Gerd Muller, widely regarded as one of football's greatest goalscorers has died at the age of 75, his former club Bayern Munich said on Sunday.
Mueller scored 68 goals in 62 international matches for West Germany, winning the World Cup in 1974, and is third in the all-time list of most goals in the competition with 14 goals behind Ronaldo (15) and Miroslav Klose (16).
He also won the European championship in 1972.
Bayern did not give details of about Muller's death but CEO Oliver Kahn said that the news affected them deeply.
Having joined Bayern in 1964, Mueller who was good in the air and quick on his feet, pumped in 566 goals in 607 competitive games for the club.
He also set a record of 365 goals in the Bundesliga in a trophy-laden career that included four league titles and three European Cups with Bayern.
"Today is a sad, black day for Bayern and all of its fans. Gerd Muller was the greatest striker there has ever been and a fine person, a personality in world football," Bayern president Herbert Hainer said in a statement.
"We're united in deep sorrow with his wife Uschi and his family. Without Gerd Muller, Bayern would not be the club we all love today. His name and the memory of him will live on forever."
FC Bayern are mourning the passing of Gerd Müller.
— FC Bayern (@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.