독일 축구전설 게르트 뮐러, 알츠하이머 투병중

By KH디지털2

Published : Oct. 7, 2015 - 11:10

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축구 역사상 최강의 스트라이커로 꼽히는 게르 트 뮐러(70·독일)가 알츠하이머를 앓는 것으로 드러났다.

7일(한국시간) AP통신 등 주요 외신에 따르면 독일 프로축구 바이에른 뮌헨은 뮐러가 오랫동안 알츠하이머로 투병해왔으며 올해 2월부터 의료진의 도움을 받으며 생활하고 있다고 밝혔다.

1960∼1970년대를 주름잡은 뮐러는 독일 축구가 낳은 역대 최고의 공격수로 꼽 힌다.

'폭격기'라는 별명으로 불린 그는 뮌헨에서 585경기를 뛰며 무려 533골을 터뜨 렸다. 분데스리가에서만 통산 365골을 넣었는데 이는 아직도 최고 기록으로 남아있 다.

뮌헨에서 분데스리가 우승컵(4회), 독일컵 우승컵(4회), 유러피언컵(3회) 등 들 어올릴 수 있는 트로피는 모두 들어올렸다.

독일 대표팀에서는 1970년 멕시코 월드컵에서 10골로 득점왕에 올랐고 1974년 독일 대회에서는 4골을 추가해 2006년 호나우두(브라질)가 통산 15호골을 터트리기 전까지 32년간 역대 월드컵 최다 득점 기록을 보유했다.

뮐러는 독일 월드컵과 유로(유럽축구선수권) 1972 우승도 경험했다.

최근에는 뮌헨 유소년팀을 맡아 필리프 람, 바스티안 슈바인슈타이거, 토마스 뮐러 등 스타들을 조련했다.

칼-하인츠 루메니게 뮌헨 회장은 "뮐러의 골이 없었다면 뮌헨과 독일 축구는 오 늘같은 영광을 누리지 못했을 것"이라면서 "투병중인 뮐러에게 지원을 아끼지 않겠 다"고 말했다. (연합)

<관련 영문 기사>

Former West Germany great Gerd Mueller has Alzheimer's

Former West Germany and Bayern Munich great Gerd Mueller has Alzheimer's disease.

Bayern said on Tuesday that the 69-year-old Mueller has had the illness for “a long time” and that he has been cared for professionally with the support of his family since the beginning of February this year. His wife Uschi asked for understanding, as there will no official appointments or visits for his 70th birthday on Nov. 3.

Mueller, known as “Der Bomber” for his scoring-prowess, scored 533 goals in 585 games for Bayern between 1964 and 1979, helping the side to four German titles, four German Cup wins and three European Cup victories in that time. His 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga league games remains a record, as does his feat of 40 goals in a single season from 1971-72.

Mueller was as important to Bayern's ascent as former teammates Franz Beckenbauer and Uli Hoeness.

“What Bayern represents today with this palace on Saebener Street,” Beckenbauer said Tuesday referring to the club's training facilities. “Without Gerd Mueller the people would still be in that wooden hut from the time.”

Mueller also helped West Germany win the World Cup in 1974 and European Championship in 1972. Mueller's 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany was a national record only surpassed by Miroslav Klose in 2014. Klose needed 129 appearances to match him.

“Gerd Mueller is one of the greats of world football,” Bayern chairman Karl Heinz Rummenigge said. “Without his goals, Bayern and German football would not be what they are today. Gerd was a striker the like of which we probably won't see again. He remained modest and restrained despite all the success, something that particularly impressed me.”

Rummenigge added: “He was a wonderful team player and a friend. He will always have his place in the Bayern family. After he ended his professional career, he brought his experience to bear as a youth coach and so shaped for example our world champions Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Mueller. We're also grateful to him for that.”

Doctor Hans Foerstl said Mueller had been treated with great respect by Bayern, the fans and media “despite unmistakable signs of his illness” and that it was very important “because it is the wish of anyone with the commencement of Alzheimer's to stay for as long as possible in his familiar environment.” (AFP)

독일 축구전설 게르트 뮐러, 알츠하이머 투병중

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