Editing Gerd Müller (section)

==Player profile==
===Style of play===
[[File:Afscheidswedstrijd Johan Cruijff , Ajax tegen Bayern Munchen 0-8 Cruijff met Ge, Bestanddeelnr 929-9830.jpg|thumb|Müller, [[Ruud Krol]] and [[Johan Cruyff]] in 1978]]
In his book, ''[[Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football]]'', author [[David Winner (author)|David Winner]] writes, "Müller was short, squat, awkward-looking and not notably fast; he never fitted the conventional idea of a great footballer, but he had lethal acceleration over short distances, a remarkable aerial game, and uncanny goalscoring instincts. His short legs gave him a low center of gravity, so he could turn quickly and with perfect balance in spaces and at speeds that would cause other players to fall over. He also had a knack of scoring in unlikely situations."<ref name="Schaaf 2012">{{cite web | last=Schaaf | first=Susie | title=The Reason | website=ESPN.com | date=10 December 2012 | url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/blog/name/93/post/1848917/headline | access-date=15 August 2021 | archive-date=15 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815134526/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/blog/name/93/post/1848917/headline | url-status=live }}</ref>

Müller used extreme acceleration, agility, and deceptive changes of pace to get to loose balls first, and bypass defenders.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hallofchampions.com/PlayersBios.htm | title = PlayersBios | publisher = hallofchampions.com | access-date = 2 October 2013 | archive-date = 4 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110704080628/http://www.hallofchampions.com/PlayersBios.htm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Der Bomber turns 75">{{cite web |url=https://inside.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1970mexico/news/der-bomber-turns-75 |title=Der Bomber turns 75 |publisher=FIFA.com |date=3 November 2020 |access-date=24 June 2024 }}</ref> His teammate [[Franz Beckenbauer]] has emphasized Müller's unusual speed: "His pace was incredible. In training I have played against him and I never had a chance."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://de.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/memories/newsid=1782304.html |title=Beckenbauer schwelgt in Erinnerungen |trans-title=Beckenbauer revels in memories |work=[[UEFA]] |access-date=20 February 2020 |quote=...seine Schnelligkeit war unglaublich. Im Training habe ich gegen ihn gespielt und ich hatte nie eine Chance. Wir kannten seine Bewegungsabläufe, konnten ihn aber trotzdem nicht stoppen – so schnell war er. |archive-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604153702/http://de.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/memories/newsid=1782304.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A prolific goalscorer, Müller was also known for his movement, coordination, intelligence, and clinical finishing inside the penalty area.<ref name="Der Bomber turns 75"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://inside.fifa.com/about-fifa/organisation/news/a-tribute-to-gerd-muller |title=A tribute to Gerd Muller |publisher=FIFA.com |date=15 August 2021 |access-date=24 June 2024 }}</ref><ref name="30 greatest strikers">{{cite web |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/greatest-strikers-of-all-time-ranked |title=The 30 greatest strikers of all time |publisher=90min.com |date=25 May 2021 |access-date=24 June 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/faq/all-you-need-to-know-about-soccer/from-gerd-muller-to-robert-lewandowski-the-best-bundesliga-strikers-of-all-time-10563 |title=From Gerd Müller to Robert Lewandowski: the best Bundesliga strikers of all time |publisher=bundesliga.com |language=en |access-date=24 June 2024 }}</ref> He had the ability to score goals from awkward positions with almost any part of his body, not only with his head or either foot.<ref name="Der Bomber turns 75"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/gerd-mueller-bayern-munich-greatest-striker-ever/a-58871348 |title=Gerd Müller: 'The greatest striker there has ever been' – DW – 08/16/2021 |publisher=dw.com |last1=Ford |first1=Matt |language=en |date=16 August 2021 |access-date=24 June 2024 }}</ref>

===Legacy===
Müller is widely considered to be one of the greatest strikers and goalscorers in the history of football. He is seen as the  greatest "[[Association football positions#Goal poacher|goal poacher]]" in history,<ref name="30 greatest strikers"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sahu |first=Amogha |date=11 August 2011 |title=World Football Power Rankings: Ranking the 3 Best Poachers of All Time |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/758702-world-football-power-rankingsranking-the-3-best-poachers-of-all-time |access-date=22 January 2024 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 August 2021 |title=GERD MULLER - THE GAME'S GREATEST POACHER AND THE BUILDER OF BAYERN |url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/gerd-muller-the-game-s-greatest-poacher-and-the-builder-of-bayern_sto8491951/story.shtml |access-date=22 January 2024 |website=www.eurosport.com}}</ref> with [[Gary Lineker]] calling him "the ultimate goal poacher".<ref>{{cite tweet|user=GaryLineker|number=1426961094027927560|title=The ultimate goal poacher}} {{user-generated source|date=March 2024}}</ref> He is one of only two players, alongside [[Lionel Messi]], to have won the [[FIFA World Cup]], the [[UEFA Champions League]], the [[Ballon d'Or]] and the [[European Golden Shoe]].<ref>{{cite tweet|user=BarcaWorldwide|number=1607335688000929792|title=nly two (2) Players have won the World Cup, Champions League, Ballon d'Or and Golden Boot}} {{user-generated source|date=March 2024}}</ref> After his death in 2021, [[FC Bayern Munich]] president [[Herbert Hainer]] declared that Müller was "the greatest striker there's ever been", while [[Franz Beckenbauer]] stated that Müller was "the most important player in the history of Bayern Munich".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ford |first=Matt |date=16 August 2021 |title=Gerd Müller: 'The greatest striker there has ever been'|url=https://www.dw.com/en/gerd-mueller-bayern-munich-greatest-striker-ever/a-58871348 |access-date=22 January 2024 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>