Josef Dieter "Sepp" Maier is a German former professional football goalkeeper who played for Bayern Munich and the Germany national football team.
13 Facts About Sepp Maier
2.
Sepp Maier began playing for Bayern's youth sides in 1958.
3.
Sepp Maier had previously tasted success in Europe in 1967 when Bayern won the European Cup Winners Cup, defeating Rangers FC in the final in extra time.
4.
Sepp Maier was elected German Footballer of the Year in 1975,1977, and 1978.
5.
Sepp Maier was selected in the West Germany squad for four consecutive World Cups.
6.
Four years later at the World Cup in Argentina, slightly past his peak but still formidable, Sepp Maier delivered a strong performance but could not prevent his side's failing to advance past the second round.
7.
Sepp Maier won the 1972 European Championship with West Germany and reached the final in 1976, losing to Czechoslovakia on penalty kicks.
8.
Sepp Maier went into coaching for both club and country and mentored Oliver Kahn.
9.
In October 2004 his contract with the national side was terminated by manager Jurgen Klinsmann after Sepp Maier spoke out in favour of Kahn over Arsenal's Jens Lehmann in a dispute over who should be the side's first-choice goalkeeper.
10.
Sepp Maier continued to work as head goalkeeping coach for Bayern and retired in 2008.
11.
Besides his goalkeeping exploits, Sepp Maier was famous for his overlong shorts and being the first goalkeeper to wear the now-standard, outsize, "Mickey Mouse" gloves, as well as his sense of humour.
12.
Sepp Maier is remembered for an incident where he became bored during a match at the Olympiastadion as the opposing side had yet to threaten his goal.
13.
In June 2009, Sepp Maier was honoured by the Bavarian government with the Life Achievement Award.