Philipp Lahm talking about Franz Beckenbauer: 'That’s a great skill'

Franz Beckenbauer and Philipp Lahm - two captains, two World Cup winners, two icons of their home city. To mark the club’s 125th anniversary, FC Bayern is organising the Beckenbauer Cup, with Lahm coaching our legends. An interview with members' magazine ‘51’ about the similarities between Giesing and Gern and the eternal legacy of the Kaiser.

Interview with Philipp Lahm

Philipp, like Franz Beckenbauer, you were born in Munich, grew up at Bayern and led both the club and the national team to great success as captain. Have you ever seen yourself as similar to him?
“Of course there are similarities. We both grew up in Munich - he in Giesing, me in Neuhausen. Both captains of Bayern and also the national team. But one principle has always applied to me. You don't compare yourself to Franz Beckenbauer. And I will take that to heart. Franz was unique.”

What impressed you most about him?
“I didn't live through his playing days, but Bayern's success story is very closely linked to Franz Beckenbauer. If you look at old footage, you immediately realise that he was ahead of his time - technically, playfully, in his elegance. Everything was a bit quicker with him, the ball was always exactly where it should be. Then I remember the 1990 World Cup, which I watched on TV as a child. Franz was team manager and the team won the World Cup. As a child, of course, you rooted for the players, but also for him. Later on, I experienced him up close and in person, with this special mixture of humour, ease and expertise. That made a deep impression on me.”

You got to know him in many different roles - as president, in club management and a TV expert. How did you perceive his presence and influence?
“His influence was huge. Franz was an absolute football expert, everyone knew that. He had achieved everything as a player, coach and in management. For me, he was particularly influential as president. When he spoke to the team, it had an authority of its own. You automatically listened more closely because you knew that what he said carried weight.”

What would captain Philipp Lahm have said if president Franz Beckenbauer had given his famous ‘Uwe Seeler team of retirees’ speech during your days?
“Franz had this special way of speaking. And if you took the time, you recognised the depth behind it. I hope that everyone who experienced him listened carefully every time. He was a perfectionist who always found the right words. And in the end, his success proved him right.”

He had a keen instinct for situations. Is there a special experience that you remember outside of football?
“Yes, during the early preparation phase for Euro 2024 in Germany, his wife Heidi called me to wish me luck. Suddenly she switched on the loudspeaker and Franz spoke from the background: ‘Philipp, you can do it, good luck!’ That was a very special moment for me that touched me deeply.”

Would you have liked to have had him as a coach?
“Who wouldn't? [laughs] He was a perfectionist and had experienced everything in football himself. And you like coaches like that - people who know the atmosphere in a dressing room, who have played at the absolute top level. People just loved listening to him. He gave clear instructions, addressed things clearly.”

As a coach, his famous ‘Go out and play football’ line has stuck with us, while former players say that he was incredibly meticulous and analysed countless games on video tapes. How does that work?
“I think it's also a philosophy. If you have top personnel on the pitch and a coach has put the team together well beforehand, you can also let the players go. That doesn't mean that he hasn't worked beforehand. On the contrary. It means a lot of preparation. But to say at the right moment: ‘I trust you, you're well prepared and now have fun out there’, that's a great skill. He backed his players at the right moment, gave them confidence.”

What for you was his greatest gift? And what did he leave us?
“Always having an open ear for others. Everyone felt at ease when Franz was around. You could feel that he was giving direction, that you could follow him. Franz took things seriously but never came across as harsh.”

What was also fascinating about Franz was that everyone was the same to him.
“That's impressive when you consider everything he achieved and the importance he had in our society. Everyone wanted something from him, and he managed to really give everyone something of himself. I had a similar experience with Uwe Seeler.”

That ease that you mentioned earlier - where do you think it came from?
“I think he was at peace with himself. That's hugely important, because ease comes from self-confidence. He was also incredibly talented, you must never forget that. There are few players who were as talented and took the game to a new level. Franz was the first playmaker in defence, something that hadn't happened before.”

Is it even possible today for a player to reinvent a position or the game? Or has everything long since been defined?
“It's difficult to the extent that Franz did. But I'm convinced that excellent players can always reinterpret their position and set standards. Bayern fans have the best example in Manuel Neuer. He has revolutionised the goalkeeping game. Outstanding players show new ways.”

