Der kaiser

New York Cosmos: Germany football legend Franz Beckenbauer, one of the only three players to win the football World Cup as a player and coach, has died aged 78, his family confirmed on Monday.

"It is with deep sadness that we inform you that my husband and our father Franz Beckenbauer fell asleep peacefully yesterday (Sunday), surrounded by family," his family said in a statement on Monday.

"We ask that you mourn in silence and refrain from asking any questions," the statement said. The family did not give any details of his health in recent times though Beckenbauer had cardiac surgery twice, in 2016 and 2017. He also had an artificial hip inserted in 2018.