FC Bayern Munich: Hoeneß and Breitner buttoned Gerd Müller and landed “in your pants”

Munich – He was the nation’s bomber, the most phenomenal scorer in German football ever produced: Gerd Müller, who scored no less than 365 Bundesliga goals for Bayern Munich, will celebrate his 75th birthday on November 3. Our newspaper spoke with Müller’s former strike partner Uli Hoeneß, 68, on the legendary attacker who suffered a sad fate: for five years Gerd Müller housed in a nursing home.

The national players later arrived at the Grünwald Sports University training ground, because they had already been in action at the World Cup in Mexico. When Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer and Sepp Maier appeared, I was very excited and thought: “Now they are the big stars you saw on television at the World Cup.” And I wondered: “Are you saying now Mr. Müller? Mr. Beckenbauer? Mr. Maier?” But Gerd immediately said, “Are you crazy, stop, I’m Gerd.”

For many, footballer Gerd Müller was a mystery. Because he was not particularly fast, he had no dribbling, rather little resistance, he was only strong on the header with medium high crosses, he had a good shot, but not outstanding. And yet he was the best striker in the world. How can this be explained?

What made him special was his incredible scoring instinct. Robert Lewandowski, for example, is sure to be a great striker, and it could even be that he breaks Gerd’s Bundesliga record of 40 goals this season. But he doesn’t score goals like Gerd with his shin, chest or knee. Gerd didn’t care how he hit the ball. He just had to cross the line somehow. Robert shoots things at the net, with Gerd the ball often stays a few inches from the goal line.

His range of action was completely concentrated in the penalty area.

It was his great ability to handle the ball in the penalty area. When I didn’t know what to do next, I handed the ball to Gerd. You could always play with him blind, he could always do something with the ball. It was incredibly difficult to take the ball from him. For example, when Gerd again scored three or four goals against our team in training, Paul Breitner and I would sometimes say, “So let’s cover Gerd together.” Then we got into the penalty area: one was to the right of Gerd in his pants, the other to the left – and the ball was in goal.

Gerd Müller: Uli Hoeneß in an exclusive interview on the Bayern legend: “Goals were everything to him”

At that time, Müller’s hunger for goals became a popular phrase …

There was only one thing in his idea of ​​football: goals. Goals were everything to him. Udo Lattek always played old against young in training, and we always had to play until Gerd Müller’s team won and he scored his goals. That sometimes took two hours. The following story is also typical: 1972, inauguration of the Olympic Stadium, international match between Germany and the USSR. I dribble to the opposing goalkeeper and I want to gracefully throw the ball into the empty goal in the six-yard box … Suddenly someone comes up behind me and pushes me. I’m in the goal, the ball is in the goal: the striker Gerd Müller. He hit me from behind with the ball in goal. I was a little pissed off. And yet I couldn’t be mad at him in the end. That was just his elixir. I really wanted to score goals. And don’t forget one thing: Gerd not only scored many goals, but also many important and decisive goals. As a coach, I would never have replaced him. Because with Gerd you knew: he can hit last minute even on a bad day.

You and Müller have grown together in a short time to become one of the best forward duos in the history of German football, have won the national championship cup three times, and been world and European champions. You were the man on Müller’s side for years. Why did this teamwork work so well?

He had abilities that Gerd didn’t have. He was fast, he could dribble. And it was clear to her that she had to hand over Gerd. I have always accepted this role. When I played them all and got a free kick, then if the opportunity arose, I still passed the ball to Gerd. Because the goal was important for him, not for me.

Müller also seemed to be inspired by a pronounced playing instinct …

Yes, that is true. And this playful instinct was evident even in the sheep’s head. At that time you used to take the bus a lot. They then played cards from Säbener Strasse to the hotel door in Frankfurt. Then there was dinner. And then the Schafkopf round continued. Gerd was always there. And he was an excellent card player; he always knew what others had on hand.

How was your personal relationship with Müller as a player?

We were good comrades. Gerd was popular with everyone, but he didn’t let his teammates get close. He used to have private friendships outside of football. However, she had a particular familiarity with him. Also because I have always felt what a good person he is.

FC Bayern Munich: Uli Hoeneß with Gerd Müller anecdotes – “This day was the highlight”

There is a photo that was taken in 1974 after the final of the European Cup against Atlético de Madrid, which we won 4-0. He can be seen arm in arm in Müller, and he radiates deep happiness. Do you still remember that moment?

Naturally. Exactly, in fact. That day was the highlight of my athletic career. If I had to describe happiness, it would be with the feeling I had then. It was the repeat after the 1-1 draw in the first final, where we played terribly poorly. Katsche Schwarzenbeck saved us in the 120th minute. As a defender, he was not actually allowed to shoot. And then he hits him from 30 meters and does the thing. Alone: ​​after the game we were totally devastated. Then we train in a small square behind the hotel the day before the replay. We were completely exhausted and crawled, if someone had seen that they wouldn’t have put a chanterelle on us the next day. And yet we played one of the best games in Bayern history. Gerd scored two goals and I scored the other two. There’s no victory I’m happier for than this 4-0. We skipped death by shovel and then offered a game like a textbook. By the way, Gerd managed a fabulous look towards the far corner; I would never have dared to do it.

Gerd Müller broke all the scoring records, he won everything that could be won, he was a superstar and yet he never behaved like one …

Internally, Gerd Müller was always considered very good-natured. Have you really never argued?

Well, let’s put it this way: Gerd was a fan of justice. This was also evident in the uproar over premiums for the 1974 home World Cup. The DFB had only offered us national players a small sum, and Gerd scolded on training ground: House!” The result was then voted on. It was 11:11. That was just before the World Cup. Half the team wanted to leave. Franz Beckenbauer eventually negotiated a premium of 70,000 marks with the DFB and thus ensured that we stayed there.

It was worth it. Germany became world champions by defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in the World Cup final. Müller scored the winning goal.

It’s amazing how he accepted the sharp cross and spun – he didn’t hit the ball properly. He just got into the finish line. That was so typical of Gerd.

For FC Bayern, his goals were the key to the great era of the 1970s.

I agree. Two players stood out from this great team: Gerd and Franz, they are priceless and cannot be replaced in sporting terms.

What do you think of the thesis that FC Bayern would not be the club it is today without Gerd Müller’s goals?

It is definitely the case. Without Gerd, it would have been 100 percent different. FC Bayern know very well how important Gerd Müller was to this club. We will all be forever grateful to you from the bottom of our hearts.

In 2014, Gerd Müller was found to have dementia and had been in a nursing home for five years. How are you doing when you feel like your ex-partner is seriously ill?

I had so many infinitely wonderful experiences with Gerd, and I think football fans also associate him with the most beautiful images and memories. This is exactly how he will always be remembered by all of us, former teammates and friends of this wonderful game: as the great striker that he was, as well as a great teammate and as a great, fine, great person: always humble, always for everyone. nice word, a good guy from start to finish.

Was contact possible during the crown crisis?

No, we cannot visit it at the moment. With him, and every day, is his wife Uschi, who takes incredible care of him. Many people play an important role in your destiny. They ask me over and over again from all sides how he is. And then you also notice that Gerd is one of the few people who has no enemies. I don’t know anyone like him: no one says anything bad about Gerd.

Interview: Armin Gibis