It has been just over a year since Bayern Munich and the footballing world said goodbye to Franz Beckenbauer. However, despite the passage of time, Beckenbauer’s legacy is far from being forgotten. Rather, it seems to be getting strengthened by the day.
Take Bayern’s Bundesliga victory over TSG Hoffenheim, for example. It was a snowy night at the Allianz Arena, but the Bayern fans were warmed up considerably by the stellar display shown by the team, who racked up five early goals to sail to a 5-0 victory. Although the game was virtually over by halftime, and was definitely over by the hour mark, the fans did not stop singing, and around the 78th minute, decided to pick a tune that struck a chord in the hearts of many.
As Jamal Musiala was waiting on the sidelines waiting to be substituted in, Gute Freunde kann niemand trennen started blaring from the Südkurve, and rang all around the entire stadium. For those who don’t know, Gute Freunde kann niemand trennen is a song sung and recorded by Beckenbauer himself in 1966, when he was in his early twenties. The song would accompany the Kaiser throughout his massively fruitful life, and after he passed on to the afterlife as well. During Bayern’s first game after his death, which was also coincidentally against Hoffenheim, the song was played before and after the match, and after every goal scored in lieu of the usual Can Can.
Whether this was a special occasion to commemorate the Kaiser’s passing or a routine round from the Südkurve is unknown, but the sight and sounds of the iconic tune being bellowed by 70,000 fans was truly one that should warm every Bayern fan’s heart. The snow did little to dampen the mood of the Arena, Kaiser Franz’s aura was much too strong for that. Even a year after his death, Franz is still making ripples in the Bayern faithful, and he will continue to do so forever.
One can safely assume he was looking down on the Allianz Arena that night with a big smile on his face. Perhaps he teased Gerd Müller about not having a song of his own?
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