Bayern Munich will honor the late club legend Franz Beckenbauer by displaying a massive 15-meter by 10-meter depiction of his iconic No. 5 jersey on the roof of their Allianz Arena. The tribute comes ahead of Bayern’s Champions League last-16 match against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
Beckenbauer, who passed away in January 2024, had his jersey number retired by Bayern, marking the first time the club has ever done so.
Bayern’s club president, Herbert Hainer, expressed pride in the tribute, saying, “We are delighted to pay tribute to Franz Beckenbauer in this way in the Allianz Arena.”
Beckenbauer, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, had an illustrious career with Bayern, winning three European Cups, four German championships, and two Ballon d’Or awards. He also captained West Germany to victory in the 1974 World Cup and later led them to another title as a coach in 1990.
Beyond his playing and coaching career, Beckenbauer played a vital role in the construction of the Allianz Arena, which became Bayern’s home in 2005.
In recognition of his immense contributions, the Munich City Council renamed the street where the stadium is located to Franz Beckenbauer Platz as of January 1, 2025.
