Top facts about Sepp Maier, the cat from Anzing

Josef Dieter "Sepp" Maier (born February 28, 1944) is a former German football goalkeeper who represented

and the German national team.

He was known as "Die Katze von Anzing" ("the cat from Anzing") for his quick reflexes, agility, flexibility, speed, and consistency.

Sepp Maier’s age

is 77. Here you can find out the most important facts about Sepp Maier, the legendary former player.

In addition to his shot-stopping ability, Maier was known for his ability to dominate his box, as well as his sense of humour and personality throughout his career, which made him a fan favorite. "A keeper should give off a feeling of serenity, and not fall asleep while doing so," he once said of his playing style.

The goalkeeper described his recipe for success in Bavarian, “If you get on the ball correctly, you don't need to fly.” In addition, he earned a reputation as a joker with numerous comical interludes, including a scene when he was diving for a duck during a game.

The first fact about Sepp Maier is that he was one of the first goalkeepers who experimented with soft foam and rubber materials on goalkeeper gloves when they were active. Together with the sporting goods manufacturer Reusch, he was involved in the development of the first so-called soft-grip goalkeeper gloves.

Maier is also known for his rather unusual training methods. Some exercise equipment is sold under his name. In the early 1980s he was the face of the Heide-Park advertising.

Top facts about Sepp Maier:

What has not changed at all is Sepp Maier's reputation as a joker, “I have a very positive attitude towards life, happiness, and humor are the most important things to me. I soon manage to rid myself of anger,” he once said.

Sepp Maier is officially appointed as the ambassador for the German José Carreras Leukemia Foundation. He had a supporting role in the film adaptation of Ludwig Thomas Lausbubengeschichten in 1967 in the episode When Ludwig moves into maneuvers.

Sepp Maier early life

In February 1944, Sepp Maier was born in the little Bavarian village of Metten. Speaking about

Sepp Maier’s childhood

, it should be mentioned that growing up in a postwar Germany ravaged by fighting and then ripped apart by allied factions vying for supremacy would have been a traumatic experience. There is no information available regarding

Sepp Maier’s parents

.

However, the young Maier found consolation in football, and his enthusiasm for the game would pay off handsomely. He joined local sports club TSV Haar at the age of eight, where his talent was cultivated to the point that he was signed by Bayern Munich in 1959.

Sepp Maier personal life

Maier was known for his overlong shorts and for being the first goalie to wear the now-standard, outsized "Mickey Mouse" gloves, as well as his wit. He is renowned for a game at the Olympiastadion during which he felt bored since the other team had yet to threaten his goal. Maier tried to grab a duck that had drifted onto the field.

Maier received the Life Achievement Award from the Bavarian government in June 2009.

Sepp Maier professional career

Sepp Maier first stood between the sticks for Bayern in 1958. He completed a total of 473 Bundesliga appearances for the Bayern Munich club, including a run of 422 in a row, which is quite a noticeable record.

Twenty-four goalkeepers have represented Bayern since their promotion to the Bundesliga in 1965. Sepp Maier was the first.

His performances were recognized with a number of honors: he was German Footballer of the year three times (1975, 1977, 1978), awarded the national service medal in 1978, and recognized as Germany's Keeper of the century.

Maier once said, “We were such a strong team, perhaps the best Bayern side ever - why would I have wanted to move on? And we Bavarians are very firmly rooted, it's not easy to replant us elsewhere.”

Sepp Maier club career

Maier, who was born in the Bavarian town of Metten, spent his whole professional career with Bayern Munich. In 1958, he started playing for Bayern's youth teams.

During the 1970s, he was a member of the great Bayern Munich club, which won four West German league championships, three German cups, and three straight European Cups (1974 beating

, 1975 defeating

, and 1976 defeating AS Saint-Étienne).

In 1967, he had already experienced European triumph when Bayern Munich won the European Cup Winners Cup, beating Rangers F.C. in extra time in the final. Maier conceded a total of one goal in the five games in the four European championships, with the 1974 title won in a replay.

