Bayern Munich and former West Germany great Gerd Muller dies
Munich, Aug 15: Gerd Muller, the Bayern Munich and former West Germany forward known as "Der Bomber" for his scoring-prowess, has died.
He was 75.
The Bavarian club announced his death on Sunday, with club president Herbert Hainer saying it was "a sad, dark day for FC Bayern and all its fans."
Muller scored 566 goals for Bayern between 1964 and 1979, helping the team to four German titles, four German Cup wins and three European Cup victories in that time.
He still holds the record for the most goals scored in the Bundesliga with 365, scored in 427 league games.
"Gerd Muller was the greatest striker there's ever been, and a fine person and character of world football," Hainer said in a statement posted on the club's website.
"We're all united in deep mourning with his wife Uschi as well as his family."
Bayern announced in October 2015 that Muller had Alzheimer's disease for "a long time" and that he had been cared for professionally with the support of his family since the beginning of February that year.
Muller made 607 competitive appearances for Bayern. He was the league's top-scorer on seven occasions. He was as important to Bayern's ascent to becoming Germany's powerhouse as former teammates Franz Beckenbauer and Uli Hoene .
Muller's record of 40 goals scored in the 1971-72 Bundesliga season was only beaten last season, when current Bayern forward Robert Lewandowski scored his 41st in the last minute of the last game.
Muller also helped West Germany win the European Championship in 1972, then the World Cup two years later, when he scored the winning goal in the final against the Netherlands.
Altogether he scored 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany. It was a national record only surpassed in 2014 by Miroslav Klose, who needed 129 appearances to match him.
"He was the best German forward of all time. Without him, FC Bayern and the German team would never have been able to take this successful path," Bavarian state president Markus S der said.
"I myself was a big fan. All of Bavaria is mourning."
The chief executive of Bayern rival Borussia Dortmund also paid his respect.
"Gerd Muller was one of the biggest idols of my childhood and youth," Hans-Joachim Watzke said.
"I had the great honor to get to know him personally as a very humble and pleasant person. He was an outstanding player for whom FC Bayern and the German soccer team owe so much."
Muller became a youth coach at Bayern after his playing days, working with players such as Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller.
"His achievements are unrivaled to this day and will forever be a part of the great history of FC Bayern and all of German football," Bayern chairman Oliver Kahn added in the club statement.
"As a player and a person, Gerd Muller stands for FC Bayern and its development into one of the biggest clubs in the world like no other. Gerd will forever be in our hearts."
FC Bayern are mourning the passing of Gerd Müller.
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) August 15, 2021
The FC Bayern world is standing still today. The club and all its fans are mourning the death of Gerd Müller, who passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 75.
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Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao criticizes BJP for insulting Col Sofiya Qureshi
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Mangaluru: Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao, commenting on Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah for his recent controversial statement on Col Sofiya Qureshi, said that the BJP was stooping to very low moral levels by insulting officers of the Indian Army.
Addressing reports at the Circuit House on Friday, Rao pointed out that the Madhya Pradesh High Court, expressing distrust in the state government regarding filing an FIR against Shah, had stated that it would take charge of the matter.
Stating that the BJP only focuses on communalizing the matter, with many party workers also insulting the Foreign Secretary’s daughter, the minister challenged the BJP workers to troll Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had decided on calling a ceasefire with Pakistan. The power to take the decision lies with the PM, Rao said, and also asked people to understand matters clearly rather than politicizing them.
He further criticized the PM’s silence regarding Pakistan’s fake news that it had destroyed Indian jets although all of India had unitedly stood by the Central government as it went ahead to fight against the Pahalgam terrorists.
The minister stated that people had been seeking explanations for the declaration of the ceasefire by US President Donald Trump. Opining that PM Modi greatly feared the US President, he added that while the PM criticizes Turkey boldly, he also prefers silence on China supplying weapons to Pakistan.
Rao said that the PM should call an all-party meeting and answer questions. He pointed out that the Congress leaders had demanded a special Parliamentary session to discuss the Pahalgam issue.
In response to a question on President Trump asking Apple to stop expanding production in India, the minister expressed optimism regarding the PM.
