Oliver Kahn - Retired, legendary Bayern goalkeeper - Page 15 - TalkSoccer

**Trim** · 07-08-2007, 08:11 PM

Oliver Kahn, three-time World Goalkeeper of the Year and much-decorated Bayern captain, crossed paths with Manuel Riemann, 18-year-old SV Wacker Burghausen prodigy, in the centre-circle after the final whistle on Monday night. A brief embrace, a word of encouragement from Kahn (“Well done son, keep it up”), and the pair went their separate ways.

When Riemann finally reached the dressing room after a dramatic penalty shoot-out at the end of a pulsating German Cup first round tie, he found Kahn’s jersey waiting for him. “Would you like it? It’ll be in the dressing room on your hook,” the 38-year-old Kahn had replied in answer to Riemann’s practically stuttering request for the highly-prized shirt. “And it really was there when I went in,“ Riemann beamed afterwards.

Top-notch display

After a string of breathtaking blocks, two saved penalties and one converted spot-kick to boot, Riemann turned in a magnificent performance over he preceding 90 minutes. However, at the moment when it really mattered, Kahn showed all his class and mental strength to rescue Bayern from an ignominious exit at the very first hurdle. “He showed he’s still absolutely world class,” coach Ottmar Hitzfeld declared in praise of his number one.

Kahn was rather less ebullient after the final whistle. “I’ve not been through that kind of match for a very, very long time. I’ve stood at the back for 120 minutes watching us miss chance after chance. That wasn’t the kind of game I really appreciate.“

Gilding the lily

It was certainly a curious outing for the longest-serving player at the club. Aside from a fine diving save to deny Levente Schultz in the fourth minute, Kahn was more or less unemployed until the 61st minute, when he picked Thomas Neubert’s unstoppable header out of the back of his net.

“Obviously the doubts creep in, but you can’t allow it to happen,” Kahn observed, “we played some outstanding football, but I think it was a little too pretty at times. I felt we passed the ball too much at the absolutely critical moments. If you overdo the style, you can miss out on success. It all looks fantastic, but it wasn’t single-minded enough, and we almost lost as a result.”

Mental strength

Kahn was utterly determined not to end his career in the German Cup with a first round defeat to a third division side. “I just didn’t want to get beaten here, and I mentally set myself completely against that,” he explained. On the one hand he had practically nothing to do, but on the other “I had to remain totally focused until I was needed.”

“I’ve set my sights high this season, not just for me, but also for the team. It wouldn’t have been right, we simply couldn’t be knocked out after playing so well,“ declared the captain, quoted at the weekend as hoping for a dramatic end to the campaign to rival the heart-stopping events of 2001. Perhaps that wish is set to be fulfilled: “With a start like that, we could end up with a really fantastic season.”

**Trim** · 10-08-2007, 09:15 PM

Professional players wind down their active careers in a number of ways. Mehmet Scholl was thrilled at every moment he spent on the pitch last season in a handful of substitute appearances, while Thomas Linke has elected to spend his final couple of years adding a touch of experience to the Bayern reserves. However, Oliver Kahn is desperate to bow out with yet more winners’ medals for his already extensive collection.

“I want to win as many trophies as possible,” the keeper declared on the day before embarking on his 21st and last Bundesliga campaign. “I want to say farewell on the most positive note possible,” the 38-year-old explained, delighted at the club’s decision to bolster their role as favourites with a summer spending spree. “I’m looking at a team made up of outstanding players, with an optimal pre-season behind us,” he commented.

’There’s always pressure’

However, Kahn dismissed the widespread notion that Bayern are a shoo-in for the league title. “I don’t agree with all this ballyhoo. We haven’t even played a match yet. A lot of the reporting is totally unrealistic,” he warned, dampening expectations of the new-look Reds side. The team would not be affected by the hype, the captain insisted: “We’re smart enough to keep it in perspective.”

The pressure to succeed was no greater than in previous years, the keeper felt. “It’s the same level of pressure you always get at Bayern Munich,” he remarked, conceding that the club’s spectacular transfers would only make other teams more determined. “Our opponents will lay down their lives to beat Bayern Munich, every team will play above themselves. That’s what makes it so tough.”

Matching Augenthaler

The 38-year-old is set for his 404th top flight appearance for Bayern on Saturday, taking him level with the great Klaus Augenthaler in fourth on the club’s all-time roll of honour. He could even end up taking second place from Gerd Müller (427).

