German striker Gerd Muller dies Bundesliga

Gerd Muller signed with Bayern Munich in 1964, he was 18 years old. He believed that he would get more playing opportunities at Bayern Munich than in 1860 Munich, which also showed interest.

It seems silly now, but then Bayern Munich played in the Regionalliga Süd, while 1860 Munich played a higher series in the Bundesliga.

At Bayern, coach Kajkowski didn’t have a good eye for the new striker with his remarkably short legs. “What should I do with this fat little guy?” he asked. “It’s like lifting weights.”

At first, Muller basically kept the bench warm, but once he was allowed onto the field, there was nothing to stop him.

With Muller, captain Beckenbauer, Breitner and Hoeness and goalkeeper Mayer, coach Udo Lattik has formed the best team in Europe. Muller was present when Bayern won their first European Cup, the previous Champions League, three years in a row. In 1974 he scored two goals in the final against Atlético Madrid. He also scored a goal in the final against Leeds the following year.

Muller was also a goal machine in his own competition. In total, he scored more than 1,200 goals for Bayern in 15 years. 7 times he was the top scorer in the German league. Bayern Munich has awarded 4 titles, according to icon Franz Beckenbauer in large part because of the ruthless striker: “Everything that has become for Bayern, is owed to Gerd Muller.”

Muller scored some great goals, but it was clinically effective. The German verb “müllern” is named after him. It means something like feeling the ball in the goal.

Muller made his international lead at the 1970 World Cup. Although Pele stole the show with Brazil and became world champion, no one missed Muller’s efficiency. In Mexico he became the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals. “Der Bomber der Nation” was born.

In 1972 followed that first title with the national team. West Germany became the European champion. At Heysel, the Germans defeated the Soviet Union 3-0, with almost two goals from Muller. In the semi-finals he had already won 2 against the Red Devils.

Muller celebrated the ultimate title in his country, when he scored the winning goal in the World Cup Final. Consequently, the Netherlands has suffered the biggest football shock ever.

Surprisingly, Mueller retired as an international right after that. He then scored 68 goals in 62 international matches. He was only 28 years old. For Jupp Heynckes, with whom he also played, he was “the most important football player in German history”.

After his career, he became addicted to alcohol, but with the help of his friends at Bayern Munich, he overcame his problem. In 2013, something strange happened. He disappeared at a training camp in Trento, Italy. Then he was found confused.

Two years later it was clear what was going on. Mueller had Alzheimer’s disease. He was slowly suffering in a nursing home. He was 75 years old.