scored four times to rescue his country in the 5-3 win. The green and red lost to England in the semifinal - Eusebio was in tears after the match - but beat the Soviet Union in the bronze-match to complete a fine tournament. People in England were so impressed by Eusebio's performances that he was immediately added to Madame Tussaud's collection of waxwork.

Unfortunately Eusebio would never play in another World Cup again even though he took part in both the 1970 and 1974 qualifying series. Like many other stars of that era, Eusebio headed out west to America to play in the North American Soccer League towards the end of his career, he made appearances for a number of clubs in Mexico and USA. Eusebio retired in 1978 and is today regarded as one of the greatest strikers in the history of the game.

Bobby Charlton

Bobby Charlton is without doubt one of the most famous English players of all time. His name is synonymous with some of the greatest moments in the English game, but also with the highest traditions of sportsmanship and integrity. Bobby using his pace out of midfield and with a thunderous shot, scored some of the most spectacular goals English football has ever seen. Born in Ashington on October 11th 1937, he was signed by Manchester United when aged 17. As one of the "Busby Babes" to survive the Munich air disaster, he teamed up with Denis Law and George Best in the 1960s to produce some of United's greatest ever football.

Charlton remained faithful to United and in his time there from 1956-73, he won the league championship three times, the FA Cup once and the European Cup once. Benfica was beaten 4-1 in a memorable final in 1968 at Wembley. All in all Charlton played more than 750 games for Manchester United and scored 247 goals in all competitions. He was also voted "European Footballer of the Year" in 1966. The same year England hosted and won the World Cup for their first and so far only time.

Charlton was instrumental in England's triumph. After a poor start against Uruguay, England beat France and Mexico. Charlton scored a stunning goal against the Central Americans. Then Argentina and Portugal were eliminated in the knock-out stages, with Charlton scoring both England's goals in the 2-1 win over Portugal. In a memorable final England beat West Germany after extra time. Charlton retired from international football when England were defeated by West Germany four years later in Mexico in the quarterfinals. Charlton played 106 times for England - a record at that time - and scored 49 goals, which is still a record in English football. Having retired from all football in 1973 he became manager of Preston NE, worked as director of Wigan Athletic, and in 1984 was appointed director of Manchester United. He was awarded a CBE in 1974 and a knighthood in 1994. He is currently working as ambassador for Manchester United.

Andreas Brehme

One of the most complete left-backs in European soccer ever, Andreas Brehme, spent ten years in the German national team. He played in Barmbeck Uhlenhorst and FC Saarbrücken before he joined Kaiserslautern where he gained his place in the national team in 1984. Brehme was a “two-footed” player. He provided perfect crosses with his left, but preferred to shoot with his right.

Neither he or the German national team had any success in the European championship held just months after Brehme’s debut. The first round knock-out was not accepted and when Beckenbauer rebuilt his team for the Mexico World Cup in 1986, Brehme was one of his safest cards. Andreas was instrumental in the latter stages of the tournament scoring a goal in the semifinal against France and his two corner kicks in the final against Argentina, lead to two goals, although the South Americans won 3-2 in the end.

Brehme was tempted to try his luck in the Italian league and joined Inter Milan along with his German teammates Klinsmann and Matthäus. He won the Serie A in 1989 and a year later he won the World Cup with West Germany playing several of the matches in his home stadium, the San Siro. Brehme scored three goals including the matchwinning penalty in the final against Argentina five minutes from time to revenge the defeat of four years earlier.

Andreas later returned home to German football to have a brief spell with Bayern Munich before joining Kaiserslautern again where he won a German Cup and another Bundesliga title at the age of 37 in 1998, the year he retired. His last World Cup was in 1994 in USA where he was one of the veterans axed after the quarterfinal defeat to Bulgaria.

Zbigniew “Zibi” Boniek

Zbigniew “Zibi” Boniek, born in Bydgoszcz, is one of the greatest Eastern European players ever. He started his career in his birthtown club Zawisza before moving to one of the great Polish clubs, Widzew Lodz. Boniek was included in Poland’s 1978 World Cup squad as a 22-year-old and impressed many with his tireless running and commitment. Poland reached the second phase before being knocked out by Brazil and eventual winners Argentina.

