Frank Mill is dead. He became famous for a post shot. At the time, Mill was one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga – and much more.
It is August 9, 1986. In the Munich Olympic Stadium, the 41st minute of play runs between FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Game: 1: 1. Dortmund’s Daniel Simmes plays a perfect pass into the interface. Frank Mill is free and only has to shoot the ball into the empty goal. But what follows will go into history as the “mother of all bad shots”.
Mills post shot is legendary
Mill has to sort his legs briefly and then puts the ball on the right post from a few meters. “I would have had enough time to just put the ball into the goal, but I wanted to do it like Pierre Littbarski. My plan: to get it out, clamp the ball between my feet and elegantly inserted after an exaggerated,” said Mill years later about his comedic misfortune.
After all: BVB won a 2-2 at FC Bayern. Mill also collected a scorer point because he added Michael Zorc to 2-2.
123 goals in 387 Bundesliga games
The missed missed Mill until the end of his life. Again and again he was asked about it. In the case of similar misconceptions, it was said: “Like Frank Mill back then.” Mill has proven that he can also shoot into the goal. He scored 123 goals in 387 Bundesliga games.
It was good that Mill never lost the ability to laugh at himself. Mill was born in Essen on July 23, 1958, as the son of a scrap dealer and a flower seller. The workers’ child atmosphere of the Ruhr area shaped him from childhood. The family lived in a small apartment, the neighbors were workers. Mill learned to assert themselves here.
He did not have his first football experience in the club, but on the football field. A scout of Rot-white food appealed to him if he didn’t even want to play a half -time with a youth team. So Mill entered the lawn in a game at the second half. It was 1-1 at halftime, after the final whistle it was 6-1 for RWE. Funfach goal scorer: Frank Mill.
First professional station at Rot-Weiss Essen
At RWE Mill then took his first steps in the professional in 1976football. Five years later he switched to the Lower Rhine Borussia Mönchengladbachwhere he scored 71 goals in 153 Bundesliga games. He didn’t get a title with Borussia.
In the summer of 1986 the change followed, which should define his career. Mill returned to the Ruhr area and joined Borussia Dortmund. The BVB was then a team in transition and for 23 years without a title. Mill should not only breastfeed the longing through its risk of goal, but also through its fighter mentality.
Famous post shot in the first BVB game
Mill’s time in Dortmund started unfavorable. Because his first game for BVB took place on August 9, 1986 in the Munich Olympic Stadium. The opponent was FC Bayern. And then there was this 41st minute of play, which Mill’s life shaped until the end.
The post shot was a more than unfortunate scene, but none with a symbolic character. Because Mill found his football home in Dortmund. Mill scored 47 goals in 186 games for BVB and scored 31 more goals. In 1989, the Titellose ended when the Borussia won the DFB Cup. Mills should remain the only club title of his career.
Mill: “I’m a cup winner, not a world champion”
He was also successful at the international level, at least on paper. Because Mill was part of the German national team, which became world champion in Italy in 1990. However, he did not play a minute at the tournament, which is why he never really felt like a world champion. “I’m a cup winner, not a world champion,” he said in an interview with “SPOX”.
But Mill was more than just a goal scorer. He was the slit ear of every team, one who held the cabin together with wit and charm. Stories are still circulating about his sayings and pranks. At a time when professional football was even more down -to -earth, Mill embodied the type of popular player who was able to drink a beer with the fans after training.
Frank Mill substituted at the DFB
Mill confesses doping offenses
But there were also dark sides. Mill used painkillers excessively. He had to have stomach ulcers surgically removed three times. He himself suspected the pain relievers as the reason.
In his biography, Mill also admitted to having doped before a Bundesliga game. Author Frank Lehmkuhl wrote in the book: “The can with the doping pills was on the toilet of the team cabin, and Frank Mill took a tablet and washed it down with a sip of whiskey.” Mill then scored two goals in the game. Mill did not reveal which game it was. After that, however, he never again reached for illicit means.
End of career at Fortuna Düsseldorf
In 1994 Mill left BVB and closed Fortuna Düsseldorf to where he later ended his career for two years and a Bundesliga promotion.
Even after his career, Mill remained authentic and kept his corners and edges. He has always dealt confidently with the false shot of Munich, with the right pinch of humor. His life was more than just an unfortunate post shot. Mill was the slot ear of German football – a professional who never forgot where he comes from.
On August 5, 2025, Frank Mill at the age of 67 died of the consequences of a severe heart attack.
