football
Franz Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup both as player and coach for Germany, dies aged 78
Franz Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup both as player and coach and became one of Germany's most beloved personalities with his easygoing charm, has died, news agency dpa reported Monday. He was 78.
"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," the family said in a statement to dpa, the German news agency. "We ask that we be allowed to grieve in peace and be spared any questions."
The statement did not provide a cause of death. The former Bayern Munich great had struggled with health problems in recent years.
Beckenbauer was one of German soccer's central figures. As a player, he reimagined the defender's role in soccer and captained West Germany to the World Cup title in 1974 after it had lost to England in the 1966 final. He was the coach when West Germany won the tournament again in 1990, a symbolic moment for a country in the midst of reunification, months after the Berlin Wall fell.
Beckenbauer's death comes just two days after the announcement that Mario Zagallo, the Brazilian who became the first person to win the World Cup as a player and coach, had died at the age of 92.
Beckenbauer was also instrumental in bringing the highly successful 2006 World Cup to Germany, though his legacy was later tainted by charges that he only succeeded in winning the hosting rights with the help of bribery. He denied the allegations.
"We did not want to bribe anyone and we didn't bribe anyone," Beckenbauer, who headed the World Cup organizing committee, wrote in his last column for daily tabloid Bild in 2016.
Beckenbauer and three other members of the committee were formally made criminal suspects that year by Swiss prosecutors who suspected fraud in the true purpose of multi-million euro (dollar) payments that connected the 2006 World Cup with FIFA. But he was eventually not indicted in 2019 for health reasons and the case ended without a judgment when the statute of limitations expired in 2020 amid delays to the court system caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Beckenbauer was in 2014 briefly suspended by FIFA's ethics committee from all football-related activity for failing to cooperate with prosecutor Michael Garcia's probe of alleged corruption in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup votes. The suspension was lifted during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when he agreed to cooperate.
The allegations damaged Beckenbauer's standing in public perception for the first time. Until then, Beckenbauer had seemingly been unable to say or do anything wrong. Germans simply loved him.
"He did everything that a German is not supposed to do," former Bayern Munich teammate Paul Breitner once said of the man popularly known as "Der Kaiser."
"He got divorced, he left his children, took off with his girlfriend, got into trouble with tax collectors, left his girlfriend again.
"But he is forgiven for everything because he's got a good heart, he's a positive person and he's always ready to help. He doesn't conceal his weaknesses, doesn't sweep his mistakes under the carpet," Breitner said.
The son of a post official from the working-class Munich district of Giesing, Beckenbauer became one of the greatest players to grace the game in a career that also included stints in the United States with the New York Cosmos in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Born on Sept. 11, 1945, months after Germany's surrender in World War II, Beckenbauer studied to become an insurance salesman but he signed his first professional contract with Bayern when he was 18.
"You are not born to become a world star in Giesing. Football for me was a deliverance. Looking back, I can say: Everything went according to how I'd imagined my life. I had a perfect life," Beckenbauer told the Sueddeutsche newspaper magazine in 2010.
Beckenbauer personalized the position of "libero," the free-roaming nominal defender who often moved forward to threaten the opponent's goal, a role now virtually disappeared from modern football and rarely seen before his days.
An elegant, cool player with vision, Beckenbauer defined as captain the Bayern Munich side that won three successive European Cup titles from 1974 to 1976.
In his first World Cup as player in 1966, West Germany lost the final to host England as Beckenbauer chased Bobby Charlton around the field having been given the task of marking the England standout.
Four years later, with his arm strapped to his body because of a shoulder injury, Germany lost a memorable semifinal to Italy.
Finally, in 1974 at home, Beckenbauer captained West Germany to the title.
Beckenbauer left Bayern for New York in 1977 and later recalled fondly the time spent in the United States.
"From Munich-Giesing to New York City, that was a huge step," Beckenbauer said.
Beckenbauer said the decisive step in luring him to the Cosmos was the helicopter ride the club officials gave him from the roof of the Pan Am Building across Manhattan to the Giants stadium in New Jersey.
"That was then the most modern stadium in the world, with VIP boxes. We didn't have that in Europe. As we flew over the stadium, I told them, 'Fine, stop it, I am coming.'"