Four years later in Spain, Poland had a better team and Boniek was excellent as his country won bronzemedals. Arguably his best performance of his career for Poland came in a second phase match against Belgium where he scored a magnificent hat-trick. One of the best hat-tricks in World Cup history. Unfortunately he was suspended in the semifinal against Italy, but he was back at his best when Poland beat France in the bronzematch. Zibi was definitely one of the greatest stars in the tournament and appeared on many “Dreamteams” in papers and magazines in the wake of the World Cup.

Boniek took the big step to the Italian Serie A before the start of the 1982/83 season. Along with fellow newcomer Michel Platini and World Cup winning hero Paolo Rossi, Zibi formed a deadly attack in Juventus which would conquer Italian, European and world soccer. The team won the league and cup in Italy plus the Cupwinner’s Cup (1984), European Supercup (1984) and European Cup in the tragic Heysel final in 1985, all in the space of three seasons. President Agnelli nicknamed him “Bello di Notte” (Night Beauty) as he always seemed to play his best during evening matches.

Zibi left Juve a year before the 1986 World Cup and joined AS Roma where he won another Italian Cup winner’s medal. He now operated deeper and played as a sweeper for the Polish team in the Mexico World Cup. Poland, not anywhere near the force they were in 82 or 74, reached the second round, but lost heavily to Brazil. Today Zbigniew Boniek works as a commentator for a TV channel in Poland.

Giuseppe Bergomi

Giuseppe Bergomi was born in Milan and devoted his entire career to his beloved Internazionale. This central defender or right-back blossomed early and broke into the first team already during the 1980/81 season as a 17 year-old. He was soon acknowledged by national team coach Enzo Bearzot and was included in the 1982 World Cup squad having barely played 30 senior matches in the Italian league.

Bergomi started the tournament on the bench, but came on as a substitute against Brazil in the memorable 3-2 second phase win. He did a great job and was included in the starting line-up against Poland in the semifinal because Gentile was suspended. Everyone was impressed with how mature he played and Bearzot could not drop him for the final against West Germany. Bergomi was given the job of marking Rummenigge and completely took him out of the game. The German star was substituted in the second half as Italy ran out 3-1 winners. Giuseppe was a World Cup winner just over a year after making his first appearance in a senior match!

At clublevel, Bergomi and Inter were in the shadow of AC Milan for much of the time. Having won an Italian Cup title in 1982, it took seven more years until another title was won. This time the Serie A, Bergomi’s only league championship title in his nineteen seasons at Inter. He experienced more success in European competitions winning the UEFA Cup on three occasions.

Italy hosted the World Cup in 1990 and Bergomi captained his country and played in every game as the Azzurri captured bronzemedals. A painful semifinal defeat on penalties to Argentina was all that stood betweem them and the final. Giuseppe didn’t figure frequently in the Italian line-up as the 1990s progressed. In a Euro 92 qualifying game against Norway, he came on from the bench only to be sent off seconds later for a bad foul! He wasn’t wearing the blue shirt of the Azzurri again until he, against all odds, was called up for the 1998 World Cup by Cesare Maldini. He made three appearences in his fourth World Cup, took one more domestic season with Inter, before retiring at the age of 36.

Franco Baresi

Franco Baresi, born in Travagliato, is one of very few players at top international level to have spent an entire career at one club. He made his debut for AC Milan in 1978 and won the Serie A already in his first full season the following year. Franco was one of these players that didn’t look very impressive physically compared to what you would expect from a central defender. He usually operated as a sweeper behind the defensive line, and controlled the pace of the game from there. He read the game impressively well, which was the main reason to why he was so outstanding.

It took some time for him to break into the national team because Enzo Bearzot, the coach at the time, preferred the Juventus trio Cabrini, Gentile and Scirea in defence. The latter occupied the sweeper’s position in the World Cup winning team of 1982. Baresi was included in that squad, but never played a minute in Spain which he didn’t like. He then rejected to play for Italy as long as Bearzot was in charge which made him miss the 1986 World Cup. Bearzot then retired and Baresi once again said yes to the Azzurri. Italy reached the semifinals at Euro 88, Franco’s first tournament with Italy, and another semifinal in their own World Cup in 1990. Italy lost to Argentina on penalties, but beat England in the bronzematch.

