Beautiful and educational book that digs into the soul of German football and the German nation

The special book ‘Der Kaiser & die Mannschaft.’ was recently published. Historical football journey through the land of Beckenbauer’ by football author Raf Willems. Since the moment of its publication, positive reviews have been the order of the day.

The Flemish columnist and author, Bart Lamers, also made no secret of his enthusiasm for this book, in which sport and social relevance go hand in hand: “Historical football journey through the land of Beckenbauer: very beautiful and educational book that digs into the soul of German football and the German nation.”

Contrary to what the title suggests, ‘Der Kaiser & die Mannschaft. Historical football journey through the land of Beckenbauer’ a Dutch book about the legendary Franz Beckenbauer. The man about whom ‘Die Zeit’ wrote: “The Kaiser will live forever”.

The legendary Beckenbauer is the common thread throughout this book. The man who was born in 1945. His parents were dissidents during the war and had very good contacts with many Jewish families.

In 1974, as captain of the national team, he became world champion. That instantly made him the most famous German ever and he would remain so until his death. Not only because of this victory and later successes, but also because of his affable, charismatic and friendly character. Beckenbauer would marry three times and was also known as a bon vivant. In short, an extremely fascinating man.

With this book, author Raf Willems indeed made a historic football journey through the land of Beckenbauer. He stayed there often over the past three decades. He leaves just before the First World War and stops on the eve of what may become the Third. At Euro 2024 in Germany, which wants to unite the continent from ‘the heart of Europe’.

This book also describes the seven final victories of the Mannschaft: four times Weltmeister (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) and three times Europa Meister (1972, 1980, 1996). Beckenbauer was always influential: as captain in 1972 and 1974, as national coach in 1990. As a columnist in 1996 and 2014. As an absentee, whose players’ shadow hung over the tournament, in 1980. Der Franz war überall. Because in 1954, as a child of the Second World War, he watched the heroic journey of his idol Fritz Walter. And murmured: ‘I want to be like that too.’ That happened at the 1974 World Cup, when he won the final against Johan Cruijff. It saddled the Netherlands with a national football trauma. Two years earlier, he saved Belgium from European gold at the 1972 European Championship. What if… Franz Beckenbauer had not existed? One thing is certain: his memory will also be prominently present at Euro 2024.

This book can be purchased via https://boeken.cafe/boeken/9789493306936/der-kaiser-die-mannschaft/