The best goal scorers - Part three: Gerd Muller

Thorough - bred Scorer

He put the national record of 68 goals in 62 international appearances and the international record of 66 goals in 74 European Club games


By MIROSLAV POPOVIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA


Pele is the king of goalscorers, Euzebio is unsurpassed artist, Ronaldo is creative goal-machine, Lineker brutal executor, but when someone use the term "purebred scorer" or "born to be a striker", the first thought comes to Gerd Muller.

Gerhard Muller, striker with almost grotesc physical look, has marked the whole decade with his goals. In '70s he won almost everything that a footballer can win, as a player of Bayern Munich and German national team. With Bayern he was a German champion four times, won the National Cup four times, three European Champions Cup in a row, one Cup of the European Cups and an Intercontinental Cup. With the German national team: European Championship 1972 and the World Title in 1974, when he scored the decisive goal for the final victory over the Netherlands.

About individual awards, he was the best goalscorer of Bundesliga even seven times. With 40 goals achieved in 1972, he won the Golden Boot for the best scorer of Europe. Also he was declared as the best player in Germany twice and in 1970 he won a Golden Ball of Frans Football, award for the best player of the Old Continent.

Truly dazzling career was decorated by two unusual records. He scored 68 goals in 62 international appearances in the national team jersey and he also made a record of 66 goals in 74 European Club games.

When you hear once, ladies and gentlemen, that older people use of the term "purebred scorer", feel free to mention the name Gerd Muller. You can not make a mistake.


(Published: 10.10.2008.)