Juergen Klinsmann has labelled German great Franz Beckenbauer as bigger than the Chancellor of Germany.
The USA national team boss told ESPN's Soccernet that he feels Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as both a player and a manager, is the most significant person in football.
"There is Pele, (Diego) Maradona, and (Johan) Cruyff but in my mind, there is only one personality in world football like Franz Beckenbauer," said Klinsmann of his former Germany and Bayern Munich boss.
"You grow up in Germany and his achievements mean he is held in higher regard than the Chancellor. He only had to turn up at training sessions and stand there because he knew his mere presence would make us run faster."
