Luca Beckenbauer, the teenage grandson of Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer, is leaving Bayern Munich’s youth academy for Schalke after the tragic death of his father.
The 15-year-old defender will play for Schalke’s Under-17 team next season, leaving Bayern, where his grandfather won three European Cup titles and played more than 400 Bundesliga games.
Stephan Beckenbauer, son of the 70-year-old legendary defender and Luca’s father, died of a brain tumour in July 2015, aged just 46, having worked as a coach in Bayern’s academy.
His grieving son now wants to make a fresh start away from the Bavarian giants.
“Luca has been toying with the idea for some time,” Franz Beckenbauer told German daily Bild on Saturday.
“It was his wish to move to a new environment. That will certainly help him in his development.”
Schalke’s youth academy has produced the likes of Germany stars Mesut Ozil and Manuel Neuer.
“Luca is a very consistent defender and his attacking game is sure to improve at Schalke.”
Franz Beckenbauer captained and coached West Germany to the 1974 and 1990 World Cup titles respectively.
Beckenbauer was the chairman of the 2006 World Cup’s organising committee hosted by Germany.
He is one of several figures being investigated over allegations that the right to host the finals was bought by the Germans from FIFA. – Agence France-Presse
