Bayern Munich have announced the sad passing of goalscoring legend Gerd Muller, aged 75.

In a post on social media, the German club said: “Today the world of FC Bayern stands still. The German record champions and his entire fan base mourn Gerd Müller, who died early on Sunday morning at the age of 75.”

Muller is widely recognised as one of the greatest strikers in history thanks to his prolific record both with Bayern and the German national team. 

In total, he scored 68 times for the national side, in just 62 matches helping them to the European Championship in 1972 and the World Cup two years later.

But it was at Bayern where his reputation was built as one of the most fearsome forwards in world football.

After signing in 1964, the man affectionately known as “Der Bomber” plundered a remarkable 566 goals in 607 competitive games for the club.

During his time at Bayern, he won four Bundesliga titles, three European Cups and a European Cup Winners’ Cup medal.

He was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 1970 after scoring a quite ridiculous 10 goals during the 1970 World Cup in Brazil.

His 14 strikes during World Cups was a record that stretched all the way from 1974 to 2006, before Brazilian striker Ronaldo bettered the tally, only for it to return to Germany through Miroslav Klose in 2014.

Following the news of his passing, Bayern president Herbert Hainer said: “Today is a sad, black day for FC Bayern and all of its fans. 

“Gerd Müller was the greatest striker there has ever been – and a fine person, a personality in world football. We are united in deep sorrow with his wife Uschi and his family.

photo credit: Getty images