In that 2010 interview, Beckenbauer also recalled visits to famed nightclub Studio 54 with fellow Cosmos stars Pele and Carlos Alberto.
Beckenbauer missed the 1978 World Cup because the Germans decided not to invite players playing abroad. He returned to Germany in 1980, spent two seasons with Hamburger SV — and won another Bundesliga championship, his fifth — before returning for a final season at the Cosmos.
Although he had never coached before, Beckenbauer was hired to revive West Germany in 1984 after a flop at the European Championship.
West Germany made it to the final of the 1986 World Cup, losing to Diego Maradona's Argentina in Mexico City. Although West Germany failed to win the 1988 Euros title at home, it went to the final of the 1990 World Cup and defeated Argentina in the final in Rome, another highlight in the year after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The penalty goal came from Andreas Brehme, a defender Beckenbauer had once told to "play the piano, pay the flute but not football."
While his team celebrated, Beckenbauer cut a lonely figure walking and reflecting at the Olympic Stadium.
Later, at the news conference, he said he was "sorry for the rest of the world" because a united Germany would be unbeatable for years to come. But Germany had to wait 24 years before winning another World Cup title.
Once he left for New York, Beckenbauer never had a home in Munich. He lived just across the border in the Austrian Alpine resort of Kitzbuehel, where taxes were lower.
Beckenbauer was a voracious traveler and personally visited all 31 countries who had qualified for the World Cup in Germany in 2006.
Beckenbauer said he got the urge to travel as a child by collecting pictures for a sticker album. "There were photos from Africa, America. It got me interested ... but I never thought I'd experience it personally."
"There are many who travel but who see nothing because they are too busy. I was always curious."
Beckenbauer retired from the West Germany job after coaching the team to the 1990 World Cup triumph. The Berlin Wall had fallen the year before and Germany was in the process of reunifying after the Cold War. The final was the last tournament game played by a West Germany-only team.
He didn't have much success at coaching Marseille, but won the Bundesliga title with Bayern in 1994 and the UEFA Cup in 1996, both after taking over as coach late in the season. He later became Bayern's president, until leaving most functions when he turned 65 in 2010.
Beckenbauer's legal issues around the 2006 World Cup continued into his retirement, but he remained a much-loved figure in German soccer and society.
National footballer Zahirul Haque passes away
National awardee footballer and former captain of Dhaka Mohammedan SC Zahirul Haque passed away today (Saturday) at 7 am at a city hospital after suffering from different old age complications.
He was 88.
His namaj-e-Janaja was held after magrib prayer at the Khajur Bagan mosque in Monipuripara area of the capital.
Zahirul Haque, who played for Dhaka Mohammedan SC from 1960 to 1976, captained the team for four times and emerge as a rare footballer that played for Pakistan football team.
He received the best player award of Bangladesh Sports Writers Association in 1964, got the national sports award in 2001 and retired in 1976. The executive committee, standing commiittee and officials of Bangladesh Football Federation and Dhaka Mohammedan Club condemned the death of Zahirul Haque and prayed for the salvation of the departed soul.
BFF President Kazi Salahuddin shifted to cabin after one week
President of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Kazi M Salahuddin was shifted to cabin from ICU after one week on Thursday.
Club Deportivo Bangladesh start journey in Argentina beating All- Haz by 3-2 goals
The BFF and SAFF president Kazi Salahuddin successfully underwent coronary artery bypass surgery last Thursday (December 28) at the Evercare Hospital in the capital.
Analysis of Bangladesh National Football Team’s Performance in 2023
After a long six-hour surgery, 70-year old Kazi Salahuddin has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for postoperative monitoring.
He is expected to return home within few days.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings maintain winning run
Analysis of Bangladesh National Football Team’s Performance in 2023
Bangladesh has not performed well in football, even though it is one of the most loved sports in the country. But recently, the national football team started to improve their performance.
In 2023, Bangladesh participated in many competitive matches, including the SAFF championship, and Asian Games along with the qualifier games for FIFA World Cup 2026 and Asia Cup 2027.
Here is an analysis of the Bangladesh men’s football team’s performance in the year 2023.
2023 Matches by Bangladesh Men’s Football Team
The Bangladesh Football Team was impressive throughout the year 2023. It played 13 International matches and also secured victories against teams that rank higher than Bangladesh.