Baresi was captain when Italy travelled to America for the World Cup in 1994. At 34, he knew this was his last chance to win the World Cup, but an injury in the first round against Norway made him miss several matches and he wasn’t ready until the final against Brazil, where he played the game of his life. Brazil evenutally won on penalties and Franco missed one of the penalties for Italy. It was his 81st and final match for Italy.

He played three more years for Milan before retiring, having won six Serie A championships, three European Cups and two World Club Cups among his many titles. AC Milan paid tribute to him by making his number 6 jersey immortal. No player in the future will ever wear that jersey again for Milan.

Gordon Banks

England has produced a long line of goalkeeping legends over the years. The best of them all was Gordon Banks. Born in Sheffield, he joined third division side Chesterfield as a part-time pro in 1955. After four years, Banks was ready for bigger tasks and joined Leicester City in 1959 for £7000. It was at Filbert Street he started to show his class. Banks and Leicester reached the final of the FA Cup in his second season, but lost to Spurs who completed The Double that year.

Having lost another FA Cup final in 1963, Gordon finally could pick up a winner’s medal in the League Cup the following year. Banks was in the England team by now and started to make his name world wide. England hosted the World Cup in the summer of 1966. Banks experienced his finest weeks as a footballer when his team reached the final having just conceded one goal, a penalty from Portugal’s Eusebio. He really lived up to his nickname Banks of England. Gordon was as safe between the posts as money in the bank of England! After a dramatic final against West Germany, England could lift the World Cup for the first and so far only time. Banks was the best goalkeeper in the tournament.

England travelled to Mexico to defend their title in 1970. If Banks was famous for winning the World Cup in 1966, he would become even more so after this tournament. Much thanks to an incident called ‘The Save of the Century’. England played Brazil in the first round and a Jairzinho cross from the right was met perfectly by Pelé who headed it down towards Gordon’s bottom right corner. As the ball hit the ground in front of the goalline, he managed to flick it with his outstreched right hand as it came up. The ball rose over the bar for a corner. Despite this save, England lost 1-0 and later would lose 3-2 against West Germany in the quarterfinal when Banks was sidelined with an injury.

It was a car accident which made him blind on his right eye that caused his retirement in 1972. Just months earlier he had been voted England’s Player of the Year and also won another League Cup with his club Stoke City. Gordon Banks kept 35 clean sheets and only let in 57 goals in his 73 appearances for England. A proud record for one of the greatest goalkeepers the world has ever seen.

Roberto Baggio

On the 18th of February, 1967, this legend started in Caldogno, a small town in the north of Vicenza in Italy. In the Baggio family, which had had 5 children -- Gianna, Walter, Carla, Giorgio and Anne Maria; our soccer hero was born -- Roberto! As a person who loved soccer, he always thought of football, and didn't want to live without it. Roby's career began in the place where he had been there for 9 years. Just after a few matches, Roberto had become a little star, always scored. At the end of a game in which he had 6 goals, a scout Antonio Mora persuaded him to join Vicenza, a Serie C team at that time.

With Vicenza
However, under the coach Cad, Baggio didn't have much chance to play, and his first season just went pass. But a good news was that a new man arrived in the next season, Baggio therefore had more chances to play, he then gave his first career goal to Bruno Giorgi as a present, thanked the coach for putting him in a such important place. Furthermore, his good performance in this season brought him an under 16 national team place.

The 84-85 season, Baggio was on track, he got 12 goals in 29 league games, this helped Vicenza to climb to Serie B. But on the 3rd of May, Roberto went pass Serie B, joined a Serie A team, Fiorentina.

With Fiorentina
Baggio finished his first season in Fiorentina quietly. But in the next season, he finally took part in a Serie A game on the 21st of September, 1986, against Sampdoria. However, he hurt his knee in this season! Oh God! This is unfair, Baggio had just got a chance to show his talent, and now......wait a minute, he scored his first Serie A goal in the game vs Napoli on the 10th of May, 1987, not bad then! At least had a goal!

Good things continued to come, in the next season, he totally recovered, and had 9 goals. On the other hand, he was called by national team for the first time in November, 1988, to play in Rome against Holland. Moreover, everyone will get married one day, and no exception for a soccer player, Roby stopped his long run with girl friend Andreina, formally became a couple after the end of this season.

