The 65-year-old Zwanziger took office at the Deutscher Fussball-Bund (DFB) in 2004 and was re-elected in October for a third consecutive three-year term.
“Franz Beckenbauer is a highly regarded representative of German football around the world who did his job in an outstanding manner the past few years,” Zwanziger said of the World Cup winning captain and coach.
“It is the aim of the DFB to support our interests in committees of world soccer and that is why I run for this post.”
“I am happy that he has decided to run for the post despite the difficulties this job brings with it,” read a statement by Beckenbauer, who said he wanted to spend more time with his family.
“Theo Zwanziger is the best solution for German football.”