Performance Of Bangladesh Men’s Football Squad In 2023
Bangladesh vs Seychelles (2 Matches At Home)
Bangladesh began their FIFA International Tier-1 matches, playing a two-match series against Seychelles in Bangladesh, starting on March 25 at 3:45 pm local time at the Sylhet District Stadium.
In the first match, Bangladeshi defender Tariq Raihan Kazi scored the winning goal in the 43rd minute (1-0). It was also his first goal for the national team.
On March 28, at Sylhet District Stadium, Seychelles surprised hosts Bangladesh with a 1-0 victory in the 2nd match.
The win was secured via Michael's penalty kick in the 62nd minute. Bangladesh won the opening game 1-0, and the series finished 1-1.
Read more: Bangladesh Men’s Test Cricket in 2023: Performance Analysis
Bangladesh Vs Cambodia International Match (Away)
On June 15, Bangladesh defeated the host Cambodia by a close 1-0 margin in a thrilling FIFA Tier-1 International Friendly game played at the Olympics Stadium in Phnom Penh.
The game-winning goal for Bangladesh was scored in the 24th minute by Mojibur Rahman Jony. Jony's effort came from the danger zone and he took advantage of a precise cross from Foysal Ahmed Fahim.
Anisur Rahman Zico, showed his skill by blocking at least three noteworthy tries by the opposition. Cambodia dominated attacking football, but they couldn't find the back of the net.
SAFF Championship 2023
The 14th edition of the SAFF Championship, South Asia's largest soccer festival, was held from June 21 to July 4 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, India.
1st Match Against Lebanon
Bangladesh were placed in Group B of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship, alongside Lebanon, Maldives, and Bhutan.
Bangladesh opened their campaign against Lebanon on June 22 at the same location. Losing the match by 2-0, Bangladesh remained in the game until the 80th minute, when Tariq Kazi's error allowed Lebanon's Hassan Maatouk to score the game's first goal.
In the 96th minute, with Bangladesh looking for an equalizer, Khalil Bader scored a goal on a counter-attack to give Lebanon their second goal and put the victory beyond doubt.
2nd Match Against Maldives
Bangladesh played their second group stage match against Maldives on June 25 at the same location. In the 17th minute, Maldives's Hamza Mohamed claimed the first goal.
But, at the stroke of the half time, Rakib Hossain equalized with a goal. The striker headed the ball inside the net to secure the equalizer with an empty net in front of him.
Bangladesh took the lead in the 67th minute thanks to a header from Tariq Qazi. Bangladesh sealed the match 3-1 thanks to a goal by Sheikh Morsalin in the 90th minute, which also helped them qualify for the tournament.
Read more: Bangladesh Cricket in 2023: Men’s ODI Series- Performance Analysis
3rd Match Against Bhutan
Bangladesh played their final match against Bhutan on June 28. Bangladesh qualified for the semi-final, beating Bhutan 3-1. Bhutan was in the lead, scoring a goal early in the match by Tsenda Dorji.
Sheikh Morsalin and Rakib Hossain scored a goal each, on top of that, Phuntsho Jigme scored an own goal, which affected Bhutan, ending the match with a loss.
Shekh Morsalin was judged man of the match for his excellent performance, also scoring his second International goal after his debut.
Club Deportivo Bangladesh start journey in Argentina beating All- Haz by 3-2 goals
The newly formed Argentine club "Club Deportive Bangladesh," named after Bangladesh, started a good journey in Argentina, beating the All-Haz team by 3-2 goals in their first ever international friendly football match last Saturday (December 31).
In the maiden football match, coming from behind, Club Deportivo Bangladesh beat All Haz by 3-2 goals in the last few minutes thriller.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings maintain winning run
After a barren first half, Nicolas put the All-Haz team ahead in the 63rd minute (1-0), while Mercado levelled the margin for Club Deportivo in the 68th minute (1-1).
Riberra again put All-Haz ahead in the 69th minute (2-1), while Romero neutralised Marin in the 81st minute from a penalty (2-2).
BPL Football: Mohammedan SC split points with Sheikh Russel KC in 1-1 draw
Finally, Romero scored the match-winning goal for Club Deportivo Bangladesh by netting his second goal (3-2) in the stoppage time of the match (90+3 minutes).
