Franz Beckenbauer Quotations

Rugby is a different game. There is an interruption every two minutes also in American football. Our soccer is a moving game: play, play, play, move, move - you don't interrupt.

The World Cup tournament overall and, naturally, the new stadiums at its heart, are the ideal platform to portray Germany as a positive and exceptional location, and above all of course, as a highly capable economic location.

If a Middle Eastern sheikh comes to buy Bayern Munich, he could buy 49 per cent. Fifty-one per cent must stay in Germany with the club. That law came about because of the developments of international football.

The trouble for today's footballers is they have too many distractions. We used to get our old players coming to watch training with football magazines in their hands. Now, more often than not, they are checking the share prices.

I kept my speeches short as captain. I focused on the key points of the opposition of the day. As coach, I was never afraid to give long speeches to the players throughout our preparations. It was important they had all the information possible.

At least six Bayern players, who have won almost everything, are in the national squad.

Since Sven Goran Eriksson took over, England have been fantastic.

We should not fool ourselves. We are not one of the world's top teams any more.

At the World Cup and even now at the Confederations Cup, our security provisions will ensure the greatest level of protection possible for all those participating - both inside and outside the stadiums.

At any rate, I can only see such a success having positive effects for everyone, particularly as our anticipation of the World cup would only increase further.

Back then, a half-a-century ago, the situation was totally different. Economically, we were practically on our knees, and politically, we were still excluded from the community of nations. Today, in this respect, we have a totally different and much more stable basis.

The most important thing however is the money. What use would it be to us, to have a a mighty stadium but a useless team, because we couldn't afford anything better?

The Olympic stadium may have been built only in the early 1970s but it was clear for a long time it had no future. For many reasons it is not good enough for modern football and today's fans.

The two designs are completely different. The first is totally futuristic, the second is more classical. You can of course get very excited about doing something completely out of the ordinary, just like the Olympic stadium in its time. But each to his or her own taste.

We are the last remaining country to allow ourselves two breaks in the season. You just have to look at England, Italy and Spain, they play right through the season. We on the other hand take six weeks off in the winter until the end of January, and that is a luxury.

Certainly it is a different world for players nowadays. But it depends on the individual.

German football is like English football. The Germans and the English do not play like a Brazilian side. They have to improve, bring up their young players, who have character.

It would make me a lot happier if I could meet up again next year with as many friends as possible from all over the world who I've met during my career. That's where the great opportunity lies, for me personally, in our role as World Cup host.

In the World Cup, much depends for every team on how it develops during the tournament. There are always rising tensions. They come from within, and they come from the media.

Unquestionably, it was also thanks to the World Cup win in 1974 that I was lucky enough to spend four years as a player in New York from 1977.

We're doing everything we can. But at the end of the day it's his decision, his future,

We have provided the World Cup with as much security as possible. I don't see why the armed forces shouldn't be called in if needed.

Since Jurgen Klinsmann took over, the team has only played friendly matches, but now, for the first time, they are taking part in a real competition.

I would probably say yes to Real Madrid, ... It's a legendary team that stands above all others and is the target of all players.

I would pass him the ball and watch him play, it was like Mozart. This year, playing with him was absolutely amazing.

If they are (knocked) out, the whole country would be in depression and the whole atmosphere, the enthusiasm of the fans would be gone.

I can't see a better farewell stage for one of the best European players of all time as the World Cup.

He was sent off at the 1998 World Cup, and now he missed two penalties against France and Portugal. Beckham appears to have a problem with nerves.

He was needed here to sweep up some of the broken glass.

He could avoid constant criticism that he is never here,

There are technically better teams but we can compensate for that. We are not in the position to compete in Italy or other places but it is different at home.

Our nation made itself look a bit ridiculous in front of the whole world.

I was told to mark what was then the best player - Bobby Charlton. Bobby told me later that (England manager) Alf Ramsey had told him to keep an eye on this young, good-looking German guy.

It doesn't make sense any more to talk to him about it. I don't know how often I've spoken with him and told him that he must be in Germany during the final run-up to the tournament. If that's how he views the profession then he will have to live with the criticism.

Jurgen is shying away from making a decision.

We just can't have the best goalkeeper off playing golf while we have an international match, ... Next time, he's going swimming.

We are back where we were a few years ago and time is running out.

We have already come a long way since Euro 2000. But our biggest problem is we don't have enough players of international class.

We can't afford another spanner in the works.

We can all be very proud. It's a quantum leap forward. We're playing in a true football stadium at last.

The defence has to get used to playing with the goalkeeper. Jurgen is shying away from making a decision.

The defence has to get used to playing with the goalkeeper.

We used to always complain that the Italians were actors. But they were heroes compared to our league now.

