Franz Beckenbauer was a graceful and visionary 'libero' who changed the face of soccer

By taking a step back, Franz Beckenbauer put himself a step ahead.

The “libero” — taken from the Italian word for “free” and describing a player who had a covering role behind a defensive line — was not an entirely new concept to soccer by the late 1960s and early 1970s.

It was just that nobody who'd played in that rare position had ever done so with the vision, grace and ability on the ball demonstrated by Beckenbauer, the soccer revolutionary who died Monday at the age of 78.

The epitome of elegance in that iconic white Germany jersey with No. 5 on the back, Beckenbauer was regarded as a pioneer because he brought an attacking element to the deepest outfield position on the pitch.