The following season, Baggio finished beautifully with 17 goals in 32 league matches. He also took the team to the final of UEFA Cup, but unfortunately they were beaten by a Torine team, Juventus, couldn't bring the cup back to Florence. The UEFA Cup winner Juventus, however, signed Baggio with a world record transfer fee -- US$17 million, it was about 7.5 million pounds. But this announcement made Fiorentina fans angry, caused riots in the streets.

World Cup '90
Anyway, Baggio's great form gave him a place in Azeglio Vicini's Italian national team in World Cup '90. However, as he was not brought up by Vicini from junior team, in Italy's 1-0 winning first and second match, there was no Baggio. But these poor results forced the coach to change. In the last match in the first round, Baggio and Schillaci partnered in front aimed at beating Czechoslovakia. They successfully combined together! And Roby scored the best goal in this tournament.

After that, Italy went into the semi-final against Argentina. Before the match started, Vicini told Baggio that he was to be in the bench when the game began, the reason was he looked tired, but Roberto rebutted "I am 23! I will have eaten grass to play." No effect, he only played in the second half. 120 minutes over, the result was still leveled, penalty! Baggio luckily scored 1. But the game belonged to Argentine goalkeeper, who kicked Italy out......the host only got a third place.

With Juventus
Forgot about the sad memory in the World Cup, Baggio had a good start in Juventus, he scored 14 goals in 33 league games. On the 2nd of December, his wife brought a third person! Calm down, she just born their first child, Valentina. In the next season, Roberto played in 32 Serie A matches, got 18 goals.

92-93 seoson was Baggio's best season in Juventus, he put the ball into the net 21 times in 27 league games. Baggio also led Juventus to play in the UEFA Cup, he took part in 9 games and scored 6 goals, and Juventus became the champion, this was Roberto's first major title that he had ever won.

The following season, Baggio gave his 100th Serie A goal to Genoa. In December, he was recognized by the World, he became the European footballer and World's footballer. Baggio scored 17 goals in 32 league matches this season. In May, 1994, shortly before the World Cup, his wife born their 2nd child, named Mattia.

World Cup '94
In World Cup '94, Roberto's ponytail and his excellent goals brought him a lot of supporters. Could enter the final was a good news, but Baggio hurt his thigh during the semi-final, and quite serious, the doctor told him not to play in the final. But he didn't want his fans disappointed, so he ignored his injury, went into the field again. However, his hurt thigh held him down, he couldn't find a way to score, but the most unfortunate was that during penalty shootout, Baggio missed the most important kick, therefore gave the cup to their opponent -- Brazil. Since then, the relationship between him and Sacchi has been worsen.

With Juventus
The injury from the World Cup made Baggio only played in 17 league matches and only got 8 goals. Although Juventus won both Serie A and Coppe Italia, the team moved towards Del Piero. And they said if Baggio accepted a decrease of 1/3 of the original salary, then he could stay. But of course Roby was not that foolish, he chose to leave, to either AC Milan or Inter Milan. Finally, on the 6th of July, he moved to the red and black AC Milan.

With AC Milan
However, this was a really bad decision, because he was only a substitution, and was not in the mind of coach Capello. He played 28 matches but only got 7 goals. As a result, Roby had contributed very little to the winning of the league.

At the beginning of the next season, Baggio got some hope, because Capello left the team, Taberez arrived. But when everyone thought that he might go up again, the poor performance of Milan cost him the place in the start-up. Towards the end of the season, things went worse as Sacchi returned to Milan. Enemy met everyday, there was no chance for Baggio to stay. At last, in order to prove himself as a great player, he moved to a medium size team -- Bologna, on the 18th of July, 1997.

With Bologna
No more ponytail, Baggio proved his move to Bologna was totally right. He regained his form with helps from teammates, for example, Swedish Kennet Andersson, Russian Igor Kolyvanov, Italian Fontolan, and defender Paramatti, etc......Baggio finished this season with 22 goals, just 5 fewer than German Bierhoff, and 3 fewer than Brazilian, his current Inter Milan teammate -- Ronaldo. Inter therefore once again invited Roby to join. And he decided to go back to San Siro Stadium after World Cup '98.

The over-importance of Del Piero, and under-importance of Baggio by Cesare Maldini was one of the factors which caused the failure of the Italian team in World Cup France. The no.18 player did very good in France, with 2 goals. However in the third round, when the Italian met the host, although Baggio scored the first during the penalty shootout, Italy was once again kicked out.

