Sepp Maier

Die Katze von Anzing

Josef Dieter "Sepp" Maier (born 28 February 1944) is a German former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Bayern Munich and the West Germany national team. Regarded as one of football's greatest goalkeepers, he was nicknamed "Die Katze von Anzing" ("the cat from Anzing") for his fast reflexes, agility, flexibility, speed, and consistency. With 709 matches played across seventeen seasons, he was Bayern's all-time record appearance holder, until he was surpassed by Thomas Müller in 2024.

Quick Facts

Full name: Josef Dieter Maier
Born: 28 February 1944
Birthplace: Metten, Germany
Height: 1.85 m / 6 ft 1 in
Position: Goalkeeper

Lore & Background

In the five games of the four European finals (the 1974 title having been won in a replay), Maier allowed a total of zero goals.

Reader's Guide

Maier spent his entire professional career at Bayern Munich, winning four West German league titles, three German cups, three consecutive European Cups (1974, 1975, 1976), and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1967. He was elected German Footballer of the Year in 1975, 1977, and 1978. Between 1966 and 1979 he played in 442 consecutive Bundesliga matches, still a German national record. He earned 95 caps for West Germany, winning the 1974 FIFA World Cup and the 1972 European Championship.

The One-Club Legend and European Dominance

Josef Dieter "Sepp" Maier dedicated his entire seventeen-year professional career to Bayern Munich, a loyalty that earned him the One Club Man Award in 2017. Joining youth ranks in 1958, he became the goalkeeper for a squad that won four Bundesliga titles (1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74) and three German Cups. His greatest success came in Europe: Bayern won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1967 and three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976. In these five final matches, Maier allowed just one goal. He also lifted the Intercontinental Cup in 1976. With 709 total appearances, he was Bayern's all-time record holder until Thomas Müller surpassed him in 2024.

International Glory and the Panenka Heartbreak

Maier represented West Germany at four consecutive World Cups. In 1970, he played all games except the third-place match. His crowning achievement was the 1974 World Cup final in Munich, where he helped defeat the Netherlands 2–1. He also won the 1972 European Championship. The 1976 Euro final remains a poignant moment; after the match went to penalties against Czechoslovakia, Maier faced Antonín Panenka's famous chipped shot, which secured the title for the opposition. Despite this loss and failing to advance past the second round in Argentina in 1978, his 95 caps and status as a World Cup winner cemented his legacy.

The Tragic Accident That Ended an Era

On 14 July 1979, Maier's career ended abruptly due to a self-inflicted traffic accident caused by aquaplaning. After colliding with another car, he was initially misdiagnosed at a local hospital. Uli Hoeneß intervened to get him seen by the Bayern club doctor, leading to a transfer to Großhadern hospital. There, doctors discovered life-threatening injuries: a ruptured lung, displaced liver, torn diaphragm, and a massive internal bleed. Emergency surgery saved his life, but he could not recover for professional play. He started training on 26 November 1979 but was forced to retire immediately after missing the 1979–80 season.

Personality, Style, and Lasting Influence

Maier was known for his unique style, being the first goalkeeper to wear "Mickey Mouse" gloves and overlong shorts. His sense of humor was legendary; during a match at the Olympiastadion where the opposition posed no threat, he famously tried to catch a duck that wandered onto the pitch. He mentored Oliver Kahn as a coach until 2004, when his contract with the national team was terminated by Jürgen Klinsmann after Maier supported Kahn over Jens Lehmann in a selection dispute. Maier retired from coaching at Bayern in 2008 and received the Bavarian Life Achievement Award in June 2009.