“But I don’t think it would be right to approach this season as if it were any different,“ Kahn mused. His career record in 13 seasons with Munich suggest he knows what he is talking about, after seven Bundesliga titles, four DFB Cup triumphs, and glory in the Champions League and World Club Cup. “I’ve seen and been through it all. I’ve been doing this job for 20 years, but this is my last season for sure. There comes a time when you’ve had enough.“

One milestone missing

Kahn (531 top flight appearances in total) is all but certain to overtake Eike Immel (534) and register the most Bundesliga appearances by a goalkeeper, but in all his long career, he has yet to score a goal. Back in March 2001, he did hammer the ball into his opponents’ net – albeit with his fists. “To this day, I haven’t a clue why it was disallowed,” he deadpanned. The opposing team that day was Hansa Rostock, the very club against whom Kahn’s final season begins on Saturday.

**Trim** · 13-08-2007, 08:44 AM

Quote:

but in all his long career, he has yet to score a goal.

Maybe he can take a penalty in a match, if we're winning comfortably.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 13-08-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trim17

Maybe he can take a penalty in a match, if we're winning comfortably.

That would be class but I doubt it will ever happen.

Well he did score a goal, does anyone remenber this:

**Trim** · 13-08-2007, 01:23 PM

^ It doesn't work. Is it 'the goal' against Hansa?

**Oliver_Kahn** · 13-08-2007, 01:27 PM

Yeah the one he punched the ball in

Then got sent off

**Trim** · 13-08-2007, 01:29 PM

^ Yeah, I thought so.

No doubt, I remember it.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 13-08-2007, 01:32 PM

That was absolutely brilliant, I'd like to see a new version of "Kahn's Hand of God"

**Trim** · 01-09-2007, 09:39 PM

Bayern Munich captain Oliver Kahn will set the record for the most Bundesliga appearances by a goalkeeper when the German giants face Hamburg on Sunday.

The 38-year-old will be making his 535th Bundesliga appearance having spent seven years at Karlsruhe and has been at Bayern since 1994.

When Bayern hammered Hanover 3-0 last weekend the former German captain drew level with Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper Eike Immel, who set the previous mark of 534.

Kahn already has the record for the goalkeeper who has won the most Bundesliga titles, seven, and also has the record of the most clean-sheets, 188.

And he also has the record for the most consecutive clean-sheets, having gone 19 games without conceding a goal.

Kahn to set Bundesliga record « Bayern Lounge

BlackNess · 02-09-2007, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

That was absolutely brilliant, I'd like to see a new version of "Kahn's Hand of God"

lool .

i remember this one .

**Trim** · 03-09-2007, 09:10 AM

In the fourth week of play of the 2007-08 season, Oliver Kahn broke the Bundesliga's goalkeeper record.

The 38-year old broke the record in the Record German Champions' game at Hamburger SV, his 535th Bundesliga appearance. He passed Eike Immel, who had 534 top-flight appearances for Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart.

Two more records

On November 27, 1987, Kahn made his Bundesliga debut with Karlsruher SC. He made the move to Munich in 1994. His seven titles with Bayern are a Bundesliga record for a German goalkeeper.

Kahn, who has been capped 86 times for Germany, also holds two other Bundesliga records: Before the Hamburg match, he had 188 encounters without letting in a goal. And he had a run of 19 games without being scored against.

Goalkeepers with the most Bundesliga appearances:

1. Oliver Kahn 535 Games (Karlsruher SC/Bayern München)
2. Eike Immel 534 Games (Borussia Dortmund/VfB Stuttgart)
3. Uli Stein 512 Games (Arminia Bielefeld/Hamburger SV, Eintracht Frankfurt)
4. Sepp Maier 473 Games (Bayern München)
5. Oliver Reck 471 Games (Werder Bremen/Schalke 04)
6. Harald Schumacher 464 Games (1. FC Köln/Schalke 04/Bayern München/Borussia Dortmund)
7. Norbert Nigbur 456 Games (Schalke 04/Hertha BSC Berlin)

**Trim** · 03-09-2007, 09:11 AM

Legend.

Ain't no one breaking his record for some period of time.

Poldi · 03-09-2007, 12:07 PM

Greatest goalkeeper of all times!!!
one more record in his carrier!
KING,LEGEND!!!!!

**Oliver_Kahn** · 03-09-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trim17

Legend.

Ain't no one breaking his record for some period of time.

Oliver Kahn

About the record he's set, I think Adler or Neuer might break it.