August 16 – Famed West Germany striker Gerd Mueller, nicknamed ‘Der Bomber’ because of his goalscoring prowess, has died at the age of 75.
Mueller netted 68 goals in 62 internationals, including the winner in the 1974 World Cup final, and is third in the all-time list of most goals in the tournament with 14, behind Brazilian Ronaldo (15) and German Miroslav Klose (16).
Bayern Munich announced Muller’s death on Sunday, with club president Herbert Hainer saying it was “a sad, dark day for FC Bayern and all its fans.”
Müller scored 566 goals for Bayern between 1964 and 1979, helping the team to four German titles, four German Cup wins and three European Cup triumphs.
He still holds the record for the most goals scored in the Bundesliga with 365, scored in 427 league games.
“Gerd Müller was the greatest striker there’s ever been, and a fine person and character of world football,” Hainer said in a statement posted on the club’s website.
“Today the world of FC Bayern stands still. 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.”
As well as the World Cup, Müller also helped West Germany win the European Championship in 1972.
“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.
Tributes came from across Europe with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola describing Muller as simply “the best striker in history.”
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