Gerd Müller, you switched from Bayern Munich to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 1979. Culture shock for you?
I was a bit tired, but the season only lasted six months, so I was able to be in Munich for the rest of the year. We were also fortunate to have the best pitch in the NASL (North American Soccer League). We played on the finest Florida grass. I was doing much better than Franz in New York, who initially played on real fields.
Tatsächlich?
Yes, and later at Cosmos they had artificial grass at home, which was a terrible surface.
Were there any other differences to the Bundesliga? Beckenbauer explained that at Cosmos the stadium announcer initially had to explain the rules of the game during the game.
We didn’t have that. But the rules of the game itself were different: Offside was only called from the 35-yard line in front of the goal. In addition, there was no draw: the shoot-out followed following two 15-minute overtimes. And when the TV was broadcasting, the game lasted up to two and a half hours.
Because of the commercial breaks?
Even if there was a free kick, a short advertisement was played.
Was the new offside rule an advantage for you?
I had to get used to the system first. We only had long up front „Oxen” in the storm – that’s what we called the Brits in the team just for fun – they might only be alluded to. So I said: Play flat and from then on I did my digs once more.
Did Fort Lauderdale train differently than Bayern Munich?
Especially under different conditions – we had 48 degrees in Florida at times. This meant that we often only did one workout a day – at nine in the morning.
For Franz Beckenbauer, moving to New York was one of the best decisions of his life. how was it for you
Without doubt. There were great teams I played there: for example with Teófilo Cubillas from Peru, Bernd Hölzenbein and Georgie Best, with whom I was allowed to play for another eight weeks. The first thing he said to me was: „We’ll see who’s the star here.”
Sounds like British sportsmanship.
The Northern Irishman was probably a bit angry that they had brought me into the team.
Why did George Best leave so quickly?
He has been gone. We were on a California tour and did three games in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose. Somewhere near LA his girlfriend at the time had a place that he drove to with his manager one evening. Although the two returned together, Best did not attend the team briefing the next day. Our President dismissed him.