With Inter
After a season of good performance in Bologna and World Cup '98, many people did expect Baggio to continue this in Inter, since he had Ronaldo as his partner. However, as everybody could see, Roby's first season playing for Inter was not so good. The beginning of the season was not so well, they had lost 4 Serie A matches before the wonderful return of Baggio, he scored twice when Real Madrid travelled to San Siro. Since then Inter's supporters thought they could have a smoother season, but...

With Inter
Injuries of Baggio, Ronaldo, Zamorano and Ventola totally broke down Inter's forward line, plus the poor defence at the back, ended up with a bad season without any trophy. They finished the local league in the 8th place, and were out of Italian Cup as beaten by Parma; while most importantly, they lost to Manchester United in European Champions League, who later beat Juventus and Bayern Munich to win the Cup.

With Inter
The beginning of the 1999/2000 Season was full of expectation, with Vieri joining Inter, Baggio should be able to make a great combination with him. But unluckily the coach was the one who dumped Roby in Juventus -- Lippi. When he said that Baggio was in his Inter plan, everyone was satisfied, but soonly afterward they all realized that the coach's plan was to leave Roby outside the first team. With limited appearance, he didn't only lose a bit of form, but also a National Team place in EURO 2000, where the Italians lost the final match to the French.

Overall, this season might be again disappointing, but Roby did a wonderful job in his last game for the Milan team, as he scored two brilliant goals in the Champions League play-off match against Parma. After that he was eventually out of contract with Inter on 30th June.

After thinking for about four months, Baggio finally made a decision in September 2000 to join newly promoted club Brescia, mainly due to the fact that he could play much more than he could in bigger teams, and that it is close to his home in Vicenza. After two games against Juventus, it is obvious that going to Brescia was not a bad decision, and in fact he made history with a club that never stayed in Serie A for two consecutive seasons.

With Brescia
During the first three years with Brescia, captain Baggio led the team to three consecutive salvation in Serie A, and personally he scored 33 goals in 70 league games. The main reason for his success in these seasons was the understanding and believe from coach Mazzone, so that he had the chance to get the most out of himself, and show off his strengths. Also, Baggio had a number of high-quality teammates, including Spanish star Guardiola, wing Bachini, midfield rising star Appiah, defenders Petruzzi, Calori, Bonera, Martinez, as well as stable keeper Sereni. They had been in great assistance to Baggio, who could take the advantage and concentrate on organizing attacks.

With Brescia
The 2003/2004 season was Baggio's final year as a player, as he led Brescia to a historic 4th consecutive salvation. He scored his 200th Serie A goal in the match against Parma on 14th March 2004, after which he received a standing ovation from all the spectators at Parma's home ground, a great honour to a great soccer player.

Baggio played his final match on 16 May 2004, against an A.C. Milan led by his former teammate Paolo Maldini, when he left the field in the second half, all the players, coaches and staffs from both teams, as well as all the spectators at the San Siro Stadium gave him the biggest standing ovation to farewell one of the greatest soccer player in soccer history.

The story ends here, but his legendary will live forever in the heart of all soccer fans.

This is Roberto Baggio...

SURNAME:Baggio
FIRST NAME: Roberto
NICKNAME: Roby, Codino Divino (Divine Ponytail)
DATE OF BIRTH: 18th February, 1967
PLACE OF BIRTH: Caldogno VI, Vicenza, Italy
HEIGHT: 174cm
WEIGHT: 73kg
EYE COLOUR: Green
HAIR COLOUR: Brown
PARENTS: Father Fiorindo, Mother Matilda
SIBLINGS: 1. Gianna, 2. Walter, 3. Caria, 4. Giorgio, 5. Anne Maria, 7. Nadia, 8. Eddy
WIFE: Andreina Fabbri
CHILDREN: Valentina, Mattia
HONOUR:
1990 - World Cup Italia third place
1993 - World Footballer of the Year
1993 - European Footballer of the Year
1993 - UEFA Cup champion
1994 - World Cup U.S.A. second place
1995 - Serie A champion 1994/95
1995 - Coppa Italia champion 1994/95
1996 - Serie A champion 1995/96