Coming to the Beckenbauer Cup, where you will be coaching our legends at the SAP Garden on 17 March. How important are figures like Franz Beckenbauer for Bayern's identity?
“Enormously important. His attachment to Bayern has always been clear to see. And you could go on and on. The dynamism of Lothar Matthäus, the self-confidence of Stefan Effenberg, the passion of Bastian Schweinsteiger, the dribbling of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the goalkeeping of Manuel Neuer, the genius of Thomas Müller, the scoring instinct of Gerd Müller. Bayern has been home to special figures for decades, and Franz outshines them all. He was the first to set standards with the club.”

What is your view of Bayern today? 
“I will always see myself as a Munich boy. The city includes Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, the Olympic Park, the lakes and mountains and of course Bayern. I was lucky enough to be born here. I will always be part of this club. Bayern is my home club. I've spent half my life there. And if you say you're from Munich anywhere in the world, most people immediately think of Bayern and the Oktoberfest. They simply belong together.”

At the Beckenbauer Cup you will meet up with many former teammates. Is there anyone you're particularly looking forward to meeting?
“It will be like a class reunion, only even better [laughs]. Because we're all united by football, and have been from a young age. Being part of this football environment creates a special bond. It's always nice to see old friends again - players you've spent a lot of time with, on the pitch, travelling or playing cards in a hotel. I'm also happy to see people I never played with myself, like Klaus Augenthaler. I find it exciting to hear his stories.”

You'll be on the touchline as coach. Are you already thinking about the starting line-up?
“I'm one of several coaches. Effe is also involved, as is Raimond Aumann. We'll be a good trio. And a legends match like this has its own rules. The fans can look forward to it. I'll give it my all. I'm not an old hand at coaching, but I have the experience of three quarters of a year as assistant coach of the U13s at FT Gern.”

You know the bar is set high. When Bayern organise a tournament, they want to win it.
“If necessary, you just say that we were a good host when others win. But I'm not worried about our team. I know, for example, that Arjen Robben is now running marathons and is in top shape. He’ll definitely get playing time. That's one reason why I’m not playing myself. It would be difficult to run behind him on the small pitch in the SAP Garden.”

The Beckenbauer Cup is part of the celebrations to mark the club's 125th anniversary. You have experienced Bayern for decades. How has the club changed during this time?
“In the past 10 or 15 years, an enormous amount has happened economically in football. The sums involved have grown enormously. And that also changes a club. But it's important to take on social responsibility despite everything. Bayern has been doing this in a great way for many decades. A club must also ensure that people can recognise themselves in it. That’s crucial. And of course you always have to adapt. That doesn't just apply to Bayern, but to all of us. I am certain that Bayern will remain number one in Germany. In terms of Europe, the club is well positioned, but you can never stand still and must always continue to develop.”

You mentioned the club's success story earlier. Which eras or decisions were the most formative for Bayern in your view?
“Definitely the 70s. Alot of things came together - the three consecutive European Cup victories, formative figures such as Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Maier and Gerd Müller. And the 1972 Olympic Games contributed significantly to the club's growth. Suddenly they were no longer playing in the old, small Grünwalder Stadion, but in the ultra-modern Olympiastadion in front of almost 80,000 spectators. I’m convinced that major events are enormously important, not only for sporting success, but also for social acceptance and togetherness. At that time, Bayern achieved world fame, and with it the ‘Mia san mia’ ideology was coined - closely linked to Franz, his style of play and his self-image. Suddenly there was this unshakeable belief that nobody can do anything to us. This mentality has been passed down from generation to generation. That commits the players. When I came to Bayern as a child, I knew this club wins more than others.”

Who will carry ‘Mia san mia’ into the future?
“It will always be important for players from our own youth to make the connection. It's not just about playing here but about internalising the club. Franz Beckenbauer and I did that from an early age, but it can also work differently. Stefan Effenberg is a good example. He came to Bayern, left, returned and became captain. Identification with the club is crucial. ‘Mia san mia' is not just an empty phrase, but a self-image. If you come from outside, you have to feel it in the team. I joined Bayern when I was just 12 years old - you knew what this club meant. You could feel it. Players like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Müller and David Alaba have that too.”

125 years of FC Bayern - what do you wish for the club?
“That the success story continues just as it has over the last five or six decades. And that Bayern continues to be aware of its responsibility and actively works on it. Ultimately, it's about guaranteeing great games for the spectators, because that's why people go to the stadium. They want to be entertained; they want to identify with the club. I hope the club can maintain this balance over the coming decades. What football is all about is connecting people, bringing them together. FC Bayern should continue to embody that.”

Illustrations: Tim McDonagh

Find out more about the Beckenbauer Cup:

We also spoke with Klaus Augenthaler about the Kaiser:

🎥 Watch the club's 125th-anniversary film with Lahm and many more icons: