FRANZ BECKENBAUER has passed away aged 78.
The German is widely-regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.
His family confirmed that he died in his sleep surrounded by loved-ones.
Their emotional statement read: "It is with deep sadness that we announce that my husband and our father, Franz Beckenbauer, passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday, Sunday, surrounded by his family.
"We ask that you be able to grieve in silence and refrain from asking any questions.”
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Tributes quickly flooded in, with one reading: "We’ll miss you Kaiser. Legend forever. Rest in peace."
While a second wrote: "The best defender of all-time. RIP."
A third commented: "I am absolutely speechless, rest in peace Kaiser."
And another added: "RIP legend. Commiserations to his family."
The Sun's Piers Morgan tweeted: "RIP Franz Beckenbauer. Sublime defender, great manager, magnificent ambassador for the game."
Comedian and football lover David Baddiel added: "The great Beckenbauer gone now, so soon after Bobby Charlton. Bobby was given the job of keeping him quiet in the 1966 World Cup final. Maybe this is a very profound example of man to man marking."
Gary Lineker wrote: "Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died. One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP."
Beckenbauer played 103 games for the former West Germany, and played at three World Cups.
In 1966 he and the late Sir Bobby Charlton were given the tasks of man-marking each other by their respective managers - as the standout players on either side.
Beckenbauer later captained West Germany's 1974 World Cup-winning team when they beat Holland.
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Incredibly he missed the 1978 World Cup, as West Germany decided not to pick players that had moved overseas.
He repeated his 1974 feat as manager, when he led his country to World Cup glory in 1990.
Beckenbauer - nicknamed Der Kaiser, or The Emperor - is one of only three men, along with Brazil's Mario Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps, to have won the World Cup as a player and as a manager.
As a player, he lifted the Bundesliga four times with Bayern Munich.
His glittering career also saw him win the European Cup three times with the German club.
On an individual level, he won two Ballon d'Or awards in 1972 and 1976 before he moved on to New York Cosmos and Hamburg.
Fellow Bayern legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said of him: "He was so elegant he wasn't really German. He just oozed class and quality."
As a manager, he coached West Germany and Bayern.
He later became a club president and he played an integral role in Germany's successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
Off the field, Beckenbauer was married three times.
The icon first married Brigitte Beckenbauer in 1966 and was with her until 1990.
Then he wed Sybille in 1990 before splitting 14 years later.
And Beckenbauer leaves behind current wife Heidi, who he married in 2006.
The football hero had five children with his three wives - four boys and a girl.
In 2019 it was revealed that he had gone blind in one eye.
He was not well enough to fly out to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, saying at the time: "I had a so-called infarction in one eye. Unfortunately I can't see anything on the right.
"I can handle that. And I have to be careful with my heart.
"But I will not travel to Qatar. I'll keep my fingers crossed for our team in front of the TV.
"People probably think he never lives long. But I'll try to stay with you for a while."
