|
|
He, renowned as the 'bomber' in the world of football; he, the creator of numerous goal-scoring records; he, the true hero who achieved the Grand Slam of championships and a legendary goal pursued by countless successors. This hero is Gerd Müller. You may not have witnessed his performances, but you've surely heard of his legend! However, the world of FC Bayern Munich came to a standstill with the sorrowful news – the passing of this greatest striker in football history, a shooting star that streaked across humanity, leaving everything behind.
Gerd Müller, as a powerful forward and prolific goal-scorer in the 1960s and 1970s, is considered one of the greatest players of his era. In his playing career, he won the World Cup and the European Championship with the West Germany team, securing championships in the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 World Cup. His record of 14 goals in a single World Cup held for 32 years.
Perhaps today, fans' understanding of Gerd Müller remains in the abstract concept of the 'ancient deity,' but his name is enough to etch him forever in football history. Playing 607 matches for Bayern, he scored 566 goals, including 365 in the Bundesliga, winning the Bundesliga Golden Boot seven times and becoming the league's all-time leading scorer. Gerd Müller also represented the German national team in 62 matches, scoring 68 goals. In the two World Cups he participated in, Müller's impressive record of 14 goals in 13 matches set a World Cup total goal-scoring record, a record that stood for 32 years until the 21st century when it was equaled by two successors, Klose and Ronaldo. The authoritative European sports media, France Football, also selected Gerd Müller as one of the ten greatest football stars in history.
He was a legendary figure in German football, and Uli Hoeneß, the Bayern Munich board chairman who fought alongside him, praised Müller as one of the greatest football stars in the world. 'Without his goals, Bayern and German football might not have the position they have today,' said Hoeneß. Even the 'Football Emperor' Franz Beckenbauer didn't spare his praises: 'Without Gerd Müller, perhaps Bayern would still be in the small wooden office on Säbener Street.'
However, fate is envious of talent. In 2015, Bayern revealed that the 'bomber' Gerd Müller had long suffered from Alzheimer's disease and had been admitted to a nursing home for specialized care earlier that year. Müller had once gone missing for 13 hours during summer training with Bayern's second team in the Italian mountains, perhaps a consequence of the disease. Despite the prolonged illness, out of respect for the elderly, details were not disclosed extensively, and the media and the public always respected Gerd Müller's personal space. In November 2020, Müller's wife revealed his deteriorating health, stating that he spent his days bedridden and could hardly eat. Ultimately, Müller left this world hastily at the age of 75, leaving behind silent mourning and sighs from fans and successors. |
|
Post time 4-1-2024 09:51:14