THE mentor of Bayern Munich’s Golden Generation and the greatest player in their history turns 70 tomorrow — as Arsenal arrive in Germany.
Gerd Muller transformed Bayern from also-runs into one of the greatest clubs in the world.
But there will be no celebrations for Der Bomber ahead of their Champions League clash with the Gunners.
The greatest German footballer of all time, and still the greatest European-born goal-scorer in history, suffers from dementia caused by Alzheimer’s.
Since last February he has been confined to a nursing home, barely able to recognise anyone.
A wonderful biography, the first written about the publicity-shy Gerd, was published last month in Germany, days after his illness was made public.
It is a moving testimony as to what Der Bomber means to the club.
Current Bayern striker Thomas Muller penned the preface to ‘Der Bomber Der Nation’ — his full nickname.
Muller wrote: “I learnt so much from him. He taught me how to play as a striker in the area. For example, shooting against the running direction of the goalkeeper or right inside the post, because the goalkeeper can no longer react.
“His game was simple and unfussy.
“The Bomber wanted to put the ball in the net — no matter how. I want nothing else either.”
Arsenal’s arrival in Munich for the big Euro clash will be overshadowed by tributes to Muller.
He netted 535 goals in 585 matches for Bayern and 68 in 62 games for Germany, including the winner in the 1974 World Cup final.
When Lionel Messi scored over 90 goals in a calendar year, it was Gerd’s record of 85 that he broke.
Der Bomber taught Thomas Muller how to ghost in the box and pop up unmarked for countless tap-ins. And he mentored Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and so many others.
Bayern’s legends are shattered by the demise of their beloved Gerd.
Poignantly, the only person he still regularly recognises is his wife of 48 years, Uschi.
The club finally announced Muller’s illness last month — but it has been going on for several years.
Bayern president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “Without his goals FC Bayern and German football would not be what they are today.
“Gerd has a permanent place in the Bayern family.
“As a youth coach he helped shape talents like Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller.”
Der Bomber transformed Bayern from a mid-table side into Germany’s greatest club in a 15-year career spanning the 1960s and 1970s.
He won four Bundesligas, four German Cups, three European Cups, a Cup Winners’ Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.
He holds the all-time goalscoring record of 40 Bundesliga goals in the 1971-2 season. And he helped Germany win Euro 72 and, of course, their second World Cup in 1974.
Paul Breitner also scored in that 1974 World Cup final win over Holland.
The Bayern legend insisted: “Gerd Muller is the most important and greatest footballer that Germany had after 1954.”
Uli Hoeness, Muller’s team-mate for club and country, and later Bayern chairman stood by Der Bomber in the 1980s when he suffered from alcoholism.
Hoeness convinced him to go to rehab and then gave him a job as coach of Bayern’s second team, essentially the youth side.
He said: “It’s awful. In recent years he was still coming relatively regularly to the Sabenerstrasse training ground, and could be treated by the physiotherapist.
“He went to the games with the second team, but then came the dementia.
“Uschi cares dearly about Gerd, and is always by his side — day and night. It is unimaginable what she is going through. I take my hat off to her.”
Former international team-mates and Bayern pals visit Muller regularly in the nursing home. Hoeness, Franz Beckenbauer and Jupp Heynckes all tasted Euro and World Cup glory thanks to Muller’s goals.
Heynckes, who went on to boss Bayern, said: “It’s tragic when you see that such a wonderful human being cannot take care of himself. This disease is the worst thing that can happen to a person.”
Muller led Bayern to their first Bundesliga title in 1968, which was only their second national title — 36 years after the first.
Bayern were branded a ‘Jewish’ club during the Nazi years and suffered enormously in Adolf Hitler’s Germany.
They were stuck in a rut after World War II. But the Bayern legend was born with Muller’s arrival in 1964.
Now the club can boast 25 German titles, plus the small matter of five European Cups, including three in a row between 1974 and 1976.
As you sit to watch Arsenal’s big match on Wednesday just spare a thought for the man who should be at the centre of attention but will instead be in a hospice with not much understanding of the world around him.
Gerd Muller may not remember much but no one will ever forget him.
The last word goes to current Bayern and Germany hitman Thomas Muller.
He wrote: “Bomber, I have so much to thank you for. For the rest of your life I wish you only the best.
“I hope you are still experiencing a lot of nice moments with your wife, your family and your friends — and of course with your club, FC Bayern. If we win, it is always for you.”
— INTERVIEWS taken from Der Bomber Der Nation by Patrick Strasser and Udo Muras with a foreword from Thomas Muller, currently only available in Germany.