: As a child, Daniel initially wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a professional wrestler.
Franz Van Buyten was a heavyweight figure in the European wrestling scene from the 1960s to the 1980s. Known as a powerhouse, his career is most famously anchored by his match against on January 20, 1968. In that historic bout in Paris, Franz was the opponent André defeated to secure his very first professional title. Franz’s reputation was such that he was a "celebrated star" at venues like the Vienna Heumarkt, embodying the rugged physicality of the era. A Legacy of Strength and Protection
Franz Van Buyten passed away on coincidentally Daniel’s birthday—at the age of 81. His life remains a testament to the "Van Buyten" name’s notoriety in Belgium, which existed long before Daniel became an international football icon.
: Franz believed football offered a safer, yet still physically demanding, outlet for Daniel’s immense strength. Professional Tributes
Throughout Daniel’s career at FC Bayern Munich , his father’s wrestling roots remained a point of camaraderie and humor. His teammates once planned a "catcher-celebration" to honor Franz’s legacy after Daniel scored, though Daniel jokingly tried to talk them out of it.