Franz Beckenbauer ( born September 11 , 1945 ) , called `` The Kaiser '' , is a former German football player . Franz Anton Beckenbauer ( born 11 September 1945 in Munich ) is a German football coach , manager , and former player , nicknamed Der Kaiser ( `` The Emperor '' ) because of his elegant style , his leadership , his first name `` Franz '' ( reminiscent of the Austrian emperors ) , and his dominance on the football pitch .