(Reuters) "To put things straight, Franz - with his personality and charisma - remains a very important part of the club," Rummenigge told Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
Rummenigge, who was previously a Bayern vice-president, has been designated as chairman of the limited company which the club became at the beginning of this year.
Beckenbauer remains Bayern president but has complained about having only limited power at the club.
"My work is being done (by others), the essential things are being taken care of, the field is occupied," Beckenbauer, who is also the chairman of the organising committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, had said.
Bayern, who reported a turnover of 283 million marks ($127.6m/EUR145.9m) last year, was potentially valued as the world's most expensive soccer club after German sportswear giant Adidas said last September it would buy ten percent of the club.
The deal valued the European champions at 750 million euros ($661.4m) - more than English rivals Manchester United, who are quoted on the London stock market.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has played down speculation that a dispute exists between himself and Franz Beckenbauer over who is really in charge at Bayern Munich.
