Gerd Müller (Germany)

Gerhard “Gerd” Müller, considered by many as the greatest goal-scorer of the modern age, was born on November 3, 1945, in Nördlingen, Germany. He began his career in the Nördlingen club before moving to Bayern, Munich in 1964 at the age of 18. Müller made his international debut in October 1966 against Turkey, and immediately established himself in the world of international football.

Known for his stocky build, Müller was also a famous scoring machine. With an amazing record of 68 goals in 62 games for West Germany during the 1970s, 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga appearances for his club, and an incredible record of 628 goals in first class football, he lives up to his moniker of "Der Bomber." He earned for himself the Golden Boot as the top scorer, and later a European Player of the Year Award. He was the scoring machine for his club from 1964 - 1965 to 1977 - 1978; and was Bundesliga's top scorer seven times (1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1978). He netted 40 goals, in 1971 - 1972, a record no other player has achieved ever since. He has earned four German championships, three European Cup championships for his club, and a 1974 FIFA World Cup Title. He is still the FIFA World Cup all-time leading scorer, with a record of 14 goals.

In 1972, Müller saw his club, Bayern Munich, win the first of three successive European Cups. He then moved to America during the seventies for new challenges in the NASL, and retired in 1982.

Müller descended into deep crisis with his playing career over. Shocked with his transition from popularity to everyday life, battles with his wife and a slow slide into alcoholism, he saw himself slowly ruined, as he personally admitted it. It was not until his friends from Bayern München, remarkably coach Uli Hoeneß, helped him to get back on his feet that he was back on track of the Football world. He continued to work with his local Bayern club and eventually earned his “A” coaching badge in 1992 and began to head Bayern's amateur club.

He was honoured as an outstanding sporting personality in August 2003 at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Bundesliga. He earned his first German Player of the Year award in 1967 as a 21 year-old, and recaptured the title two years later. He was the first German to be crowned European Player of the Year after winning the 1970 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot in 1970. Other further proofs of his exceptional status are three appearances in FIFA Select XIs (1971, 1972, and 1973) and one nomination in a UEFA Select XI (1973). Alongside with these sporting awards, he also received the Silver Bay Leaf in 1967 as well as the Federal Cross of Merit in 1977. He was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit in May 1998, and now represents the city of München as one of the twelve ambassadors for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

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