Sepp Maier
Josef Dieter Maier entered the world on the 28th of February 1944 in the small Bavarian town of Metten. He began his journey with Bayern Munich's youth sides in 1958 at the age of fourteen. This early start laid the foundation for a career that would span seventeen seasons and 709 matches. His time in the youth system was just the beginning of a long association with one club.
During the 1970s, Maier formed part of a legendary Bayern team featuring Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller. The squad secured four West German league titles and three consecutive European Cups between 1974 and 1976. They defeated Atlético Madrid, Leeds United, and AS Saint-Étienne to claim these continental honors. A single goal was conceded across five games in those four European finals. This era marked the peak of his club dominance alongside his teammates.
Maier served as the starter for West Germany from 1966 through 1979, earning 95 caps in total. He reached the pinnacle of his international career during the 1974 FIFA World Cup held on home soil. The hosts defeated a Johan Cruyff-led Netherlands team 2, 1 in the final match played in Munich. Earlier tournaments included a fourth-place finish in Mexico in 1970 and a runner-up spot at the 1976 European Championship where he faced a Panenka penalty kick.
On the 14th of July 1979, Maier suffered serious injuries in a self-inflicted traffic accident while aquaplaning out of his lane. He collided with an oncoming car causing minor injuries to two women but severe harm to himself. Medical staff initially missed a ruptured lung and a displaced liver until X-rays revealed two and a half liters of blood in his abdominal cavity. Emergency surgery at Großhadern hospital saved his life but forced him to miss the entire 1979, 80 season before retiring.
Fans nicknamed him Die Katze von Anzing due to his fast reflexes and agility on the pitch. He was the first goalkeeper to wear oversized Mickey Mouse gloves that became standard for the position. His personality shone through humorous antics like attempting to catch a duck during a match at the Olympiastadion. He also wore overlong shorts which became part of his iconic visual identity throughout his career.
Maier transitioned into coaching after retirement and mentored future star Oliver Kahn as head goalkeeping coach. His contract with the national side ended in October 2004 following a dispute between manager Jürgen Klinsmann and himself regarding Jens Lehmann. He continued working as head goalkeeping coach for Bayern Munich until he retired from all duties in 2008. The Bavarian government honored him with the Life Achievement Award in June 2009.
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Common questions
When and where was Josef Dieter Maier born?
Josef Dieter Maier entered the world on the 28th of February 1944 in the small Bavarian town of Metten. He began his journey with Bayern Munich's youth sides in 1958 at the age of fourteen.
How many European Cups did Sepp Maier win with Bayern Munich between 1974 and 1976?
Bayern Munich secured three consecutive European Cups between 1974 and 1976 under Maier leadership. The squad defeated Atlético Madrid, Leeds United, and AS Saint-Étienne to claim these continental honors while conceding a single goal across five games.
What happened to Sepp Maier during the traffic accident on the 14th of July 1979?
Maier suffered serious injuries in a self-inflicted traffic accident while aquaplaning out of his lane and colliding with an oncoming car. Medical staff initially missed a ruptured lung and a displaced liver until X-rays revealed two and a half liters of blood in his abdominal cavity before emergency surgery saved his life.
Why was Sepp Maier nicknamed Die Katze von Anzing by fans?
Fans nicknamed him Die Katze von Anzing due to his fast reflexes and agility on the pitch. He also became known for humorous antics like attempting to catch a duck during a match at the Olympiastadion and wearing overlong shorts as part of his iconic visual identity.
When did Sepp Maier retire from all coaching duties after working with Bayern Munich and West Germany?
His contract with the national side ended in October 2004 following a dispute between manager Jürgen Klinsmann and himself regarding Jens Lehmann. He continued working as head goalkeeping coach for Bayern Munich until he retired from all duties in 2008.