1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Gerd Müller diagnosed with Alzheimer's

Jonathan HardingOctober 6, 2015

There was some sad news out of Munich on Tuesday, as Bayern Munich revealed that club legend and record German goalscorer Gerd Müller is suffering from an illness.

https://p.dw.com/p/1Gjeb
Bildergalerie Jupp Heynckes Karriere
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Bayern Munich's all-time leading goalscorer and club legend Gerd Müller has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, revealed the club in a statement on Tuesday. Müller, who will turn 70 years old at the start of next month, has had the illness for a long time, according to the club.

Since February of this year, Müller has been under professional care, with the support of his family. The club has requested privacy for Müller and his family during this time.

"Bayern will always support and help Gerd Müller and his family, whenever is necessary," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"Without Gerd Müller's goals, Bayern Munich would not be where they are today," said Franz Beckenbauer on Tuesday. "What Bayern have today, their palace on the Säbener Strasse, that would have stayed a shed without Gerd Müller," added the 70-year-old.

Müller is the Bundesliga's all-time leading goalscorer with 365 goals for Bayern, scoring a remarkable 40 goals in the record-setting 1971/72 season. He also holds the record, one that still stands today, for the most German Cup goals (78). Only Miroslav Klose has more goals for Germany (71 goals) than Gerd Müller (68), who scored the winner in the 1974 World Cup final.