Sad news yesterday when the passing of Gerd Muller was announced. The former World Cup winner for West Germany in 1974 and top golscorer with 10 goals in Mexico four years earlier, defeating England in the quarter final and winning the bronze. He also lifted the European Cup and of course won many Bundesliga titles during his days with Bayern Munich.
His goalscoring records were just fantastic. Muller scored 68 goals in 62 full internationals. Bayern Munich had a great time in Europe with Muller, being the best club out there at that time. Der Bomber scored 398 goals in 453 league games for Bayern.
Muller moved to the NASL in 1979 playing for Fort Lauderdale Strikers for three seasons. A year later Keith Weller arrived and became Muller’s team mate, staying with Strikers until 1983. This team had during the years a great number of World stars in their set-up. Teofilo Cubillas and George Best and also former Leicester goalkeeper Gordon Banks. John Ridley was another fox playing for the Strikers in and earlier stage.
Keith Weller and Gerd Muller played a great number of games together and during their days with this team Muller scored 38 goals with Weller being close in most games and also netting 6. The two are fondly remembered at Fort Lauderdale Strikers as pivotal players adding flair and skills.
Gerd Muller arrived a year earlier than Weller, and in that first season playing alongside George Best, so it was a team of great stars around Muller in his adventure in the NASL.
Embed from Getty ImagesFort Lauderdale Strikers reached the Soccer Bowl final in 1980, with Gerd Muller in the team, Keith Weller did not play in the final. New York Cosmos came out the strongest and won the clash 3-0.
In the team group below you can see both Keith Weller and Gerd Muller, Weller first to left in the 2nd road, Gerd Muller can be spotted on the same row third from right. As far as we know Keith Weller is the only Leicester player to actually have played together with Gerd Muller, and of course nice to remember such a relation.
Muller had the skill of scoring goals of almost every possible chance and his pace on smaller areas was unique and then putting the ball in the back of the net was his special skill.
Gerd Muller suffered from Alzheimer’s in his later years.
Muller born in 1945, left us at the age of 75, Weller born a in 1946, passed away at the age of only 58, back in November 2004.
Sad to see yet another great footballer leave us. Time passes by and we just have to relate it all to fantastic and great memories.
RIP Gerd Muller
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