In 1975, 1977, and 1978, Maier was named German Footballer of the Year. He played in 442 straight Bundesliga games between 1966 and 1979, which is still a German national record.

Sepp Maier international career

An important

fact about Sepp Maier

is that he was a member of the West German team for four World Cups in a row. He was Hans Tilkowski's non-playing deputy in England in 1966.

He was the unquestioned starter at the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, appearing in everything except the third-place match (including the epic 3–4 semifinal defeat to Italy after extra time).

A notable fact about Sepp Maier is that he achieved the pinnacle of his international career at the 1974 FIFA World Cup on home soil, when the Germans went all the way to the final with a famous squad that included the likes of Franz Beckenbauer, Berti Vogts, Gerd Müller, and Paul Breitner.

The biggest victory came in the final, when the hosts beat a

-led Netherlands squad 2–1 in Maier's hometown of Munich.

Four years later, somewhat beyond his prime but still fearsome, Maier put up a good performance at the World Cup in Argentina, but his team failed to proceed past the second round.

An important fact about Sepp Maier is that he also helped West Germany win the European Championship in 1972 and reach the final in 1976, when they were defeated by Czechoslovakia on penalty kicks. He was the victim of the initial Panenka penalty on this occasion. He has a total of 95 caps for his nation.

A notable

fact about Sepp Maier

is that he was included to four World Cup teams in a row, albeit his inclusion in 1966 was purely as a back-up to established starter Hans Tilkowski.

The place between the sticks was securely in Maier's gloved hands by the time the following tournament got around. Many experts believe that the German team that traveled to Mexico and finally lost to Italy in the Partido de Siglio (Game of the Century), as described on a plaque outside the Azteca stadium, was better than the one that won on home soil four years later.

In South America, the Germans had a frenetic style of play that resulted in a lot of goals, but it also left a lot of spaces at the back. A total of 16 goals were scored in five games, while 10 were allowed at the back. While the Germans returned with pride and Müller was named the tournament's best scorer, it was time for a rethink in preparation for 1974.

There was a European Championship to contend with first. The tournament, which took place in Belgium, was quite different from the jamborees of today, with just four teams competing in semi-finals and a final to determine the victor.

West Germany overcame the hosts 2-1 in the semifinals before defeating a lackluster Soviet Union team 3-0 in the final. Maier had won his first ever international medal.

In contrast to the team that had scored so many goals in Mexico four years before, the German team that competed in the 1974 World Cup had a far more pragmatic approach.

In 1974, the strike rate was slashed from more than three per game in the previous tournament to just under two, but the goals against column demonstrated the value of a more balanced squad. In Mexico, the two goals per game allowed were decreased to less than one. It was the deciding factor.

The solitary goal surrendered in the first group matches came against East Germany. It was a far from ordinary match, with East Germany's victory a hiccup amid a beautiful summer, and it went beyond basic playing skill for both brotherly and political reasons.

The infamous setback put West Germany into a more favorable second group section, allowing them to advance to the final with relative ease, defeating Johan Cruyff and the Dutch Totaalvoetbal. The trophy was raised by Franz Beckenbauer, and Maier was awarded a World Cup winner's medal to go along with the European Championship medal he had won two years before.

The European Championship was held in Yugoslavia in 1976, and there were just four teams this time. The Germans trounced the hosts, like they had done in Belgium, to go to their second consecutive final, where they would face the tournament's surprise team, Czechoslovakia, who had upset the

3-1.

The Germans trailed twice in the game until Bernd Hölzenbein's goal in the last minutes leveled the score. The event would be decided by a penalty shootout. It was here that Antonn Panenka introduced the world to his clipped penalty, which became the tournament's defining moment.

While Maier took a chance on a save by diving to one side, a cool chip down the center earned the player immediate renown and delivered the trophy to Prague. Maier was the unwitting accomplice in one of football's most iconic pictures.

The reigning World Cup winners, West Germany, crossed the Atlantic to Argentina in 1978. Maier was still the first-choice goalkeeper at 34, and despite the advantage goalkeepers had over outfield players in terms of lifespan, it was inevitable that his remarkable abilities would decrease.

