Bayern Munich and Germany legend Gerd Muller passes away aged 75
By Tom Gott
Legendary German striker Gerd Muller has passed away at the age of 75, his former club Bayern Munich have confirmed.
A seven-time top scorer in the Bundesliga, Muller spent his entire career with Bayern and is the leading scorer in the history of the competition, having racked up an incredible 365 goals in just 427 games between 1965 and 1979.
FC Bayern are mourning the passing of Gerd Müller.
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) August 15, 2021
The FC Bayern world is standing still today. The club and all its fans are mourning the death of Gerd Müller, who passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 75.
The man known as Der Bomber was a hit on the international scene as well, winning the 1972 European Championships and the 1974 World Cup to help cement his legacy as one of the greatest strikers in the history of the game.
“Today is a sad, black day for FC Bayern and all of its fans," club president Herbert Hainer told Bayern's official website. "Gerd Muller was the greatest striker there has ever been - and a fine person, a personality in world football.
"We are united in deep sorrow with his wife Uschi and his family. Without Gerd Muller, FC Bayern would not be the club we all love today. His name and the memory of him will live on forever. "
Chief executive Oliver Kahn added: “The news of Gerd Muller's death affects us all deeply. He is one of the greatest legends in the history of FC Bayern, his achievements are unmatched to this day and will forever be part of the great history of FC Bayern and all of German football.
"As a player and as a person, Gerd Müller stands like no other for FC Bayern and its development into one of the largest clubs in the world. Gerd will be in our hearts forever."
Muller was an instant hit when he first broke through to the Bayern setup in 1965, scoring 15 goals in 33 appearances. Remarkably, that was his lowest-ever return from a full season of action.
On this day 4️⃣2️⃣ years ago, Gerd #Müller scored his final-ever competitive goal for #FCBayern ?⚪#MiaSanMia #OnThisDay pic.twitter.com/t0tTf3d9of
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) November 18, 2020
Der Bomber's best football came in 1970, when he was awarded the Ballon d'Or for scoring 40 goals in a single Bundesliga season. That record stood unmatched for 50 years before being bested by another Bayern man, Robert Lewandowski, during the 2020/21 campaign.
Muller ended his career with four Bundesliga titles and three European Cups, and after retirement, he eventually found his way back to Bayern, helping out in the academy between 1992 and 2014.