It made him one of only three men, along with France's Didier Deschamps and Brazil's Mario Zagallo - who died last week - to win the World Cup as player and manager.

A superb player who made the transition from outstanding midfielder to visionary defensive sweeper with ease, Beckenbauer was also captain of the Bayern Munich team that won the European Cup three seasons in succession in 1974, 1975 - when Leeds United were controversially beaten in Paris - and 1976.

Beckenbauer was already marked out as a future superstar when he faced England in the World Cup final at Wembley in 1966 as a 20-year-old, a performer of such supreme quality that Sir Alf Ramsey ordered Charlton to shadow him.

West Germany coach Helmut Schoen gave Beckenbauer similar orders, thus two great talents effectively cancelled each other out as England won 4-2.

Their paths would cross again as revenge came for West Germany four years later in the heat of Leon in Mexico, when Beckenbauer and Charlton were key figures in the World Cup quarter-final.

Charlton was commanding the game but was substituted just after Beckenbauer pulled a goal back to reduce England's 2-0 lead. It was believed Ramsey was protecting his ageing talisman from the heat and for a potential semi-final.

The change became one of the most fateful of Ramsey's reign as Charlton's departure allowed the shackles to be released from Beckenbauer, who inspired West Germany's comeback to win 3-2.

They lost 4-3 to Italy after extra time in the semi-final but Beckenbauer took centre stage once more, playing on with his right shoulder in a sling after suffering a dislocation, both allotted substitutes having been used.