RELIGION: Buddhism - Soka Gakkai International
CARS OWNED:Mercedes Benz, Jeep Grand Cherokee
HOBBIES: Hunting, Listen to music
FAVOURITE COLOUR: Green
FAVOURITE FOOD: Pizza
FAVOURITE DRINK: Fragolino wine
FAVOURITE ANIMAL: Duck
FAVOURITE ACTRESS: Sharon Stone
FAVOURITE ACTOR: Roberto Benigni
FAVOURITE SONGS: Hotel Calfornia by Eagles, November Rain by Guns N' Roses
CHILDHOOD IDOL: Zico

Franz Beckenbauer

Elegant Franz Beckenbauer was an outstanding captain, a great tactician and a revolutionary attacking sweeper. Born in Munich on September 11th 1945, he was in Bayern Munich's first team before his 18th birthday, won his first full cap after only 27 senior games and was West Germany's footballer of the year in 1966, the year he scored 4 goals in Germany's run to the World Cup final. Many believed that Helmut Schön blundered by playing "The Kaiser" out of position in the final, but he gave a great performance as England were eliminated in the 1970 quarter- finals.

European Footballer Of The Year in 1971 and 1976, he captained the 1972 European champions and in 1974 at last gained a World Cup-winners' medal. He retired from international soccer in 1977 after winning 103 caps and inspiring Bayern Munich to many successes in domestic and European football. He teamed up with Pelè at New York Cosmos in a $2.000.000 move, and added two NASL championships to his collection before helping SV Hamburg to the Bundesliga title in 1982 and then playing a final season with the Cosmos.

Appointed national coach in 1984, he steered West Germany to the final in both the 1986 and 1990 World Cup. And in the latter became only the second man after Zagalo of Brazil, to achieve success as both a player - but the first as captain - and manager.

Franz Beckenbauer
Born: 11 September 1945. Munich, West Germany
International Caps 103
International Goals 14
Teams C Munich 1906, Bayern Munich, New York Cosmos, SV Hamburg
Team Honours World Cup: 1974
European Championship: 1972
European Cup: 1974, 75, 76
Cup Winners: Cup: 1967
World Club Championships: 1976
Bundersliga: 1969, 72, 73, 74.
West German Cup: 1966, 67, 69, 71.
Individual Honours European Footballer of the Year: 1972, 76. Franz Beckenbauer is the only man to have won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager. His roll of honour is unique. Captain of West Germany when they won the World Cup and the European Championship, he also led his club, Bayern Munich, to three successive European Cups and also to the European Cup Winners' Cup.

But it is not just for the medals and trophies that Beckenbauer is remembered. Rather it is for the style and the genius. Every movement he made on the pitch bristled with elegance. There was an arrogance in his play that suggested he was always in command - "Emperor Franz" and "The Kaiser" they called him. But more than that, he was a great thinker about the game and brought about a revolution in the way it is played by inventing the role of the attacking sweeper.

Those powerful long runs out of central defence had never been seen before. Up to then, no one had thought that a sweeper had any job being in his opponents' half of the field, let alone scoring. Beckenbauer both created and bequeathed this tactic to the modern game. It contained the element of surprise and it became his trademark.

As Keir Radnedge wrote in Soccer: The Ultimate Encyclopedia: "He was the puppet master, standing back and pulling the strings which earned West Germany and Bayern Munich every major prize."

Beckenbauer was born amid the ruins of post-war Germany on September 11, 1945, in Munich. He joined the youth team at Bayern when he was 14 and three years later gave up his job as a trainee insurance salesman to become a professional footballer.

At that time, Bayern were one of West Germany's less fashionable clubs and didn't merit a place in the Bundesliga when it was formed in 1963. But they were soon promoted and when Beckenbauer made his debut in 1964 it was as an outside-left.

He was soon switched into midfield and within a year he had made his debut for West Germany. The match - a test of nerve for even experienced internationals, let alone a fledgling 20-year-old - was a crucial World Cup qualifier away to Sweden. Beckenbauer, however, demonstrated that coolness of temperament for which he was to become famous as West Germany won 2-1 and qualified for the 1966 World Cup to be played in England.

Little could Beckenbauer have realised that the competition was to herald the start of a series of epic battles between England and West Germany.

In the opening matches, Beckenbauer gave a glimpse of what was to come by gliding through for two goals as the Germans demolished Switzerland 5-0. They drew 0-0 with Argentina then beat Spain 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals.

