Gerd Mueller, the only special one

When it comes to the world's best strikers, forget everything about Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) and Lionel Messi (Barcelona) or any other striker that comes to mind.

On November 3, a man who is the one and only "special one" when it comes to scoring goals will turn 70. His name: Gerd Mueller. The story of the German who played for Bayern Munich for two decades (1964 - 1979) is as sad as it is unique.

You won't find many spectacular Mueller goals in the internet channels as he was the godfather of simple goals, maybe the striker you could call the "purest" and "most honest" of all. He was hardly ever to be seen flying through the air but he was able to slice open a defense without any opponents having the chance to touch the ball. And maybe Mueller was the only one that nobody could feel jealousy toward.

Only a few weeks ago, the tragic last part of his life story was revealed by his club. Mueller, the man whose goal-scoring record has stood for over 40 years, is suffering Alzheimer's Disease, an incurable illness that wipes out memories.

Just how deep the respect is for Mueller and his lifetime achievements was shown by the fact that his illness was kept as a secret despite many around the club have known about it for years. There were no photos and none of the media mentioned his situation. His club Bayern Munich was silently at his and his family's side looking after the necessary treatment.

Since February, Mueller has been living in a special clinic. There will be no celebrations this Tuesday, his birthday. And his family and Bayern Munich hope together with all fans that Mueller is left in peace and quiet.

"Gerd was the most important player in Bayern's history. Without him we would still be getting changed in that wooden hut we used to in the beginning," said German football legend Franz Beckenbauer.

Looking back as far as 1972, it was the year when Mueller scored 85 goals in the season's 60 games, an average of 1.42 goals per game. It took 40 years for the record to be broken when in 2012, an Argentine regarded as not less genius as Mueller went one better. His name: Lionel Messi (Barcelona). His scoring record: 91 goals in 69 games (an average of 1.32 goals).

"Outside the box he was a peaceful lamb but inside a ravenous wolf," said one of the defenders that he faced with deep respect.

It took two years longer for Mueller goal-scoring exploits for the national team to be beaten. From 1972, no German striker could get near Mueller who scored 68 goals in 62 internationals. It was on June 6, 2014 that Miroslav Klose scored his 69th goal for Germany to break the record. Klose though needed 132 games.

Talking to the man who scored the winning goal in Germany's 2-1 win in the 1974 World Cup final against the Netherlands some years ago, when Mueller was still the Mueller all know, was like watching a TV replay of a certain game. He stood up, pushed away some chairs and scored his goals again, turning around like only he could with a proud smile on his face. One of his messages of the trained weaver was: "The easy goals count the same as the others. But they are normally the most important ones."

He scored 553 goals in 585 games in all competitions. And some say, he could even get the ball into the net with his left ear as Mueller used every part of the body that is allowed to be used in football.

To put things straight, Mueller was not a brilliant dribbler. He was the man with a unique instinct and who could turn on a sixpence. He was the hero of generations, all around the world.

For years, the silent and cautious man was a part of several Bayern Munich trips around the world, with great success. Tens of thousands of people in India and other countries honored the, at the time, 65-year-old by standing for minutes on end applauding him. Mueller with tears in his eyes started to run around the pitch.

The successful time in football was maybe the happiest time of his life, but a terrible illness was waiting. On the pitch, Mueller was a threat to every opponent, in real life he himself needed protection and help.

The four-time German league champion and four-time German cup winner, three-time Champions League winner, four-time top-scorer in the Champions League and two-time top scorer in Europe lost his life balance after he went to the USA to play for Fort Lauderdale. Off the pitch he started a career as an owner of a steakhouse, but felt uncomfortable being the prominent owner everyone wanted to talk to and take photos with.

He also had difficulties learning the new language. To be an entertainer was not Mueller's world and alcohol gradually took a hold of his life after he returned to Germany in 1984. His way to express himself was to score goals and try to live a peaceful life in the middle of an unreal football world.

Again Bayern Munich became his life-saving family. Former Bayern president Uli Hoeness convinced Mueller to start a rehabilitation course. Mueller was in such a bad state that he had to fight for his life. Again the son of working class parents showed his will for life. For many days, Muller was put in an artificial coma.

After Mueller had won his battle, Bayern employed him as an assistant coach for several teams. The club headquarters was his new nest, giving him support for his last years.

The man, who, due to his stature (1.76cm with strong musclar legs), was was once called "Kleines, dickes Mueller" (little fat Mueller) by a coach, was again part of daily football life in Munich, and supported by his wife and a club whose strong fundament he had helped to build.

In 1979, he scored his last goal for Bayern Munich (1455 goals in 1204 including friendlies). Now, on his 70th birthday, millions of fans around the world hope with a heavy heart that their all-time hero Gerd Mueller has not forgotten all of them. Endi