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Name: Oliver Kahn
Date of Brith: 15/06/1969
Country: Germany
Club: Bayern Munich
Position: Goal Keeper
Number: 12
Caps: -
Goals: -
The 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/JapanTM was a tournament of firsts. It was the first time a FIFA World Cup had been held in Asia, while Oliver Kahn became the first goalkeeper to walk away with the adidas Golden Ball award. Ronaldo might have scored eight goals, leading Brazil almost single-footedly to the world crown and lifting the adidas Golden Shoe, but the Seleção striker came off second best in the vote for the player of the tournament behind the German captain.
Kahn’s outstanding saves secured Germany’s passage into the final against all expectations. Ironically, it was there that the hitherto faultless keeper made his only mistake of the tournament, allowing Ronaldo to give the Brazilians a 1-0 lead. The striker would later add his side’s killer second goal, forcing the 33-year-old Kahn to content himself with the runners-up spot and console himself with the adidas Golden Ball.
“The award obviously makes me incredibly proud, especially since it is the first time it has been won by a goalkeeper,” admitted Kahn, with his nemesis from the Yokohama final lurking in the background. “It shows that people still recognise my performance over the FIFA World Cup as a whole.” Kahn left an indelible mark on the tournament, conceding just one goal en route to the final – a strike from the Republic of Ireland’s Robbie Keane in the 1-1 Group E clash.
Kahn kept clean sheets in the remaining group games against Saudi Arabia and Cameroon, repeating the feat in the round of 16 against Paraguay, the quarter-final against USA and the semi-final against hosts Korea Republic. Kahn repeatedly confounded opposing striker with a series of extraordinary saves, earning the monikers ‘Titan’ and ‘King Kahn’ from the press.
Rise to prominence
Kahn’s goalkeeping career began at the age of six with Karlsruher SC, where he progressed through every level of the youth team before making his debut in the Bundesliga in November 1990. His consistent performances earned him a call-up to the Germany squad for the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA, where he would unfortunately remain on the bench. He subsequently switched to Bayern Munich, where he soon made the number one jersey his own.
Kahn celebrated his international debut in Germany’s 2-1 victory over Switzerland in Bern on 23 June 1995, but would have to show his character to battle back from a cruciate ligament injury in November of the same year. Kahn was the reserve goalkeeper once more at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, but would claim the international shirt soon after the tournament. When Bayern won the UEFA Champions League in 2001 after a 25-year absence from the summit of European football, it was Kahn who was the difference between success and failure. When the final against Valencia went to a penalty shoot-out, Kahn kept out three of the Spaniards’ spot-kicks. He has also claimed six league titles and four DFB Cups with the record German championship winners.
Despite his impressive medal haul, however, Kahn has yet to satisfy his ambitions. The now 36-year-old is looking forward to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany with typical targets. “I go to every tournament to win. If I play in a FIFA World Cup, I want to be world champion. This time we have home advantage and we have to use it,” admits Kahn, clearly determined to grasp this opportunity with both giant hands: “The FIFA World Cup is unique. I love the competition, the excitement, the adrenaline.” Strikers around the world have been warned, it will take something special to beat ‘Titan’ this summer.
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