That match was against Uruguay whose indiscipline saw them reduced to nine men after two dismissals. Again, Beckenbauer came from deep in midfield to score in a 4-0 victory.

Beckenbauer was again on the scoresheet in the semi-final against Russia who were also reduced to nine men, one player leaving the field through injury, the other sent off. His goal was stunning, a left-footed shot from outside the box which he bent round the Russian wall to beat legendary keeper Lev Yashin at the far post.

For the final against England, Beckenbauer was deputed to man-mark Bobby Charlton and followed him all around Wembley. It was a battle of wits. Charlton was the player the Germans feared most and as Beckenbauer himself said years later: "England beat us in 1966 because Bobby Charlton was just a bit better than me."

England won 4-2 in extra-time though a Geoff Hurst hat-trick. The result was a huge disappointment for the young Beckenbauer, but it was to be only the first of three World Cup Finals he was to play in and he would have his revenge.

Back at Bayern, things were looking up for the club which had only recently been admitted to the big time. The won the West German Cup in both 1966 and 1967 and in that latter year won the first of their European trophies, the Cup Winners' Cup, by beating Glasgow Rangers 1-0.

By this time, Beckenbauer was captain of Bayern and at the end of the decade the club had a talented team which was about to launch itself towards European domination. Two of the other outstanding players in the side were goalkeeper Sepp Maier and centre-forward Gerd Muller, the striker who was to terrify England, becoming known as Der Bomber.

In 1968 Beckenbauer had his initial taste of revenge for that World Cup Final defeat, scoring the goal that gave West Germany victory for the first time over England. Success continued at club level as he led Bayern to their first Bundesliga Championship in 1969.

It was during this period of the late Sixties that Beckenbauer began to experiment with the tactic of mounting attacking raids from the centre of defence. He had watched and admired the runs down the flank of the tall Internazionale and Italy left-back Giancinto Facchetti - an early version of today's wing-back - and wanted to adapt the methods to a similar role played from centre-back.

The beauty of the ploy was, as explained in Soccer: The World Game: "The role of sweeper appeared a perfect launching pad, since the sweeper himself was never marked, lurked deep at the back, and could pick his moment to surge upfield." Bayern were quickly convinced of its value, but the West German manager Helmut Schoen was more cautious. Despite Beckenbauer's requests he was not allowed to play the way he wanted to for his country until the European Championship Finals of 1972, by which time he had been an international for seven years.

Before then, of course, was the World Cup in Mexico in 1970. West Germany were not to win it, but they were involved in one of the most dramatic World Cup matches and once again the opponents were the defending Champions England.

West Germany qualified for the quarter-finals by winning all their three games, beating Morocco 2-1, Bulgaria 5-2 and Peru 3-1. England, on the other hand, had lost one match - the colossal struggle with Brazil to whom they went down 1-0. Many thought that much of England's energy had been drained by that classic contest in the heat of Guadalajara. They had suffered another blow, too. Gordon Banks, the world's finest keeper, had been taken ill and would be replaced by Chelsea's Peter Bonetti.

Despite this, England took a 2-0 lead, with goals from Alan Mullery and Martin Peters, and appeared to be coasting towards the semi-finals. Then the game was turned on its head, and the man who started it was Beckenbauer.

Brian Glanville describes what happened in his book, The Story of the World Cup: "Beckenbauer advanced, picked up a rebound, and sent a low, right-footed unexceptional shot towards the left-hand corner. Bonetti went down too late, the ball ran under his dive, and the score was 2-1."

It was the start of a nightmare for Bonetti. But much has been made of the fact that England manager Alf Ramsey took off Bobby Charlton, wanting to rest him for the semi-finals, and brought on Colin Bell in his place.

However, as Glanville points out: "It is significant, given the subsequent theory that all went awry when Charlton departed, thus allowing Beckenbauer to come forward, that Beckenbauer scored his vital goal before Charlton was replaced."

The equaliser came from the veteran Uwe Seeler who headed the ball in a looping arc over Bonetti who was stranded in no-man's land. Then, in extra-time, Hurst had a goal disallowed for England before Muller - who was to finish the tournament's leading scorer with 10 - completed their torment with a thundering volley to win the match.

Revenge for that World Cup Final defeat was sweet for the Germans. But the joy was not to last. Despite their exhausting efforts against England, they were 1-1 at the end of normal time in the semi-final against Italy.

