Sepp Maier: ‘Franz, wait for me up in heaven!’

Dear FC Bayern fans,

Franz Beckenbauer is the person from our team who I’ve known the longest.

When he came to us as a very young lad, I had only been at FC Bayern for a year. We all knew that he was a great talent, but the fact that he would go on to become Der Kaiser, I say today that deserves the deepest respect.

What has impressed me most about him over the decades is that people always looked up to him, but he never looked down on others. Well, he did from time to time, but only during a match when things weren't going his way. The two of us sometimes argued in my penalty area. Years later, he was still teasing me that I had given him a slipped disc because I jumped on his back so often. When it came to really bad coordination problems, he always waved me away - until I got fed up. "If you do that again, I'll kneel down in front of you and pretend I'm worshipping you," I threatened him. Once I was very close, I was already halfway to my knees, but then we didn't take that picture after all.

Fans around the world have the opportunity to sign a digital book of condolence:

People adored him like that. And rightly so. I don't think people like Franz exist today. He was the last of a generation that always worked hard, achieved great things and yet never took himself too seriously. When he tackled something, he saw it through - and the fact that everything always worked out is not down to the much-cited luck. It was down to him. Franz only gave 100 percent, even though it all looked so easy and people thought that his jersey wouldn't even need to be washed. His attitude made his biggest dreams come true even after his playing career.

Franz was never too good for any task, and he could never say no - luckily! German football would have been a lot less successful if Franz hadn't been the man he was.

He was a role model for all of us, and the rest of us have grown alongside him too.

Generations can learn from him: never give up, always give your all, and always remain yourself. I had the honour of getting to know him. Throughout his life, he was always the almost shy, lovable, funny lad he was on his first day with us at FC Bayern!

Dear Franz,

What would I like to say to you now?
That you should please wait for me up in heaven.
You still need me there as your goalkeeper.
But I hope you're not angry with me. You'll have to wait a few more years.

In the meantime, you are always here in our thoughts, and in my heart, my dear old friend!

Your Sepp

FC Bayern will hold a large memorial service for Franz Beckenbauer at the Allianz Arena on Friday, 19 January: