Gerd Müller | Deadliest Striker of the Late 60’s

In all of football history, Gerd Müller revokes an unparalleled amount of reverence before the eyes of footballers and audiences alike. For his extremely accurate scoring instincts and in-game decisions, Müller will probably go down as one of the deadliest strikers of all time, and not just in the late ’60s.

To this day, not many strikers can come close to match his relentless energy on the field and incredible football prowess. Alongside his proficiency and achievements as a striker, Müller ‘s legacy has been solidified in the world of football due to his contributions to the sport after retirement. Devotion, endurance, practicality – Müller was a master of all these qualities to emerge as the deadliest striker of his time.

Who is Gerd Müller?

Müller was born in Nördlingen, Germany on November 3, 1945. As a kid, he wasn’t particularly athletic and had overweight issues. However, he had great enthusiasm for football from an early age. He was only 12 years old when he first started playing club football with TSV 1861 Nördlingen.

While he didn’t have an athletic physique, the coaches soon discovered that Müller possessed some unique traits.

He could make incredibly fast turns while controlling the ball perfectly. Additionally, he had an intricate scoring instinct that made him almost invincible against opponent strikers. His impeccable in-game decisions could turn the tide of a game instantly with last-minute goals.

While he wasn’t traditionally fast, he would pull off these amazing zigzag movements to throw off the opponents. Coaches realized his potential early on and Müller would soon go on to adopt more aggressive tactics to eventually mature as one of the deadliest strikers in the world.

After scoring a whopping 47 goals in only 28 goals, he caught the attention of the Munich clubs. Soon after, he was transferred to FC Bayern for 4400 Deutschmarks. His first debut was in October 1964. Placed in the Centre-Forward position, Müller dominated in both the regional and national league games on behalf of FC Bayern – making him an invaluable addition to the legendary team.

In 1979, he left FC Bayern to be a part of Fort Lauderdale Strikers and stayed there till ‘81. However, in 1992, he returned to Bayern to start his Managerial career there as an assistant coach for the team. He continued this position till his retirement from the club in the year 2014.

What Is Gerd Müller ‘s Age?

Gerd Müller lived from November 3, 1945, to August 15, 2021. In his 75 years of living, he scored 365 goals in just the Bundesliga, a record-breaking track that no one has been able to live up to yet. Apart from Bundesliga, he has also scored a record 1251 goals for FC Bayern and has scored in every single final he’s been in – hence, the title ‘deadliest striker’.

How Did Gerd Müller Die?

Like many other footballers, Müller fell victim to Alzheimer’s disease in his old age. As he was extremely athletic and sustained a number of injuries in his long career, he battled with early onset Alzheimer’s that eventually took away his life on August 15, 2021.

On October 6, 2015, he was first diagnosed with this disease. The deadliest striker continued to battle one of the deadliest diseases known to mankind for the next 6 years vigorously under the care of specialists. At the time of his death, he was 75 years old & he lived in a nursing home in Wolfratshausen.

Gerd Müller ‘s Family: Contributions Throughout His Journey

Müller’s mother paved his first road to victory by signing the permission slip for TSV Nördlingen. Afterward, his wife Uschi Müller ended up being his greatest supporter.

She stood by her husband’s side throughout his international and managerial career. In 1981, when he suffered from alcoholism after ending his career as a striker, his family and friends helped him through rehabilitation. Afterward, he was appointed by FC Bayern to coach the youth teams.

Gerd Müller Son: Upholding The Legacy?

Due to similar surnames, many often think of Thomas Müller as Gerd Müller ‘s son and protégé. However, that’s not the truth. Although both of them are incredible football players, they’re unfortunately not related to each other.

Gerd Müller was married to Uschi Ebenböck in 1967 and they have only one daughter named Nicole Müller. Müller liked keeping his personal life away from the public. And while he trained many individuals to rise through the ranks in the world of football, he didn’t force Nicole to follow in his footsteps to uphold his legacy as the deadliest striker.

Gerd Müller Achievements: Unforgettable Feats!

In terms of achievements, Müller sure had some unforgettable feats including his game-winning goals in the 1972 European Championship and 1974 World Cup. He played for West Germany and brought them the much-needed victory on a silver platter by making the strongest in-game decisions within split seconds like an absolute professional.

With TVS Nördlingen, he scored a total of 240 goals in the 1962/63 season. In the Men’s team, it only took him 28 games to score 47 goals. He scored at least one goal in every single match in the first 12 regional league games.

Müller played his first Bundesliga match on 14 August 1965. Throughout his career, he scored a total of 365 goals in the Bundesliga alone and was announced the top scorer in the German Bundesliga 7 times.

For FC Bayern, he won 13 trophies and was voted the top scorer 18 times in various competitions. He was also voted the top scorer in the European Cup four times. He won the Golden Shoe twice as the European Cup top scorer.

In 1970, he won the Golden Shoe for scoring 10 goals in one World Cup. However, the most important goal of his life was undoubtedly the against Netherlands in the 1974 World Cup final where he secured the championship for West Germany.  He also secured Bayern’s fourth championship title.

He helped Bayern win their first European Cup in 1975 and with 36 goals, he was the league’s top scorer for the fifth time. Müller also led Bayern to victory in the 1976 EU Cup.

What Is Gerd Müller Award?

After Müller passed away in 2021, the ‘Gerd Müller Trophy’ or ‘Best Striker Award’ was announced in his award. As the name suggests, this award is presented to the best strikers i.e. the Striker of the Year for their invaluable contributions to the team’s victory in France Football.

Every year both club and national team goals are taken into account to find the best strikers of the bunch. Erling Haaland currently holds this award as the highest-scoring footballer.

Final Words

The legacy of Gerd Müller ‘Der Bomber’ continues to live on even after his death. He’s one of the best strikers to come out of FC Bayern to this date with a record-breaking 1251 goals for the club. His undeterred determination toward Football will continue to inspire aspiring footballers striving to achieve excellence in one of the greatest sports in the world.