Truly a player that could be described as 'iconic'. Interesting that JPR had 'only' 55 caps. It seems to put him on a par with more mediochre internationals. These days with more matches being played and so many subs you could rack up 55 caps in maybe half the number of years and a quarter of the playing time that JPR had.
Cap'n Grumpy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 08, 2024 8:56 pmDer Kaiser ist tot
Franz Beckenbauer - Der Kaiser - is no more.
One of the best ever has kicked his last football.
One of only three men to have lifted the World Cup as both a player and a manager, along with Brazil's Mario Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps.
Zagallo died just 3 days ago. Wonder if Deschamps is looking over his shoulder or not going out for a day or three.
In one way, Beckenbauer was what George Best could have been. As a player, he moved back from an attacking force, to farther back on the field to become a great distributer of the ball. if only George hadn't had that tragic self-destruct mechanism. On the other hand, George could never have been a manager or administrater.
solidarity wrote: ↑Tue Jan 09, 2024 8:21 pm
Truly a player that could be described as 'iconic'. Interesting that JPR had 'only' 55 caps. It seems to put him on a par with more mediochre internationals. These days with more matches being played and so many subs you could rack up 55 caps in maybe half the number of years and a quarter of the playing time that JPR had.
It was the time. JPR and Gareth Edwards were ever present for over a decade in that great Wales side and finished with similar totals.
If they had played today they would comfortably be centurions.
They would have started (and finished) every game back then too.
Volunteer at an animal sanctuary; it will fill you with joy , despair, but most of all love, unconditional love of the animals.
Big Neville Southall
Cap'n Grumpy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 08, 2024 8:56 pmDer Kaiser ist tot
Franz Beckenbauer - Der Kaiser - is no more.
One of the best ever has kicked his last football.
One of only three men to have lifted the World Cup as both a player and a manager, along with Brazil's Mario Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps.
Zagallo died just 3 days ago. Wonder if Deschamps is looking over his shoulder or not going out for a day or three.
In one way, Beckenbauer was what George Best could have been. As a player, he moved back from an attacking force, to farther back on the field to become a great distributer of the ball. if only George hadn't had that tragic self-destruct mechanism. On the other hand, George could never have been a manager or administrater.
so nothing like George could have been then?
I'll give you that George always was a great distributer of the ball, as well as an attacking force.
And of course Der Kaiser nicht had that self-destruct mechanism - so again, nothing like George.
Nor did George ever play or manage at a major championship - surprisingly also unlike Der Kaiser.
I'm not arguing -
I'm just explaining why I'm right
Cap'n Grumpy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 08, 2024 8:56 pmDer Kaiser ist tot
Franz Beckenbauer - Der Kaiser - is no more.
One of the best ever has kicked his last football.
One of only three men to have lifted the World Cup as both a player and a manager, along with Brazil's Mario Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps.
Zagallo died just 3 days ago. Wonder if Deschamps is looking over his shoulder or not going out for a day or three.
In one way, Beckenbauer was what George Best could have been. As a player, he moved back from an attacking force, to farther back on the field to become a great distributer of the ball. if only George hadn't had that tragic self-destruct mechanism. On the other hand, George could never have been a manager or administrater.
so nothing like George could have been then?
I'll give you that George always was a great distributer of the ball, as well as an attacking force.
And of course Der Kaiser nicht had that self-destruct mechanism - so again, nothing like George.
Nor did George ever play or manage at a major championship - surprisingly also unlike Der Kaiser.
Franz was popular with the frauleins ... so one box ticked
Volunteer at an animal sanctuary; it will fill you with joy , despair, but most of all love, unconditional love of the animals.
Big Neville Southall
Cap'n Grumpy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 08, 2024 8:56 pmDer Kaiser ist tot
Franz Beckenbauer - Der Kaiser - is no more.
One of the best ever has kicked his last football.
One of only three men to have lifted the World Cup as both a player and a manager, along with Brazil's Mario Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps.
Zagallo died just 3 days ago. Wonder if Deschamps is looking over his shoulder or not going out for a day or three.
In one way, Beckenbauer was what George Best could have been. As a player, he moved back from an attacking force, to farther back on the field to become a great distributer of the ball. if only George hadn't had that tragic self-destruct mechanism. On the other hand, George could never have been a manager or administrater.
so nothing like George could have been then?
I'll give you that George always was a great distributer of the ball, as well as an attacking force.
And of course Der Kaiser nicht had that self-destruct mechanism - so again, nothing like George.
Nor did George ever play or manage at a major championship - surprisingly also unlike Der Kaiser.
Franz was popular with the frauleins ... so one box ticked
I did say ONE way, but thanks to Merv for pointing out a second.
He gets an iconic mention in this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YKReQnYurY
Magnificent player. Only 25 caps but those were the days when a cap was a cap and there were only half a dozen internationals a year.
Didn't realise Barry John was only 27 when he retired, becuase of the pressures of the expectations on his shoulder.
Not sure what to say about that. Would he be better supported for these days?