Football: the formidable German "Bomber" Gerd Müller has passed away
German footballer Gerd Müller on March 26, 1974 in Frankfurt.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
5 mins
Bayern Munich announced on Sunday August 15 the death of their iconic former striker Gerd Müller at the age of 75.
Top scorer in the history of the Bavarian club, the German suffered from Alzheimer's disease for several years.
He leaves a gigantic imprint in German football.
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A football giant has bowed out.
Bayern Munich, the club with which he has forged his legend, announced the sad news in a press release published at the start of the afternoon on Sunday August 15: “
The world of FC Bayern stands still today.
The club and all its fans mourn the death of Gerd Müller, who passed away this Sunday morning at the age of 75.
"
"Der Bomber", infernal scoring machine
Born on November 3, 1945, the footballer has established himself among the greatest goal hunters in history by wearing two prestigious jerseys: that of Bayern therefore, and that of Germany. For 15 years, Gerd Müller played the role of infernal trigger at the forefront of the Bavarians' attack (1964-1979), before ending his career in the United States with the ephemeral club of Fort Lauderdale Strikers ( 1979-1981). He was equally lethal with the Nationalmannschaft between 1966 and 1974.
The figures are staggering: with 566 goals scored in 607 games, Gerd Müller is the top scorer in Bayern Munich history.
The one who was nicknamed "Der Bomber" ("The Bomber") remains today the most prolific scorer in the history of the Bundesliga, the German championship, with 365 achievements.
With Germany, the striker was also hellish with 68 goals in just 62 caps.
He was only passed by Miroslav Klose in 2014: 71 goals scored in 137 caps.
His record, logically, is just as prestigious: four crowns in the Bundesliga, three crowns in the Champions Clubs Cup (old version of the Champions League), a World Cup, a Euro, a Ballon d'Or, double Shoe Golden…
pic.twitter.com/NNfYuLKo0X
- FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) August 15, 2021
Legend among legends
After his career, Gerd Müller fell into alcoholism and depression.
Supported by his former teammates, starting with Uli Hoeness, he managed to get out of these demons.
Despite health problems, he coached the youngsters and then the reserve team of Bayern Munich between 1992 and 2014. A year later, Müller revealed that he suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
His public appearances then became very rare.
In November 2020, his wife Uschi confided to the newspaper Bild that her husband was at the end of his life, hospitalized in a specialized establishment: “
He has always been a fighter, always courageous, throughout his life.
But Gerd slowly falls asleep.
He is almost 24 hours a day in bed and has rare moments of wakefulness.
(…) It is calm and peaceful.
I don't think he's in pain.
"
In May 2021, after having equaled and then surpassed the “Bomber” goal record in a single Bundesliga season (40 goals in 34 matches in 1971-1972),
Robert Lewandowski
, the Bayern Munich striker (41 goals in 29 matches) in 2020-2021), had greeted his elder: the Pole wore under his jersey a t-shirt with the inscription "
4ever Gerd
" ("
Gerd forever
").
Oliver Kahn, former goalkeeper for Bayern and Germany, understands the importance of Gerd Müller at the top of German football.
“
He is one of the greatest legends in Bayern history.
His exploits remain unmatched to this day and will forever be a part of the great history of Bayern and all of German football.
(…) Gerd will be in our hearts forever
, ”writes the current president and CEO of the club.
Franz Beckenbauer, another giant of German football, also pays tribute to it: “
Everything Bayern has become, it owes to Gerd Müller and his goals.
"
Der DFB trauert um einen der größten deutschen Fußballer go Zeiten.
Ruhe in Frieden, Gerd Müller.
Wir sind in Gedanken bei seiner Frau und Familie.
pic.twitter.com/rfVj37Zkrt
- Die Mannschaft (@DFB_Team) August 15, 2021
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