Beckenbauer and wife separate

Franz Beckenbauer and his wife Sybille are separating because he wants to spend more time with a son he had with another woman.

"After a long and careful consideration me and my wife have decided not to live together any more," the former World Cup-winning captain and coach said in a statement.

"The separation results from a fair and friendly agreement," he added. "A decisive factor was my wish to dedicate myself more to my son who was born in August 2000. I feel responsible for him."

Franz and Sybille Beckenbauer have been married for 12 years. The great libero, who lifted the World Cup as captain in 1974 and coach in 1990, had been married once before. He has four children.

The youngest, Noel Maximilian, was born in August 2000 after the 'Kaiser' had an affair with a Bayern Munich employee.

Beckenbauer, now 56, is the Bayern Munich president and also chairs the organising committee of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.