Sigi's tips: Gerd Müller, my hero

Sigi Heinrich

No, this is not a good day. Nobody for a thoughtful post about Corona or a gloss to make you smile about... Yes, about what actually?

We've lost our laughter. After all the attacks with many deaths in Germany, France and now also in Vienna. Tsunami in the Aegean, hurricanes in Asia. The world holds its breath. The only good thing at the moment is the fact that US President Donald Trump, who is still in office, no longer has time to broadcast his lies to the world via Twitter due to his election campaign appearances. But that's not much consolation either. It's just one of those days that could get out of hand if you're not careful. Because it is a day that shows football fans, and not just them, what life means. And for once it's not about the narcissistic actions of Ronaldo or Ibrahimovic, it's not about David Alaba's contract negotiations with FC Bayern Munich or about Niklas Süle, who tested positive for Corona. It's about the “bomber of the nation.” And everyone who reads these three words immediately knows: Gerd Müller. I grew up with him. When he scored the winning goal in the 1974 World Cup final, I was standing in the doorway at home. I jumped so high for joy that I hit my head. It was probably a personal record combined with a bump. I have to smile a little bit at all these memories. I hope that's allowed, because of course I also know what Gerd Müller's situation is now. He has his wife Uschi Bild-Zeitung tells us that he is approaching his end and that life, if it still exists, is no longer within his grasp. His once strong thighs are as thin as a pretzel stick. He is now 75 years old , the hero of my youth. Inimitable in his style of play This miller gave us so much joy. He made us feel happy because no matter where the game was played: on a field in the provinces or on the finest grass at a World Cup: there was almost always a “Müller goal” and usually it was an important one. Often the only one in the match. Even if you sometimes had the impression that he wasn't even there. Similar to his current name colleague Thomas at FC Bayern. Müller was like a sphinx. Double-double-one-two with Franz Beckenbauer. He didn't run much. Usually less than five kilometers in the game. Today's extremely modern coaches, who stand on the sidelines in expensive designer jackets, would never have set it up. Defensive behavior nil. It wasn't important back then. Fortunately. And he jumped up so nicely after his hits. His arms stretched upwards as if he wanted to touch the sky. I don't know if he ever scored a goal from twenty meters. But he was able to spin around his own axis at a breathtaking speed the size of a napkin and the ball, which was still the ball back then, stayed on his foot and landed – of course in the goal. Fight against alcohol He always remained down to earth. “I don’t need three bedrooms when I can only sleep in one bed anyway,” he once said. He was modest, and also grateful to FC Bayern, who hired him as a goalkeeper coach after his unsuccessful trip to the USA, where he became addicted to alcohol. Somehow logical. The goalscorer becomes the goalkeeping coach. He knew how to outwit goalkeepers. Or did he not know at all? It was probably just instinct. He hasn't touched a drop of alcohol since 1991, following a withdrawal treatment. It was probably his greatest victory. Later, as a sports reporter, I sometimes stood at the training ground at FC Bayern every day and was able to observe how much appreciation Müller was shown. Respect and actually infinite gratitude. Uli Hoeneß has always made sure of this, because this is a wonderful side of FC Bayern Munich that cannot be valued highly enough. People have never forgotten the “formers” who helped establish today’s fame. Gerd Müller was one of the most important midwives of the great FC Bayern, which is now a world club. “Without him we would still be changing in a wooden hut today,” Franz Beckenbauer, his companion, once said. Now FC Bayern even has its own stadium. A goal for eternity “We're going to watch a little TV today,” said Uschi Müller, who has been driving to Gerd's every day for five years to be there. For him. Without knowing whether the “scorer of the nation” can still achieve all of this. “Sometimes,” Uschi Müller said, “sometimes he still opens his eyes.” I close them briefly and see the final in the 1974 Olympic Stadium in front of me. Like a film on a screen. Gerd Müller has his back to the goal and has the ball at his feet. Hopeless position. Short turn. The ball is in. And there he stays. Forever.

	SP	TV	P
1. Bayer Leverkusen	31	77:22	81
2. Bayern Munich	31	89:38	69
3. VfB Stuttgart	31	70:38	64
4. RB Leipzig	31	73:35	62
5. Bor. Dortmund	31	59:39	57
6. Eintracht Frankfurt	31	47:42	45
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	SP	TV	P
1. FC St Pauli	31	57:33	63
2. Holstein Kiel	31	61:37	61
3. Fortuna Dusseldorf	31	65:36	56
4. Hamburger SV	31	59:42	52
5. Karlsruhe SC	31	62:45	49
6. Hannover 96	31	53:39	46
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Sigi's tips: Gerd Müller, my hero

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