Football

Gerd Mueller and I were like brothers, Beckenbauer says

Published

5 years ago

August 16, 2021

Former Bayern Munich club teammate Franz Beckenbauer has paid tribute to legendary German striker Gerd Mueller who died on Sunday, saying he and Mueller were “like brothers”.

“It came as a shock,” Beckenbauer told German tabloid Bild on Monday.

Mueller died early Sunday morning at the age of 75 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

The 75-year-old Beckenbauer and Mueller shaped Bayern Munich over the years and celebrated great success at the club.

As part of the German national team, they both became World Cup champions in 1974 and European champions in 1972.

“He was such a great guy and much more subtle than many people thought,” he said.

“Gerd and I —- we were like brothers.”

Mueller joined Bayern Munich in 1964 and was part of an era which established the Munich side as a European force.

Known as a legendary penalty box poacher, Mueller remains the Bundesliga record scorer with 365 goals in 427 games.

Many of his strikes came off-balance, prone on the ground or from some other angle where shots, never mind goals, seemed impossible.

His single season tally of 40 goals from 1971/1972 stood as a record until finally being eclipsed by Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, with 41, last term.

Current Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann also paid his own tribute to the “Bomber of the nation” at a press conference before Tuesday’s Super Cup match with Borussia Dortmund.

“I offer my condolences to his family and friends,” he said. “Yesterday was a sad day for all of football.

“Gerd will stay in our hearts forever —- he played so many great games. I hope his family is keeping strong.”