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Incredibly rare Franz Beckenbauer hand signed 1976 European Cup Final programme

1976 European Cup final Programme hand signed across the front in black marker pen by the former Bayern Munich captain and club legend

The final took place at Hampden Park in Glasgow, a city that already had seen Saint-Étienne defeat local team Rangers during the competition. Les Verts were playing against Bayern Munich, a team that was hoping to win a third consecutive European Cup.

The game began with Gerd Müller finding the back of the net after Bernd Dürnberger won the ball in his own half and went on a 50-metre solo run; however, Müller’s effort was disallowed for offside by the Hungarian referee Károly Palotai. In the 37th minute, Uli Hoeneß took a shot but it did not worry goalkeeper Ivan Ćurković. Saint-Étienne had plenty of chances to score though, at the 34th minute Dominique Bathenay’s shot hit the crossbar, with Bayern’s keeper Sepp Maier beaten. Five minutes later, Jacques Santini connected with a cross from Christian Sarramagna, but his header hit the crossbar too. After the final, French people called Hampden Park’s goalposts “les poteaux carrés” (English: the square posts).

After the start of the second half, Bayern Munich were more confident. In the 57th minute, Franz Beckenbauer passed to Gerd Müller, who was tackled by Osvaldo Piazza and the referee gave a free-kick to the German team from 20 metres out, just left of the penalty arc. Franz Beckenbauer tipped the ball to Roth on his right who scored half high into the left side of the goal. After this, les Verts tried everything. Robert Herbin chose to substitute Christian Sarramagna for Dominique Rocheteau but to no avail.

Beckenbauer

By 1968, Beckenbauer had established himself as a pivotal asset for both club and country. He was handed the Bayern captaincy by manager Branko Zebec for the 1968/69 season and almost inevitably, led the club to their first Bundesliga title finishing eight points ahead of Aachen. This league win dawned a new era in German football, the beginning of an implacable dynasty led by Der Kaiser himself that would go on to win every trophy imaginable.

Beckenbauer led his team to three consecutive Bundesliga titles from 1971 to 1974. But his finest feat as the captain of Bayern came between 1974 and 1976 when he helped the club win a hat-trick of European Cups, beating Atletico Madrid, Leeds United and Saint Etienne in the finals, thereby confirming Bayern’s reputation as a behemoth in European football.