Deportivo, named after Bangladesh, launched on December 16, 2022, in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, during the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar, in the presence of around 2,000 immigrants from the Bangladesh community in Argentina, to show love and respect for the soocer-crazy Argentine football fans in Bangladesh.
BPL Football: 2nd round matches begin on Friday
The leaders of the Bangladesh Sports Club and the Bangladeshi residents in Argentina selected the colours of Bangladesh’s national flag—red and green—for the team logo and jerseys.
Club Deportivo Bangladesh are aiming to compete in Argentine Football Association (AFA)-affiliated leagues in the coming days.
BPL Football: Bashundhara Kings maintain winning run
Holders Bashundhara Kings maintained all-win run in the 10-team ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football outpaying Chittagong Abahani Limited by 4-1 goals at their home venue --Bashundhara Kings Arena-- Saturday evening.
It was the 2nd consecutive victory for the Kings after crushing Brothers Union Club by 5-2 goals in the league opener while this was the 2nd successive defeat for Chittagong Abahani after their 0-2 goals defeat against Police FC in the first league match.
In the day's match, Brazilian striker Dorielton Gomes struck twice in the very 2nd and 40th minutes while local forward Rakib Hossain and Brazilian play- maker Robson Robinho netted one each in the 29th and 87th minutes for the star studded Kings.
Nigerian forward Azeez Abolaji netted the consolation goal for the port city team Abahani in the 10th minute of the match.
Read: BPL Football: Mohammedan SC split points with Sheikh Russel KC in 1-1 draw
In the day' s another match, former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited suffered a big blow in their 2nd match losing to lowly Fortis SC by 0-1 goal at the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi Saturday afternoon.
Ukraine midfielder Valeri Hryshy scored the match winning goal for Fortis SC in the 37th minute by a ground placing shot from the danger zone shocking the sky blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani, which also made a frustrating start playing 1-1 draw Rahmatganj MFS in the league opener.
In the day's other match, three times champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club tasted the first victory in their 2nd match beating Bangladesh Police FC by 1-0 goal at the Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh.
Read: BFF President Kazi Salahuddin undergoes bypass surgery
Sheikh Jamal DC, which conceded 1-2 goals defeat against Sheikh Russel KC in the first match, today (Saturday) won the match by a gifted goal when Police FC defender Isa Foysal sent the ball to his own net.
Earlier, in the first round matches, Bashundhara Kings outplayed Brothers Union Club 5-2, Dhaka Mohammedan SC beat Fortis SC 2-1, Police FC defeated Chittagong Abahani Ltd 2-0, Sheikh Russel KC beat Sheikh Jamal DC 2-1 and former champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd played 1-1 draw with Rahmatganj MFS
The 3rd round matches will be held on January 12 and 13 after the national election.
The BPL matches are scheduled for every Friday and Saturday of the week.
BPL Football: Mohammedan SC split points with Sheikh Russel KC in 1-1 draw
Both the 2nd round matches of the 10-team ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football ended in a draw at two separate venues across the country on Friday.
Federation Cup champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC split points with former champions Sheikh Russel KC in 1-1 affairs at the Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh while Rahmatganj MFS, coming from behind twice, played 2-2 draw with Brothers Union at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj Friday afternoon.
At Mymensingh, long serving Mali forward Souleymani Diabate put the traditional black and whites Mohammedan ahead in the 9th minute to dominate the first (1-0).
Burundi midfielder Selemani restored the parity for Sheikh Russel KC in the 64th minute (1-1).
Sheikh Russel's Japanese midfielder Kodai Lida was adjudged the player of the match.
In the day's other match at Munshiganj, Uzbek forward Otabek put the Brothers Union ahead in the 18th minute from a penalty (1-0) while Ghana forward Boateng leveled the margin for Rahmatganj MFS in the 25th minute (1-1).
Formet national striker Mahbubur Rahman Sufil again put the Gopibagh outfit Brothers ahead in the 67th minute (2-1) while substitute forward Samin yesar neutralized margin for Rahmatganj in the 88th minute (2-2)..
