A striker, who was known for his goalscoring records, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2015 and was receiving special treatment for the last few years.
Bayern announced the news on their social media handles and are grieving, with Gerd Muller’s wife, Uschi and daughter Nicole.
The club’s president Herbert Hainer and CEO Olivier Kahn also expressed their commiserations for the departed legend.
“Today is a sad, dark day for FC Bayern and all its fans,”
“Gerd Muller was the greatest striker there’s ever been, and a fine person and character of world football. We’re all united in deep mourning with his wife Uschi as well as his family.
“FC Bayern wouldn’t be the club we all love today without Gerd Muller. His name and memory will live on forever.”
Hainer said.
Muller is considered one of the best goalscorers of all time. His destructive attitude in the penalty area saw him earn the nickname of ‘Der Bomber.’ He stayed at Bayern for 15 years and netted 566 goals in 607 matches. Muller also played a pivotal role in Bayern’s European dominance as he helped them win three European titles.
Apart from Bayern heroics, he replicated that goalscoring form at the international level as he netted 68 goals in 62 matches for Germany. It was a record for Die Mannschaft until Miroslav Klose broke it in 2014.
His most memorable goal has to be the one he scored in the 1974 World Cup final, helping West Germany win 2-1 over the Netherlands. It was also memorable because it was his last match as a West Germany international.
He started his football journey at his hometown club 1861 Nordlingen and in 1964 he joined Bayern and from there, his legacy began. Muller’s tally of 365 goals in the Bundesliga is still the highest.
Apart from that, Muller scored 40 goals in the 1971/72 Bundesliga season, a record that would be held until April 2021, when Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski netted his 41th goal during domestic campaign.
Muller surprisingly finished his career at American outfit Fort Lauderdale Strikers and later retired in 1981.
It was in 2019 when Der Bomber was inducted into the Hall of fame in German football. The honour was presented to his former Germany and Bayern teammate Paul Breitner on his behalf.