When I see that the best goalkeeper (Kahn) is playing golf when the match is on it makes me crazy,

The players are doing everything to make the life of referees difficult.

What the FC Bayern has become is thanks to Gerd Mueller.

We are unfortunately not perceived as a particularly friendly people. We have to improve on that.

There's nothing major that needs to be done.

Is there a chance for Red Bull to be as good as the Cosmos? No, because there is no other Pele in the world. ... We're here to help Red Bull to be champions.

The work remains undone while we do nothing but put out fire after fire. I hope that it (the scandal) will be resolved as soon as possible and we can return to business as usual.

I've seen pretty much every stadium in the world, but I've never seen anything as good as this,

After the 4-1 in Italy it was necessary for him to be here to pick up the pieces. If he sees it differently then he must live with the criticism.

One can't force Michael to make a decision,

As far as we're concerned, the World Cup could start even tomorrow. Then all the secondary issues will disappear and we can focus on the main issue -- soccer.

They are full of world-class players and also impressed in the Confederations Cup. But in 2002 I said France and Argentina were my favorites, and both went home after the group stages.

There were always at least 120 and sometimes up to 300 guests at the receptions.

It's a little bit strange, but it works. He will bring the team to a very, very good performance.

It only surprises me that no one thought of it before.

For example, Michael Jordan earns $100million a year but continues to play basketball and remains a modest human being.

It's his life. At 29, this is his last chance to sign a big contract.

It's unfortunately a reflection of the general trend in Germany. It's no coincidence that our clubs make early exits from the Champions League. I just hope that we'll have clean matches at the World Cup.

It's very impressive. At the moment I would say Munich is the most beautiful stadium ... but once this is finished I think it will be stadium number one in the world.

In any world championship, the best have to be on hand, and Maradona is one of them.

I'll be available. If you need a consultant, you can count on me.

If you build new stadiums, there are always teething problems. These are just trivia, and little matters get played up a bit.

Gerd was the right choice -- no one was better.

Real Madrid is a legendary team that stands above all others and is the target of all players.

Sometimes, in the dressing room, I think I am in Hollywood,

For example, Michael Jordan earns $100million a year but continues to play basketball and remains a modest human being.

Germany needs to have a handicap, like in golf. They ought to start each match with two goals in advance to their opposition.

The Netherlands have great strikers... but they are only playing one. They are depriving themselves of their best qualities and shooting themselves in the foot.

What FC Bayern has become is thanks to Gerd Mueller.

You know the Dutch, they're always a bit funny... some of them.

No one wanted to fall back behind so both teams wated for a mistake from the other.

You have to sometimes shoot from the second row, that's all football. So you have to be a bit more flexible.

If someone has the chance to be top scorer and you want to encourage him, then you give him the chance to be top scorer but it never happened. That's why I believe something is going on there.

He shouldn't have resigned over that game. It was not a bad performance; in fact it was quite a good one for England. I would not have resigned under those circumstances.

The one who’s really, really impressed me is Benedikt Höwedes because he’s playing out of position. He’s never played at left back before in his life but he’s having a first-rate World Cup. So, the most astonishing player for me is Höwedes.

It's quite possible that Beckham suffers from a mental block at big tournaments

George Best was one of the most talented players of all time and probably the best footballer who never made it to a major world final.

He has been named as the heir apparent of the great Argentine hero, Diego Maradona, by journalists, players, and Maradona himself, alike. I'd personally put him in a drawer of my bedside table.

Penalty shooting is always an uncertain affair because there is a lot of luck involved.

Possession means nothing when the opponent takes its chances

Messi is a genius. He has everything. When I watch him, I see a player who is very, very, skilful, very clever and his left foot is like Diego Maradona's.

As someone who played a team sport, I feel a bit uncomfortable being ranked as an individual so high

We should not compare humans to God, but Messi is a godly player.

There's only one possibility: win, draw or loose.

Football is one of the world's best means of communication. It is impartial, apolitical and universal. Football unites people around the world every day. Young or old, players or fans, rich or poor, the game makes everyone equal, stirs the imagination, makes people happy and makes them sad

It is not the strong one that wins, the one that wins is strong.

I cannot imagine that. They should earn enough money to stay away from adventures like that.

The image of the league is just terrible. There's far too much provocation and theatre.

The door remains open. If he comes tomorrow and says he wants to stay, wonderful. It won't be easy to find an equally good successor.

The Dutch are braver and more creative players, but less disciplined. They want to let the opponent see and feel that they're better, but they forget to score and settle the game.

The coach of the host country has to be there - that is beyond question. If I have to think about this anymore my choice of words would be more drastic.

The FIFA has words of criticism for the organizing committee over and over again. They're completely superfluous.

The mark he gave was quite good. At school, I would have been happy to get it.