An important fact about Sepp Maier is that he was nevertheless preferred above Hamburg's Rudolf Kargus and Werder Bremen's Dieter Burdenski. Few people questioned his decision.

Maier defied his age and expectations of oncoming decline by playing the whole first group stage without surrendering a goal. In the second stage, things would be different.

The Germans played their old adversaries, the Dutch, who had driven midfielder Arie Haan into a defensive position in the 1970 tournament after another clean sheet in a goalless draw against

. He revealed the first chinks in Maier's otherwise formidable armour.

Maier suddenly seemed fragile after firing a long-range shot past the German goalie to tie the game and send the first goal into the German net so far in the tournament.

The game finished in a tie after a second goal was conceded.

ran roughshod over their neighbors in the final, beating Germany 3-2 and ending the tournament's interest in the former winners.

Perhaps the great man was on his way out, with some suggesting that a fresh goalie be tried. The discussion came to an end in the most heinous of ways. Maier was forced to retire from baseball after suffering severe injuries in a vehicle accident in 1979.

A notable

fact about Sepp Maier

is that he has appeared in 536 league games for Bayern Munich, with only one game remaining in all competitions.

Since the start of the 1966 season, he has not missed a single league match for his side. He made 95 appearances for Germany, was named German Footballer of the Year three times (1975, 1977, 1978), received the national service medal in 1978, and was named Germany's Goalkeeper of the Century.

Sepp Maier coaching career

An important fact about Sepp Maier is that he became a club and national team coach, and he coached

.

Manager

terminated his contract with the national team in October 2004 when Maier came out in favor of Kahn over Arsenal's Jens Lehmann in a debate over who should be the team's first-choice goalkeeper. He stayed on as Bayern's chief goalkeeping coach until 2008, when he retired.

Sepp Maier awards

As the goalkeeper of the German national soccer team, which won the World Cup in 1974, he and his teammates were awarded the Silver Laurel Leaf in the same year. In 1978 he received the Federal Cross of Merit.

A notable fact about Sepp Maier is that he received the award for kicker goalkeeper of the year in 1976, 1977 and 1978. Between 1966 and 1979 he was classified as world class six times and 21 times in the international class category in German football.

Sepp Maier legacy

West German football was the dominating force in the game throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. Bayern Munich delivered three consecutive European Cups to Bavaria from 1974 and 1976, in addition to winning the World Cup in their hometown in 1974.

While other players are more well-known –

and Gerd Müller come to mind – few would have been more easily visible than Josef-Dieter Maier, better known as Sepp Maier; owner of huge gloves, long shorts, and a goalkeeper's hat brimming with medals.

The great custodian is often praised for his innovative approach to the duty of the contemporary man between the sticks, as well as his agility.

It's for this reason that he's known as Die Katze von Anzing - The Cat from Anzig. Despite this, it was Maier's apparently huge gloves and long shorts that made him one of the most recognizable players on the earth to the many millions of football fans across the world.

Sepp Maier was considerably more than a maybe problematic choice of dress, as his nom de guerre indicates. He was not only one of the best goalkeepers of his period, but he was also an integral part of the club and national teams that dominated football in the 1970s.

It was the start of a long-lasting association with the club. After an 18-year playing career, he went on to teach for another 14 years while looking for his replacement. He excelled at it, developing and teaching Oliver Kahn, who would go on to spend 14 years with Die Bayern.

At the international level, his devotion to his protégé lost him his job as a national team coach. Following Euro 2004, he had a falling out with then-manager Jürgen Klinsmann, who decided to start Jens Lehmann over the Bayern goalkeeper.

Klinsmann should have paid more attention to Maier's more qualified advice, given that he has 95 caps and a slew of honors with Die Mannschaft to his name. However, he did not do so, and the two parted ways.

Maier began his career with Bayern's youth squad and quickly rose through the levels, earning international fame. He played 11 games for West Germany's youth squad from 1961 to 1962, and four times for the national amateur team the following year. The goalie, now in his late teens, had larger things ahead of him.

