Former Socceroos captain Tony Henderson was in his first season playing for his country when he was asked to lead an Australian XI out beside his hero Franz Beckenbauer in Sydney 44 years ago.
The former Royal Agricultural Showground in Moore Park hosted the game against a touring New York Cosmos side with more than 50,000 fans packing out a venue that was generally more acquainted with prize livestock at the Royal Easter Show.
Instead, Sydney soccer fans had a rare opportunity to witness a decorated Cosmos team that included jewels such as Italy’s Giorgio Chinaglia and Brazil’s Carlos Alberto. Still, says Henderson, nobody shone as brightly as the iconic German defender universally known as “Der Kaiser”.
“I always remember when we’re running out and I’ll tell you when the crowd saw him, they went absolutely berserk,” Henderson says.
“He just turned to me and said, ‘Oh you’re very popular here’. I still have the picture and we’re both laughing our heads off because I said, ‘It’s not for me, it’s for you!’ I just remember playing the game and it was just unbelievable.”
The photo of the two men running out in Sydney still hangs proudly in Henderson’s mother’s home in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, where he grew up.
Franz Beckenbauer catching up with his compatriot and Australia coach Rudi Gutendorf in Sydney in 1979.Credit: Fairfax
As a child, Henderson had idolised a young Beckenbauer as he starred for West Germany in the 1966 World Cup and then as he lifted the World Cup in 1974 in front of his home fans as captain. The Marconi stalwart was desperate to get his hands on the Bayern Munich sweeper’s iconic No.6 jumper.
Unfortunately, Henderson’s national teammate Jimmy Rooney had cleverly organised a swap in Sydney after the Cosmos defeated Victoria 3-2 three days earlier at Melbourne’s Olympic Park.
As a consolation prize, Henderson was offered the opportunity to lead out the team in Sydney alongside Beckenbauer. He jumped at the opportunity, maintaining that the defender was easily the best player he faced in a decorated career that included playing against the likes of former Manchester United great George Best.
“He was No.1 by a million miles,” Henderson says. “He stood head and shoulders above everyone else. He was called the Kaiser and that’s exactly what he was.”
There is grainy footage of the game available on YouTube and although Beckenbauer was 34 years old and had retired from international duty two years earlier, having amassed 103 caps for his country, it is easy to see his world-class ability as he seamlessly and swiftly set up attacks as a sweeper.
During the game, says Henderson, there were fiery challenges that led to bookings for the Cosmos’ Andranik Eskandarian and Antonio Carbognani, but Beckenbauer never needed to resort to such agricultural tactics given his ability to anticipate the play.
“Trust me, when you play against these boys, people think you can just go and play, but you can’t – these guys are just geniuses with a ball. Like Messi now, they can do anything,” Henderson says.
“You just need to know where you are in the pecking order, and I did. You try to kick them – you know I’m a Geordie – but you just can’t get anywhere near them.
Tony Henderson (No.4) is hugged by team mate after his winning goal.Credit: David James Bartho
“There was one stage he struck a ball and it would have been at least 30, maybe 35 meters out, and it went like a bullet. It didn’t go a foot above the ground and it hit the post and came back as far as the halfway line. He was just an immaculate player.”
Australia won the game 2-1 with Henderson scoring the winner after 84 minutes, leading to wild celebrations at full-time and a pitch invasion by fans. Beckenbauer was immediately surrounded by police officers who formed a protective cordon and brought him back safely to the team bus.
The victorious Socceroos returned to their makeshift changing room in the stables that adjoined the stadium, whereas the Cosmos were whisked away to their hotel.
Henderson now works in the seafood industry in Sydney and woke up at home in Drummoyne to read about the passing of a cherished former opponent he has often stopped to remember.
“I was actually shocked because we’ve not heard much about him over the last three or four years,” Henderson says. “I’m assuming that he’s not been in good condition.
“To me, he’s always been my No.1 player. Always has been. And I look through all these different eras and he still comes out No.1.”
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