Reden wir über den Titanen, Oliver Kahn
Let's talk about the titan, Oliver Kahn
You asked for it and here it is, today I am going to tell you the story of the Titan, the Vol-kahn-o, the best goalkeeper that Germany has ever had and who is still today still in the top 3 of the Historical World Ranking of Goalkeepers. He currently works as General Manager of FC Bayern Munich AG, which is an association that is responsible for the finances of the Bayern Munich stadium, besides having done work as a commentator, but before that he had a masterful career and also polemic, but no one doubts the quality of the German goalkeeper, and today I will talk about that, ,
and
participated in my initiative, so as I had said in my previous post, there is a prize of 2,867 SPORTS to be divided between the 3 of you, I will be sending you your tokens during the course of the day, thank you very much for participating, I hope you like this post. so welcome!
His beginnings in Karlsruher SC.
Oliver was born on June 15, 1969 in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, he grew up with a slight preference for solitude, he liked to spend his time mowing lawns in his garden rather than playing with other children, he also developed an incredible perfectionism seeking to emulate the figure of Josef Dieter Maier, his childhood idol who brought so much joy to Germany in the 70s. In 1987 he became the substitute goalkeeper for Alexander Famulla in Karlsruher SC, thus beginning his career as a professional, but it was not until 1990 that he made his debut, when his coach decided to give him a chance, which he was not going to waste because from then on, based on good performances, he became a starter, being a key piece of a team that would amaze everyone, being one of the best in Germany in those years, even reached a semi-final of the UEFA Cup in 94, despite that Kahn did not raise titles in this team and after seven seasons and 148 games played he would go to his last team and his great love, Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich, early years.
Bayern paid 2.5 million euros for the German goalkeeper who arrived in 1994, that first season he played 25 games, in his next season he had a strong cruciate ligament injury, but he overcame it and returned with strength to play the European Championship with Germany, Oliver at this point was already the undisputed starter in goal for both Bayern and Germany, besides he was already beginning to show that so controversial character that characterized him throughout his career, besides he began to win his first titles as a professional.
His heyday at the German club.
From 1999, Oliver had a golden age at Bayern, after losing a Champions League final in which he was chosen as the best player, in the 2000-2001 season they won the prestigious tournament with Kahn becoming a god in goal, besides the Champions League, they also won the Intercontinental Cup and the Bundesliga that year, and was elected as goalkeeper of the year and best goalkeeper in Europe by the IFFHS and to crown it all, the Bundesliga awarded him the German footballer of the year, Between 2002 and 2004 different personal problems and injuries caused him to lower his level to a point where he no longer showed any desire to play, he barely made any effort, and at the age of 35 it seemed that his career had come to an end, but something changed in the player who suddenly began to raise his level to what we were used to, to give a dignified end to a more than fantastic career.
The end of an era....
As a curious fact, today Oliver Kahn is the second goalkeeper with the most minutes without being beaten, with 803 and surpassed only by Timo Hildebrand in 2007, Kahn's performances continued to be at the height of what Bayern Munich was, he continued having great games and winning local titles such as the Bundesliga and the German Cup in 2008, the year in which he announced that he was going to retire, although before he declared that he was going to play another season at Karlsruher SC, this never happened. In addition, that journey between 2004 and 2008 was also accompanied by a high level in the German team, Oliver had the level to continue playing, but decided that it was time to hang up his boots. On May 17, 2008 Oliver Kahn played his last match in a victory for Bayern against Hertha Berlin, in that match he was replaced by the player who would keep his legacy in goal at that time, Michael Rensing. Kahn was loudly applauded by the fans of the team, who thanked him for all the great moments he gave them, The Titan said goodbye with 557 games played and to go out in style, he would break a last record, the one with the fewest goals conceded in a season. , receiving only 21 in 34 matches. This is how a legend said goodbye to football.
National Team.
Called for the first time in 1994, Kahn did not make his debut in Germany until a year later, in a match against Switzerland, he was champion with Germany in the Euro 96, although he did not play any match in that tournament, from the World Cup From 2002 he began his hegemony, he played all the matches of that competition as the team captain, having one of his most famous controversial moments, when he stated in a press conference that Ronaldo only scored goals against goalkeepers who made mistakes, such as rebounds. in the area, the exact way in which Ronaldo scored the goal with which Brazil would win that final against Germany. After that, Oliver gave an image that would forever be recorded in the Germans due to the despair he showed, in addition, his statements were quite sincere:
Making a mistake is always disappointing and painful, but it's ten times more so when it happens in a title match. I find no comfort. I should have caught that ball, but it got away from me.
Despite losing the final, Kahn conceded only 3 goals in that tournament, was chosen for the World Cup Golden Ball and also won the Lev Yashin Award, becoming the first goalkeeper to win the World Cup Golden Ball. A media dispute between Franz Beckenbauer and the coach of the national team, Jürgen Klinsmann, caused him to be relegated to substitution in the 2006 World Cup instead of Jens Lehmann, he played only one game in that tournament and at the end, he announced his retirement from the German team after having played 96 games, played 4 World Cups in which he won a second place, a third place and two quarterfinals, he also won a European Championship and won a third place in the 2005 Confederations Cup, all this added to a long list of individual titles, played a total of 870 games and was unbeaten in 322, an incredible mark for an incredible player.
Thank you very much for having come this far, following the pattern of the last post, this next week it is the turn of a defender, and I think I will enjoy doing this next post, for all those interested in participating, we continue with the same premise,
- Paolo Maldini
- Carles Puyol
- Fabio Canavaro
Thank you all very much for reading, a cordial greeting, and until a next post.