GERD MULLER is suffering from dementia and is currently housed in a nursing home, it has emerged.

The German football icon, who won the World Cup in 1974, has been suffering from the degenerative disease and is under care at the age of 72.

7 Germany legend Gerd Muller has been suffering from dementia since his retirement from Bayern Munich three years ago Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Muller coached at Bayern Munich until three years ago and was Germany's all-time leading international goalscorer with 68 goals in 62 games.

But it was announced a year after his retirement he had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Now the former striker is living in a care home and his wife Uschi - who he married in 50 years ago - has revealed he is now under close supervision of nurses.

She said: "He is doing well in the circumstances.

7 Gerd Muller celebrates Germany's World Cup win in 1974 at the Munich Olympiastadion Credit: Getty - Contributor

7 Gerd Muller scores the winning goal for Germany against England after a stunning comeback from 2-0 down Credit: DPA/Press Association Images

"He has the best possible care and attention in the home and he feels good.

"In the nursing home he can be specially looked after. For about eight moths, he has been doing a new physiotherapy that stimulates the nervous system."

"I get the impression he is doing very well.

"Even if he has limited awareness, I still reach him. He's happy when I come in.

7 Gerd Muller and Franz Beckenbauer won virtually every honour in the game together Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

"It's fun to spend time with him, but he's not sad when I leave."

While there has been no specific link made between Alzheimer's and football in this case, if the latest research is to be believed, his disease could have been brought on by heading the old leather footballs.

Muller won the Bundesliga five times with Bayern Munich, during their dazzlingly successful era in the 1970s alongside Franz Beckenbauer.

They also won the European Cup three times in a row between 1974 and 1976, while clinching the European Championship and World Cup titles of 1972 and 1974.

7 Gerd Muller scores for Bayern Munich Credit: Hulton Archive - Getty

7 Gerd Muller scores against Australia at the 1974 World Cup Credit: AFP - Getty

7 Fresh-faced Gerd Muller in his pre-1970 World Cup team photo Credit: AFP - Getty

Muller had problems with alcohol after he retired from football, following a spell at Fort Lauderdale in the US, and later recovered before getting work coaching at Bayern, right till his retirement in 2014.

Muller is perhaps most infamous in England for scoring the winning goal for West Germany in their stunning comeback over the then world champions in the 1970 World Cup.

England had gone 2-0 up through goals from Allan Mullery and Martin Peters, but Alf Ramsey's substitution of Bobby Charlton after 68 minutes is infamous as the Germans staged a famous comeback to win in extra time.