Bayern pay tribute to Beckenbauer during their Bundesliga tie with Hoffenheim

Bayern Munich have paid tribute to club legend Franz Beckenbauer ahead of their first match after the 78-year-old's death on Sunday.

Beckenbauer's health had gradually declined ever since his son Stephan died in 2015, and since then the iconic Germany player and manager had battled Parkinson's disease, dementia, as well as undergoing heart operations.

The Bundesliga behemoth announced that they would make Beckenbauer's passing with a number of special gestures ahead of kick-off at the Allianz Arena against Hoffenheim on Friday evening.

The Bayern players warmed up in Beckenbauer's iconic No 5 shirt and wore training jackets from 'Der Kaiser's' era.

Beckenbauer's own song, 'Gute Freunde' played over the stadium's loudspeakers as the squads walked out, and both teams are wearing black armbands for the tie.

Bayern's matchday shirts sport the phrase 'Danke Franz' - or 'thank you Franz' - above their shirt sponsor.

The World Cup winner's song was also planned to play when the side scores a goal, which Jamal Muisala did in the 18th minute of the tie.

At half-time, the hosts lead their Bundesliga rivals 1-0.

Each club shirt will be signed after tonight's match and auctioned off on the FC Bayern Online Store auction platform from Wednesday, January 17, with the proceeds going to the Franz Beckenbauer Foundation.

Beckenbauer is unanimously viewed as one of football's greatest ever players.

He was part of the West Germany side that lost to England in the 1966 World Cup final.

Beckenbauer is in an exclusive club as he is one of only three men, including France manager Didier Deschamps and Brazilian icon Mario Zagallo, who passed away last week, to have won a World Cup as a player and manager.

Footballing greats including Gary Lineker and Lothar Matthaus took to social media to pay tribute to the former defender following his death.

'Very sorry to hear that Franz Beckenbauer has died,' former England striker Gary Lineker posted on social media.

'One of the absolute greats of our game. Der Kaiser was the most beautiful of footballers who won it all with grace and charm. RIP.'