75,000 spectators at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich paid tribute to soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer with a minute's silence and unfurled a banner that read: "The shining light goes on its last journey - rest in peace, Kaiser."
Dressed in tracksuits emblazoned with the words "Danke Franz" ("Thank you, Franz"), Bayern's players took to the pitch for their match against Hoffenheim to the sounds of "Gute Freunde" ("Good Friends"), a pop song released by the footballer in the 1960s, AFP reported.
Beckenbauer died in the Austrian city of Salzburg on January 7 at the age of 78, and was buried today in the southern part of Munich, near where he grew up.
In the freezing -9C conditions, the stadium fell silent before the game to honor the life of one of German football's favorite sons - a moment that will be repeated at every Bundesliga game this weekend.
Beckenbauer made a name for himself at Bayern Munich, helping the club to their first promotion to the Bundesliga, and then went on to win league titles and European Cups with the team.
Bayern helped launch Beckenbauer's stunning career with the German national team, which saw him become a world champion as both a coach and player. Only three men have achieved this feat.
Tonight the hosts played in commemorative jerseys, which will be auctioned off for the Franz Beckenbauer Foundation.
"It's a great boost for the team and for me to dedicate the game to him and win," Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel said before the game.
On January 19, the stadium will host a public commemoration of Beckenbauer's life. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed that he will attend the event.
Former Bayern goalkeeper Sepp Meyer, who still holds the German champions' all-time goalscoring record, has called for a statue of Beckenbauer to be erected outside the stadium. /BGNES
