Joan Laporta attends Franz Beckenbauer tribute

FC Barcelona was represented by its president Joan Laporta, together with sporting director Deco, at Friday's tribute to Franz Beckenbauer at the Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich, at which Germany and the rest of the football world gave a final farewell to one of the great players the sport has ever known.

Laporta signed the book of condolences together with huge numbers of other sporting and institutional figures who attended the event of the man who passed away last January 7 in Vienna at the age of 78.

He then watch a moving tribute on the field involving some of the great players that were with Beckenbauer both at Bayern Munich and for the German national team, including Rainer Bonhof, Paul Breitner, Andreas Lothar Matthäus and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Otghers in attendance included the German president Franz-Walter Steinmeier, the president of Bayern Munich, Herbert Hainer, the president of Bavaria, Markus Söder, and Uli Hoenes, former president of Bayern and an esteemed colleague of the late defender.

Following the ceremony, president Laporta was able to personally express his condolences to the Beckenbauer family and the other mourners.

The 'Kàiser' was one of the most brilliant defenders ever to grace the game, winner of four Bundesligas and three European Cups with Bayern and the 1972 European Championship and 1974 World Cup with Germany. Beckenbauer is one of just three men to have won the World cup as both a player and a manager after guiding his country to victory at Italia ¡90.