Baresi: ‘I felt uncomfortable being compared to Beckenbauer’ 

Legendary former Milan and Italy defender Franco Baresi has paid tribute to the late Franz Beckenbauer, admitting that he typically felt ‘uncomfortable’ when folks made comparisons between him and ‘Der Kaiser’. 

The 2-time Ballon d’Or winner and three-time European Cup winner handed away on the age of 78 on Sunday evening. 

Baresi is considered one of a rising listing of footballing giants who’ve despatched their condolences to the Beckenbauer household, reflecting on what he calls “a tragic second.”

“What can I say? Franz has left us. An icon. A fable. He was an emperor for the best way that he interpreted his function, I admired him a lot. 

“Method, character and magnificence. He outlined an period and for me he was an unlimited inspiration. I typically felt uncomfortable after they in contrast me to him.” 

Beckenbauer is considered one of simply three folks to win the World Cup as each a participant and coach. His Bayern Munich facet of the mid-70s are additionally considered one of simply three groups to have gained three consecutive European Cups. 

On prime of that, he has 5 Bundesliga titles on his CV as a participant, in addition to 4 DFB-Pokals and a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. 

As a coach, Beckenbauer added one other World Cup title to his CV with West Germany in 1990 and claimed a Ligue 1 title with Marseille, earlier than returning to Bayern Munich to win the Bundesliga title in 1993-94 and the UEFA Cup throughout his second spell in 1995-96.