Franz Beckenbauer, German soccer World Cup winning captain, dies at 78

Franz Beckenbauer, one of Germany's best soccer players, died at the age of 78 on Monday, as per German news agency DPA. 

He led the team to victory in the 1974 World Cup and then won the competition as manager in 1990, according to Reuters.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Beckenbauer was a sophisticated, commanding presence on the pitch for West Germany and Bayern Munich. 

He nearly invented the centre defensive sweeper position, which was where he found the most success, by employing his composure on the ball and easy passing.

After losing to England in the 1966 World Cup final, he earned 103 caps for West Germany and went on to win the European championship in 1972 as well as the World Cup at home.

During the mid-1970s, Beckenbauer's Bayern Munich team was the best club team in the world, winning three consecutive Bundesliga titles and European Cups. He was also twice awarded European Footballer of the Year.

In his capacity as national team manager, his West German squad lost to Argentina in the 1986 World Cup final but won as a united German team four years later in Italy.