Sepp Maier

Born 28 February 1944, Josef Dieter Maier grew up to become Bayern Munich's first-choice keeper for seventeen seasons, playing 709 matches — a club record that stood until Thomas Müller overtook it in 2024. His shot-stopping, his command of the box, and his flexibility made him the anchor of West Germany's defence across multiple tournaments. He was known as much for his consistency as for his dry wit; asked about his approach, he once said a keeper should give off calm "and not fall asleep while doing so." That mix of reflex and composure made him a fan favourite long after he left the pitch.