History of Gerd Müller in Timeline

Gerd Müller, a renowned German footballer, is celebrated as one of history's most prolific strikers. His exceptional skills, particularly within the penalty area, earned him widespread acclaim. Müller's illustrious career encompassed both club and international triumphs, including remarkable victories in the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, and the prestigious Ballon d'Or.

November 1945: Birth of Gerd Müller

Gerd Müller was born in Nördlingen, Germany, in November 1945.

1958: Start of Gerd Müller's Football Career

At age 13, Gerd Müller started his football career with his hometown club TSV 1861 Nördlingen's youth ranks in 1958.

1964: Joining Bayern Munich

At the age of 18, Gerd Müller joined Bayern Munich in 1964, where he would team up with future stars Franz Beckenbauer and Sepp Maier.

1966: Start of Gerd Müller's International Career

Gerd Müller's international career with West Germany began in 1966.

1970: Ten Goals in the 1970 FIFA World Cup

Gerd Müller scored ten goals for West Germany during the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

1970: European Footballer of the Year and World Cup Golden Boot

Gerd Müller was named European Footballer of the Year in 1970 after a successful season with Bayern Munich, during which he also scored ten goals at the 1970 FIFA World Cup for West Germany, earning him the Golden Boot.

1971: Setting the Single-Season Bundesliga Scoring Record

In the 1971–72 season, Gerd Müller set a Bundesliga record by scoring 40 goals in a single season.

1972: Record for Most Goals in a Calendar Year

Gerd Müller scored an impressive 85 goals in 1972, setting a record for most goals scored in a calendar year.

1972: UEFA European Championship Top Scorer

Gerd Müller was the top scorer in the 1972 European Championship, scoring four goals, including two in the final, and helping West Germany secure the championship title.

July 1974: Retirement from International Football

Gerd Müller's international career concluded with West Germany's victory in the 1974 FIFA World Cup at his home stadium in Munich on July 7, 1974. He scored the winning goal in their 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the final.

1974: Dispute with the German Football Association

Following the 1974 FIFA World Cup, Gerd Müller retired from playing for West Germany after a disagreement with the German Football Association (DFB). The dispute stemmed from a post-tournament celebration where officials' wives were permitted to attend, but players' wives were not.

1974: FIFA World Cup Victory and Winning Goal

Gerd Müller scored four goals in the 1974 FIFA World Cup, including the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands.

1974: European Cup Victory with Bayern Munich

Gerd Müller, along with his Bayern Munich teammates, won the European Cup three consecutive years, marking the first West German team to achieve this feat. Müller scored in both the 1974 final replay and the 1975 final.

1974: Gerd Müller's World Cup Scoring Record

In 1974, Gerd Müller set a record with 14 goals in FIFA World Cup tournaments.

1975: Scoring in the European Cup Final

Gerd Müller scored in the 1975 European Cup Final, contributing to Bayern Munich's victory.

1979: Joining the Fort Lauderdale Strikers

After his Bundesliga career, Gerd Müller joined the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1979.

1980: Reaching the NASL Final

Gerd Müller and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers reached the NASL final in 1980 but ultimately lost.

1981: Retirement and Struggle with Alcoholism

After retiring from professional football in 1981, Gerd Müller faced a difficult period and battled with alcoholism. However, his former colleagues at Bayern Munich rallied around him, persuading him to seek treatment for alcohol rehabilitation. Upon his recovery, they offered him a coaching role at Bayern Munich II, demonstrating their unwavering support.

1992: Coaching Career at Bayern Munich II

Gerd Müller took on the role of coach at Bayern Munich II in 1992.

1999: Ranked Ninth in European Player of the Century Election

In 1999, Gerd Müller was ranked ninth in the European Player of the Century election held by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).

2004: Named in the FIFA 100 List of Greatest Living Players

In 2004, Pelé included Gerd Müller in the FIFA 100, a list of the world's greatest living players.

2006: World Cup Scoring Record Broken

Brazilian striker Ronaldo broke Gerd Müller's long-standing record for most goals scored in the FIFA World Cup during the 2006 tournament in Germany.

2006: Ronaldo Surpasses Müller's World Cup Record

In 2006, Brazilian footballer Ronaldo surpassed Gerd Müller's record of 14 goals in FIFA World Cup tournaments.

July 2008: Rieser Sportpark Renamed in Honor of Gerd Müller

In July 2008, the Rieser Sportpark in Nördlingen, where Gerd Müller began his football journey, was renamed the Gerd-Müller-Stadion as a tribute to his remarkable career and impact on the sport.

2012: Calendar Year Scoring Record Broken

Lionel Messi surpassed Gerd Müller's long-standing record for most goals in a calendar year by scoring 91 goals in 2012.

2014: Retirement from Coaching

Gerd Müller retired from his coaching position at Bayern Munich II in 2014 due to health reasons.

2014: Germany's All-Time Leading Scorer Record Broken

Miroslav Klose surpassed Gerd Müller's record as Germany's all-time leading scorer in 2014, scoring his 69th goal in his 132nd appearance. Notably, Klose required over twice the number of caps to achieve this feat.

October 2015: Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

It was publicly announced in October 2015 that Gerd Müller had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

2020: Bundesliga Scoring Record Broken

Gerd Müller's single-season Bundesliga record of 40 goals, which stood for almost 50 years, was broken during the 2020–21 season by Robert Lewandowski, who scored 41 goals.

July 2021: Gerd Müller's International Goalscoring Record

As of July 2021, Gerd Müller was ranked 21st on the list of all-time international goalscorers, despite playing fewer matches than any other player in the top 48.

August 2021: Death of Gerd Müller

Gerd Müller passed away in August 2021.

2021: Tributes to Gerd Müller After His Death

Following Gerd Müller's passing in 2021, tributes poured in from the football world, solidifying his legacy as one of the sport's greatest goalscorers. FC Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer hailed him as "the greatest striker there's ever been," while football legend Franz Beckenbauer recognized Müller as "the most important player in the history of Bayern Munich."