By 1962, he was a regular in Bayern's first team and had staked a claim to the club's number one shirt, which he held until 1979, when he was killed in a vehicle accident at the age of 35.

There would have been many more games remaining in Maier's career if the accident had not happened, since several goalkeepers of his period, such as

, played beyond the age of 40. Between those dates, though, he would go on to become one of German football's most illustrious characters.

Unsurprisingly, Maier's peak years coincided with Bayern Munich's and West Germany's most successful seasons. It was an ascension for his club that began in his early years, as the club flourished in the decade between 1965 and 1975. Bayern's victories in the DFB-Pokal in 1966 and 1967 marked the start of a decade of domination.

The first of these victories led to a European adventure and a run in the Cup Winners' Cup, which culminated in an extra-time triumph against Glasgow Rangers. Maier's first European triumph would not be his last. In the 1968/69 season, the team won both the league and the DFB-Pokal, followed by another cup victory the following year.

By this time, the league had become Bayern's preferred competition, and they had won three championships in a row starting in 1972, cementing their status as one of the Bundesliga's all-time greats.

In front of him, Franz Beckenbauer was strutting his stuff in a libero position he would revolutionize, well aided by the sturdy Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck and Paul Breitner. Uli Hoeneß and Gerd Müller shredded opposing defenses as they advanced. Despite having a lot of skill, Maier's stats during the time period stand out.

Bayern Munich surrendered just 38 goals in 34 games in the first of three consecutive championship seasons. Only Schalke, who finished second, had a higher total of 35.

It's worth mentioning that the Bavarian club's concentration on playing forward in that season resulted in them scoring 33% more goals than

. Bayern's goal differential was 63, a whopping 23 points greater than their opponents.

With Maier in goal the next season, the defense would be even stingier. As Maier patrolled his box, opposition forwards were often kept out.

His defense was only penetrated 29 times in a season of 34 games. Despite scoring less than a goal per game, the club nevertheless managed to score 93 times. It was an outstanding performance that would be repeated the following semester.

In Europe, the strong results at home were mirrored. In 1974, Bayern won their first European Cup with Maier in goal.

After a difficult start in the first round, when only a penalty shoot-out secured victory against Swedish part-timers tvidaberg, East Germany's Dynamo Dresden was defeated 7-6 on aggregate before things picked up against Bulgaria's CSKA. Maier's clean sheet in the home leg sealed a 4-1 aggregate triumph against jpesti Dózsa in the semi-final.

The final versus Atlético Madrid was held at Brussels' Heysel Stadium, with the first game concluding in a 1-1 tie. Both goalkeepers had held clean sheets into extra time, but when both surrendered late, their legs and minds were ragged around the edges.

There were no penalty shootouts in those days to determine the final, therefore a rematch was scheduled for two days later. While Maier once again stopped any goals from being scored, his opposite number at the other end fell short. Bayern Munich won the championship despite Miguel Reina conceding four goals in the 90 minutes.

Bayern earned a bye in the first round as the tournament's holders, before meeting East German competition in the form of Magdeburg for the second time in two years. This would be a different concept than the Dynamo Dresden games.

Magdeburg had produced a youthful squad under the shrewd administration of Heinz Krügel, led by a coach who, in more enlightened times, might have earned a fortune coaching at a premier club in the west.

The previous season, he had led Magdeburg on an incredible run into Europe, and while Bayern Munich was winning European club football's top prize, Krügel's team had won the Cup Winners' Cup, beating holders

in the final. Bayern nonetheless managed to win both legs and advance, demonstrating their mental power more than anything else.

Maier would have to put up a strong performance in both legs of the semi-final against Ararat Yerevan of the Soviet Union. The game stayed goalless until the last twelve minutes of the first leg in Munich.

In such conditions, conceding at home may have caused Bayern problems. However, Maier was able to keep the visitors at bay, and two late strikes provided Die Roten with something to defend as they traveled east.

Despite heavy home pressure and a raucous 70,000-strong crowd at Yerevan's Hrazdan Stadium, Maier and his defense limited Armenia just a single goal as Bayern advanced to the last four and a semi-final against Saint-Étienne of France.

