The Cat

West German goalkeeper Sepp Maier dives to grab the ball in front of Polish forward Andrzej Szarmach (top) and his teammate Berti Vogts (2) during the World Cup first round match between West Germany and Poland 01 June 1978 in Buenos Aires. The match ended in a scoreless draw. AFP PHOTO/DPA

Nicknamed the "Cat" for his feline elasticity and sharp reflexes, West German goalkeeper Sepp Maier looked more like a lion as he stretched for crosses and snaffled the ball at the feet of surprised strikers, his frizzy blonde mane flowing behind him.

The German was at the height of his powers during the late 1960's and 1970's, when he was a pillar between the posts for both club and country.

The highlight of a glittering career came in 1974, when he not only won the World Cup on home soil in Munich, but was also a member of the Bayern Munich side that lifted the European Cup.

Maier, who began playing seriously when he was eight years old, played 422 consecutive matches for Bayern in a 19-year spell which began after a six-year apprenticeship at TSV Haar, in the suburbs of the Bavarian capital.

German number one

At the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, Maier was first choice goalkeeper as West Germany first got their revenge on England in an epic World Cup quarter-final (coming from two goals down to win 3-2), before running out of luck in another memorable encounter with Italy in the semi-finals.

Maier was soon to taste international success and West Germany deservedly won the European Championship in 1972.

West German goalkeeper Sepp Maier catches the ball in front of Dutch forward Johan Cruijff as defender Franz Beckenbauer (L) looks on, 07 July 1974 in Munich, during the World Cup soccer final. Host West Germany beat The Netherlands 2-1 to earn its second World Cup title, twenty years after its first win over Hungary (3-2), 04 July 1954 in Bern. AFP PHOTO

In the 1974 World Cup in Germany Maier was brilliant, keeping clean sheets in four of seven matches and conceding only four goals overall.

In the final in Munich against Holland things went awry for the West Germans when Johan Neeskens gave Holland the lead from the penalty spot after just two minutes, but the Germans were made of stern stuff.

Urged on by Maier, Paul Breitner and Gerd Muller got the goals that mattered, to make the "Mannschaft" world champions.

Career cut short

West German goalkeeper Sepp Maier (R) deflects a shot by a Polish player during the World Cup first round soccer match between West Germany and Poland 01 June 1978 in Buenos Aires. The match ended in a scoreless draw. AFP PHOTO

Maier's career was effectively terminated when he was badly injured in a car accident in 1979.

By then aged 35, the German left the game with a reputation as not only a brilliant 'keeper but also as a sort of court jester, constantly joking in training and often wearing outrageous outfits.

His unbroken run of 422 games in 13 seasons for Bayern is a record and would have been even higher were it not for the accident, and it helped confirm his status as one of the best goalkeepers ever, in the same league as Gordon Banks and Lev Yachin.

Ninety-five international appearances, three European Cups, a quartet of Bundesliga titles and numerous other domestic and international titles make Maier a legend.

He now works for the club and country in a coaching role and has helped Oliver Kahn, the latest Bayern prodigy, develop his considerable skills.