German football legend Franz Beckenbauer dies at 78

The German football federation announced the death of Franz Beckenbauer, 78, a soccer legend.

DFB named Beckenbauer “one of the best players this sport has seen and a natural leader” and said he died Sunday in Munich. The reason of death is unknown.

Beckenbauer won the 1974 and 1990 World Cups for West Germany as a player and coach.

He played 582 times for Bayern Munich from 1965 to 1977, collecting five league titles and three European Cups.

Known by his nickname “Der Kaiser” (“The Emperor”), Beckenbauer left an indelible mark on the game as a commanding, attacking defender who transformed the role of the sweeper.

The federation says he captained Germany 50 times in 103 international matches.

Beckenbauer led Germany's 2006 World Cup bid.

Beckenbauer was the only defender to win the Ballon d'Or twice, in 1972 and 1976.

One of three guys to win the World Cup as both a player and manager.

Bayern stated that Beckenbauer's death had made the world “suddenly darker, quieter, poorer” and that “FC Bayern would never have become the club that it is today.”

After Bayern Munich, Beckenbauer played two seasons in the US with the New York Cosmos, earning three “Soccer Bowl” titles and temporarily playing with Pelé.

His final Bundesliga title came with Hamburger SV in 1982.