Gerd Müller
Personal Data
Name: Gerd
Surname: Müller
Date of Birth: 03 Nov 1945
Birth Place: Noerdlingen (Germany)
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Career
Position: Centre-forward
Clubs: Nordlingen (1963-64), Bayern Munich (1964-79), Fort Lauderdale (USA/1979-81)
International appearances: 62
International goals: 68 (German record)
International debut: 12/10/1966, Turkey-West Germany (2-0)
Last international appearance: 07/07/1974, West Germany-Holland (2-1)
First international goal: 08/054/1967 West Germany-Albania (6-0)
Last international goal: 07/07/1974 West Germany - Holland (2-1)
World Cup
Appearances: 2 (1970, 1974), 13 matches, 14 goals
Winner (1974), 3rd (1970)
World Cup all-time top scorer (14 goals)
Top Scorer 1970 (10 goals)
European Championship
Winner (1972)
Top Scorer (1972)
European Cup
Winner (1974, 1975, 1976)
European Cup Winners' Cup
Winner (1967)
Intercontinental Cup
Winner (1976)
German Championship
Winner (1969, 1972, 1973, 1974)
West German Cup
Winner (1966, 1967, 1969, 1971)
Other Honours
European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or) (1970)
European Top Scorer (Golden Boot) (1970/38 goals, 1972/40 goals)
West German League top scorer (1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978)
Biography
The Bomber
West German forward Gerd Müller kicks the ball past East German defender Konrad Weise (4) as forward Martin Hoffmann looks on during the World Cup first round match between East Germany and West Germany 22 June 1974 in Hamburg. East Germany won 1-0 on a goal by forward Juergen Sparwasser. AFP PHOTO
Gerd Muller was an old-fashioned centre-forward of awesome efficiency whose skill and opportunism enabled him to become one of the most distinguished forwards in the history of the game.
West German forward Gerd Mueller (R) scores on a header past Australian goalkeeper Jack Reilly and defender Doug Utjesenovic during the World Cup first round soccer match between West Germany and Australia 18 June 1974 in Hamburg. West Germany beat Australia 3-0.
He scored 14 goals in two World Cups, a record which still stands, and in the German League he was no less productive, putting away 365 goals in 472 games.
But if that sounds impressive, then the statistic of 68 goals for West Germany in 62 international appearances almost calls for a verification of the statistics.
No wonder his fans called him "The Bomber".
The German, who was born in Nordlingen in northern Bavaria had made an unspectacular start in football, having been rejected early in his career by Bayern Munich after coaches decided the 18-year old was "too fat and slow".
Innate
But as Muller began to amass a hatful of goals with Nordlingen, Bayern were forced to re-assess their decision and in 1964 ate humble pie and signed him.
West German forward Gerd Mueller (C, white jersey) manages, while on the ground, to kick the ball in the net to score a goal as Yugoslav goalkeeper Enver Maric (L) and defender Josip Katalinski watch during the World Cup final round soccer match between West Germany and Yugoslavia 26 June 1974 in Dusseldorf. West Germany won 2-0. AFP PHOTO/DPA
He helped Bayern Munich to an unprecedented run of success in the German League that established their supremacy, winning four German Cups, four German championships and a Cup Winners' Cup in 1967.
With Sepp Maier, Paul Breitner and Franz Beckenbauer, Muller formed a "dream team" in the early 1970s.
Broken hearts
West German forward Gerhard Müller (R) celebrates after scoring the winning goal in the extra time period past English goalkeeper Peter Bonetti (L) in the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between West Germany and England 14 June 1970 in Leon. West Germany beat England 3-2 to advance to the semifinals. (At the end of regulation time, the score was tied at 2) AFP PHOTO
Muller broke English hearts in the quarter-finals of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico by brilliantly poaching a late goal to complete West Germany's extraordinary fightback and victory in the match (3-2).
He scored 10 goals in 6 matches in that tournament (West Germany reached the semi-finals), including a hat-trick against Bulgaria, before helping West Germany to their European Championship triumph two years later.
Things got even better in 1974 when West Germany continued their outstanding international form by defeating Holland 2-1 in the World Cup final in the Olympic stadium in Munich, with Muller scoring the winner.
He savoured European Cup wins in three consecutive years between 1974 and 1976 with Bayern, taking the club to heights where previously only Real Madrid had been able to survive.
Decline
However, a run-in with the West German football Federation (which led to his decision not to play for the West German team again) and persistent back injuries undermined his phenomenal progress.
As the inevitable decline set in, he saw his chance in the lucrative North American soccer league and signed for Fort Lauderdale in Florida, where he teamed up with other fading stars like George Best.
Opening a bar in the city was nearly his downfall - the long and avuncular arm of the Bayern Munich family had to come to his rescue after he found himself with serious alcohol problems.
Bayern took him under their wing and he became a technical assistant to the second team, whose strikers no doubt hoped that just a little of Muller's glorious ability (photo)rubbed off on them.
Ik noem een Tony van Heemschut,een Loeki Knol,een Brammetje Biesterveld en natuurlijk een Japie Stobbe !