This was a fantastic vintage for Les Verts. Robert Herbin's club had a lot of offensive talent and played with a lot of joy. They had won 23 of their 38 games to win the French league by an impressive eight points.

They possessed the mercurial Dominique Rocheteau in their attack, an iconoclastic favorite of the avant-garde left and the talismanic 'Green Angel' presence on the field who could intoxicate rival defenses in the same way the spirit after whom he was dubbed could.

The first leg was to be played in France, and Maier's back line stayed fast despite the green shirts being pressed. Returning with a goalless draw was a good start, but the task wasn't done yet. If Bayern concedes at home, they will need to score twice to reach their second consecutive final.

The home crowd were calmed by an early Beckenbauer goal, but a French goal would still see them eliminated. But Maier remained unfazed, and the stalemate was broken when Bernd Dürnberger scored the second goal, keeping the home defense's perfect record intact.

Maier and his defense had held a clean sheet in five of the previous six European Cup games heading into the final. The final against Leeds United would be a test, and a repetition of Maier's exploits would be beneficial. Bayern won the game late on thanks to goals from Franz Roth and Müller, while Maier kept another clean sheet. Bayern had successfully defended their title.

They had not won domestic trophy in two seasons when they entered the next year's competition. If Bayern were to lose in this tournament, the cupboard at Bayern would start to appear a bit empty. In addition, the club was involved in the Intercontinental Cup.

The opening leg, against Brazilian champions Cruzeiro, took place on November 23 in Munich. Bayern had a two-goal advantage to carry to South America, thanks to another Maier clean sheet and late goals from Müller and Jupp Kappellmann.

In Brazil, a strong defensive effort will be required to put the host side at bay. The Germans kept their cool in front of 123,715 supporters, and a goalless draw – and yet another clean sheet – made the trip worthwhile.

Bayern Munich had won the Bundesliga and qualified for the European Cup as holders, while

had won the Bundesliga and qualified as German champions.

The Bavarians breezed through the first round, defeating Jeunesse Esch of Luxembourg 8-2 on aggregate before eliminating Malmö 2-1 to get to the final eight and a meeting with

.

Another spot in the final four was secured after a decent 0-0 draw in Lisbon and a thrashing 5-1 victory at home. They'd be up against Real Madrid, one of the most powerful clubs in the world.

When the Bavarians went to Spain in March, they were in danger right away when Roberto Martnez did what so many other strikers had failed to do: he beat Maier to put the Spanish team up after only seven minutes. To stop the flood of assaults and keep the holders in the game, the German back line would need all of its courage.

The mission was accomplished in customary manner, and when Müller leveled the scores shortly before halftime, it gave the visitors a draw that they held until the finish. Back in Bavaria, Maier thwarted the Spanish onslaught, and a brace from Der Bomber sealed the victory. Another European Cup final was on the horizon.

Bayern faced Les Verts once again at Hampden Park in Glasgow. It certainly wasn't a classic. Bayern Munich played well, confident in their defensive strength, and scored at the right time to win 1-0 and claim their third title.

The team had had an incredible run, and at the heart of it had been their goalie, whose constant, and sometimes stunningly superb, performances had played a significant role in the victory.

Confidence in a solid back line had led to a more pragmatic than exciting style of play, but playing to their strengths had reaped huge benefits for the club.

Enormous gloves are comparable to big shoes, and although a slew of exceptional goalkeepers have tried to fill them – Kahn, Lehmann, and

, to name a few – none have come close to matching Sepp Maier's height, and maybe none will ever do so. He is remembered as one of the finest goalkeepers in German football history.

Sepp Maier social media

Regarding

Sepp Maier social media

, it should be mentioned that he does not have any pages on any social media platforms.

Sepp Maier body measurements

Speaking about

Sepp Maier body measurements

, it should be mentioned that the former player is 185 cm and 77 kg.

Sepp Maier net worth and salary

Sepp Maier's net worth

is believed to be in the range of $4 million to $5 million dollars. From his major profession as a soccer player, he has amassed a substantial fortune.

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