The Presidential Board of the German Football Association (DFB) has consented to a proposal of FC Bayern München to organise a farewell-game for goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who will end his stellar career this summer. The game between the German national team and the FC Bayern München will be played in München’s spectacular World Cup arena on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 (kickoff 8.45 P.M.)
The long-time goalkeeper of the “Mannschaft”, whose unforgettable performances enabled the 2002 DFB-team to reach the World Cup final, will retire following the 2007/2008 season. The 38-year old Kahn joined FC Bayern München in 1994 and has played in 549 Bundesliga games since. He will reach 3rd place in the all-time list Bundesliga until the end of the year, behind Karl-Heinz Körbel and Manfred Kaltz. The extremely durable Kahn made his first international appearance on June 23, 1995, in a 2-1 win over Switzerland in Bern.
Following another great match with several outstanding saves, the 3-1 win over Portugal in the game for third place at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Stuttgart (July 8, 2006), Oliver Kahn ended his international career. He had captained the DFB-team between 2002 and 2004. As Bayern München’s goalkeeper, he won the Champions League in the 2001 final against FC Valencia. He won seven German Championships and five German Cups during his career.
“Oliver Kahn has been a world-class goalkeeper, and he is a remarkable person”, said DFB-President Dr. Theo Zwanziger. “The 2002 FIFA World Cup will be inseperably connected with Oliver Kahn, who was honored as the tournament’s best player. He showed his sportsmanship and his greatness during the 2006 World Cup, when he handled a difficult situation with class and exemplary fairness, thus once again helping his team.”
“Throughout his long career, he has played for just two clubs, displaying a faithfulness, which we hardly see in the professional ranks”, said Zwanziger. “We wish Oliver Kahn for the time following his playing career all the best, and we look forward to seeing him one final time in September.”
“That evening will be a tough moment, I’m sure”, said Oliver Kahn. “Finishing a career that spanned 20 years is not easily done. But I still look forward to September 2. I expect a great game and I feel very honoured that the German national team and my FC Bayern München will both play at my farewell event. I want to thank the DFB, the DFL and FC Bayern München.”