Later, Samin Yesar was adjudged the best player of the match..Three more 2nd round matches will be held on Saturday at three venues
Holders Bashundhara Kings will play Chittagong Abahani Ltd at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, Dhaka Abahani Ltd will face Fortis FC at the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi while Sheikh Jamal DC will meet Police FC at the Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh, all matches will kick- off at 2:30 pm.
The 3rd round matches will be held on January 12 and 13.
After the first round matches, holders Bashundhara Kings, Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Bangladesh Police FC and Sheikh Russel KC dominated the league table securing full three points from their first round matches.
In the first round matches, Bashundhara Kings outplayed Brothers Union Club 5-2, Dhaka Mohammedan SC beat Fortis SC 2-1, Police FC defeated Chittagong Abahani Ltd 2-0, Sheikh Russel KC beat Sheikh Jamal DC 2-1 and six-time champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd played 1-1 draw with Rahmatganj MFS
The BPL matches scheduled to be held in every Friday and Saturday of the week.
BPL Football: 2nd round matches begin on Friday
The second round of matches of the 10-team ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football will begin Friday, with two matches scheduled for the day at Mymensingh and Munshiganj.
Federation Cup champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC will play Sheikh Russel KC at 2:30 pm at the Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh, while Rahmatganj MFS will also encounter Brothers Union Club at 2:30 pm at the Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Friday.
BFF President Kazi Salahuddin undergoes bypass surgery
On the following day (Saturday), three matches are scheduled to be held at three venues.
Holders Bashundhara Kings will play Chittagong Abahani Ltd at the Bir Shreshtha Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj, Dhaka Abahani Ltd will face Fortis FC at the Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi, while Sheikh Jamal DC will meet Police FC at the Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh. All will kick off at 2:30 pm.
National Junior Chess: Five players share top slot securing four full points
The third round of matches will be held on January 12 and 13.
On completion of the first round matches, holders Bashundhara Kings, Dhaka Mohammedan SC, Bangladesh Police FC and Sheikh Russel KC dominated the league table, securing the full three points from their first round matches.
Earlier in the first round of matches, Bashundhara Kings outplayed Brothers Union Club 5-2, Dhaka Mohammedan SC beat Fortis SC 2-1, Police FC defeated Chittagong Abahani Ltd 2-0, Sheikh Russel KC beat Sheikh Jamal DC 2-1, and six-time champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd played a 1-1 draw with Rahmatganj MFS.
Victory Day Waterpolo: Green Team beat Red Team by 7-4 goals
The BPL matches are scheduled to be held every Friday and Saturday of the week.
BFF President Kazi Salahuddin undergoes bypass surgery
President of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and former footballer Kazi Mohamnad Salahuddin successfully underwent coronary artery bypass surgery at the Evercare Hospital in the capital on Thursday.
After a long seven-hour surgery, a 70-year-old Kazi Salahuddin has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for postoperative monitoring as a routine case.
BFF President Kazi Salahuddin to undergo bypass surgery on Thursday
The surgery procedure went smoothly without any complications, and the doctors are satisfied with the outcome of the surgery and are confident in a full recovery.
A medical team is now closely monitoring the BFF President's vital signs and overall condition to ensure a smooth and uneventful recovery.
Federation Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings make good start beating Fortis SC in opening match
During this time, Kazi Salahuddin is in stable condition and is resting comfortably.
The medical team has advised that rest and minimal disruption are crucial for a speedy recovery and said that the privacy of the BFF President and their family is respected during this time.
Federation Cup Football begins Tuesday; B.Kings to play Fortis SC in one of two opening day's matches
The next update will be given as soon as there are significant developments regarding the BFF President's health status.
Kazi Salahuddin, also the president of SAFF, was undergoing treatment at the Evercare Hospital in the capital from December 16, and his medical team finally recommended the approach to address his underlying cardiovascular concern.
BFF President Kazi Salahuddin to undergo bypass surgery on Thursday
President of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin will undergo a Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery here on Thursday.
Federation Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings make good start beating Fortis SC in opening match
Kazi Salahudfin has been undergoing treatment at the Evercare Hospital in the capital for the last nine days.
The BFF president has sought dua from all for his quick recovery.
Federation Cup Football begins Tuesday; B.Kings to play Fortis SC in one of two opening day's matches