However, in the first period of extra-time, Beckenbauer was chopped down and injured. He carried on with his arm strapped to his side, but from then on he was merely a passenger. West Germany, without their sweeper and inspiration, went down 4-3. Beckenbauer, though, would live to fight another day.

In 1971 he was made captain of his country and at last succeeded in putting his theories into practice. By the following year's European Championships, Beckenbauer personified the modern sweeper, the player around whom everything revolved. It paid off handsomely, West Germany winning the trophy by beating the Soviet Union 3-0 in the final and Beckenbauer being voted European Footballer of the Year.

It was just the start of a period of extraordinary success for Beckenbauer. Bayern, under his leadership, won three successive Budesliga Championships and three successive European Cups - thrashing Atletico Madrid 4-0 in 1974 in a replay after a 1-1 draw, conquering Don Revie's Leeds United 2-0 in 1975 and beating St Etienne of France 1-0 in 1976. For good measure, Bayern also won the World Clubs Cup in 1976 with a 2-0 aggregate victory over South American Champions Cruzeiro of Brazil. They were, undoubtedly, not just the premier club side in Europe, but the world.

But the peak of achievement for Beckenbauer was captaining his country to World Cup victory in the Olympic Stadium in his home city of Munich in 1974. West Germany finished only runners-up in an easy group in the early stages, surprisingly losing their first ever game against East Germany 1-0. They made no mistakes at the second group stage, however, winning all three matches.

But it was a team in the other half of the draw that everyone was talking about. The "Total Football" of Holland, captained by Johan Cruyff, had captured the imagination. They had scored 14 goals and conceded only one in six games en route to the final. Now they were ready for the showdown against the equally effective "Total Football" of West Germany. Perhaps it should have been billed "Total Box Office" - because with the two best players in the world, the match was inevitably presented as Beckenbauer v Cruyff.

Certainly the game was going to turn on whether the Germans could stop Cruyff, but that job fell not to Beckenbauer but to Bertie Vogts, now manager of the current national side.

The start was sensational. Holland kicked-off and passed the ball around aimlessly as the home crowd whistled and jeered. Suddenly, Cruyff raced forward with the ball, went past Vogts and was tripped in the penalty area. Johan Neeskens took the spot kick and West Germany were 1-0 down without having touched the ball.

With such a start, how did Holland lose? Brian Glanville explains: "For twenty-five minutes the Dutch did as they pleased against a stunned German team, rolling the ball about, making pretty patterns, bur creating no real opportunities. Dangerous indulgence against a host team; and so it was that West Germany got off the hook."

First they equalised though a Paul Breitner penalty and then Muller got the winner just before half-time as the Dutch defence began to wilt. Beckenbauer had achieved one half of his unique double.

He was voted European Footballer of the Year for the second time after that hat-trick of European Cups in 1976, even though West Germany lost that year's European Championship Final to Czechoslovakia in a penalty shoot-out.

Beckenbauer had won a record 103 caps for West Germany when, in 1977, he accepted a 2.5 million dollar contract to play for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League. He stayed four years in which the Cosmos won the Soccer Bowl three times.

He briefly returned to Germany before playing out one final season with the Cosmos before retiring in 1984.

That year he was appointed the West German national manager in succession to Jupp Derwall. It was, in one sense, an extraordinary appointment, for Beckenbauer had no coaching experience at all. His apprenticeship was served gaining qualification for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where he astonished everyone by taking a somewhat ordinary team to the final where they lost 3-2 to Argentina.

Italia 90 was different, however. Beckenbauer now had a united German side capable of going all the way. Once again it was England who were blocking his way, a 1-1 draw in the semi-final bringing about the drama of that penalty shoot-out in which Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle missed to give Beckenbauer managerial victory over his rival Bobby Robson.

The final - as in 1986 against Argentina - was a sterile affair, a penalty being enough to ensure the trophy for the Germans. Beckenbauer had made history with a unique World Cup double.

After the headiness of international immortality, Beckenbauer moved into club management as coach at Olympique Marseilles. It was a brief and unsuccessful spell. He returned to Bayern as coach in 1994, guiding them to the Bundesliga title before moving upstairs as the club president.

The legacy of Beckenbauer's golden career will last a long time, however. No other footballer, as an innovator and as a winner, ever reached such heights as The Kaiser.

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