Born on July 30th 1964 in Göppingen, Jürgen Klinsmann started his career in the second division club Stuttgart Kickers in 1982. When he two years later became topascorer in the division, the big club in the city, Vfb Stuttgart signed him. He would spend his next five seasons there and achived much success, both personally and with the team. 1988 was his first big year. He was topscorer of the Bundesliga and was voted “German Player of the Year”. Only set-back was the defeat to Holland on homeground in the European Championship.

In the summer of 1989 Klinsmann went abroad. his new club was Inter Milan. He joined fellow countrymen Lothar Matthäus and Andreas Brehme in a great team that mopped up the Serie A title in their first season. Klinsmann was a continental player, who could easily adapt to new cultures. He played top level football in England, Italy, Germany and France. And France was to be his next destination as he signed for them in 1992. But two years before that, in 1990, he won the World Cup with West Germany in Italy. He played five of the games on his homeground in Milan which made the triumph even more special. Klinsmann was now established as one of the greatest strikers in world football and after two seasons in Monaco without winning any major trophies, it was time to defend Germany’s title in the World Cup in America. “Klinsi” was now 30 years old and at the peak of his career. He scored five goals and personally had a great tournament, but the rest of the German heros from 1990 had become too old and failed to reach the standards required of winning a World Cup. Bulgaria won 2-1 in the quarterfinal, and Klinsmann’s tears after the game summed it up.

His journey through Europe continued and England and Tottenham Hotspur was next stop. He became an instant hit at White Hart Lane, and was voted “English Player of the Year” in 1995. A year later he won the European Championship with Germany at Wembley. He captained the winning side, despite being injured and missed some games. After only one season at Tottenham he joined Bayern Munich, and later Sampdoria, before returning back to Spurs to save them from relegation in 1998. A mission he accomplished. Klinsmann announced he would retire after the World Cup in France 1998. He had been critisized in the press for being “over the hill”. But in the World Cup he scored three goals as Germany once again bowed out in the quarterfinals, this time to Croatia. With 108 caps and nearly 50 goals, he is one of the legends in German football.

The master of the sweeper’s position, Franz Beckenbauer achieved legendary status in the game operating as an attacking defensive player. Elegant and confident on the ball, tactically superb and a great leader, The Kaiser was a superstar in every sense of the word. He won more than a century of caps for West Germany and captained his country in 50 of them. He was voted European Player of the Year twice as well.

His World Cup career started in 1966 when West Germany lost to England at Wembley in the final with Beckenbauer in an unusual midfield position marking Bobby Charlton. Kaiser Franz scored four goals in that World Cup which introduced him to the world audience.

In Mexico 1970, Beckenbauer is most remembered for playing on with an obvious shoulder injury in the classic 4-3 semifinal defeat to Italy. Heavily strapped he refused to be sustituted and battled throughout the full 120 minutes only to see his side lose the close contest. A win in the bronzematch over Uruguay was some consolation.

His third and last World Cup was hosted by his own country in 1974. West Germany and Kaiser Franz peaked at the right time and won the whole thing. The memorable final win against Holland and Johan Cruyff was of course the highlight. The triumph in Munich meant that Beckenbauer – as one of only two players in World Cup history (Wolfgang Overath the other) – had the complete collection of medals at the World Cup (Gold, silver, bronze).

His club career started off in little SC 1906 München as a boy before signing for much more famous Bayern Munich where he stayed for nigh on twenty years. It was a highly successful time. Bayern rose to the top of German and European football with Beckenbauer as the undoubted star. Many coveted titles were won such as three European Cups on the trot (1974-76), one Cupwinners Cup and a World Club Cup title in addition to numerous trophies on the domestic scene.

After quitting the national team, Franz spent the twilight years of his career with New York Cosmos in the North American pro league joining Pele and other stars. The success continued and shortly before retiring Beckenbauer returned to the Bundesliga to play for Hamburger SV where he mopped up another Bundesliga title – his final – in 1982.

Beckenbauer took over as coach for the German national team in 1984 and guided them to the final in 1986 and to the title in his last match in charge in 1990 against Argentina. It made him the first man to captain and coach a World Cup winning side. The Kaiser has since been highly involved in football as president for Bayern Munich, as commentator in newspapers and also with Germany’s 2006 World Cup campaign.