'Der Bomber', Legendary German footballer Gerd Muller dies
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Munich: Gerd Muller, the Bayern Munich and former West Germany forward who scored 566 goals for the club and still holds the record for the most goals scored in the Bundesliga with 365 goals, has died. He was 75.
The Bavarian club announced his death on Sunday.
"Gerd Muller was the greatest striker there's ever been, and a fine person and character of world football," Bayern president Herbert Hainer said in a statement posted on the club's website. "We're all united in deep mourning with his wife Uschi as well as his family." Muller made 607 competitive appearances for Bayern. He was the league's top-scorer on seven occasions. Muller joined the Bavarian club in 1964 and won four league titles and four German Cup titles.
Muller also helped West Germany win the European Championship in 1972, then the World Cup two years later, when he scored the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands. Altogether, he scored 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany.
"His achievements are unrivalled to this day and will forever be a part of the great history of FC Bayern and all of German football," Bayern chairman Oliver Kahn added in the club statement.
"As a player and a person, Gerd Muller stands for FC Bayern and its development into one of the biggest clubs in the world like no other. Gerd will forever be in our hearts.
He is famously known as 'Der Bomber'. Muller is one of the greatest strikers in history who scored a total of 711 goals from 780 games for club and country. He is remembered for his key role in winning 1974 World Cup and 1972 Euro titles for the country, followed by a legendary career in Bayern Munich. Alcoholism ended his career in 1982.
His 14 strikes record from the World Cup lasted from 1974 to 2006. It was the Brazilian striker Ronaldo, in 2014, who had to rejoin Germany through Miroslav Klose, who improved the figure before. He won Ballon d'Or in 1970 for 10 ferocious goals in 1970 Brazil World Cup.