GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Former German international goalkeeper Oliver Kahn trains with Bayern Munich for the last time

Record ID: 788748

  • Title: GERMANY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Former German international goalkeeper Oliver Kahn trains with Bayern Munich for the last time
  • Date: 2nd September 2008
  • Summary: KAHN AND KLINSMANN STAND UP AND SHAKE HANDS
  • Embargoed: 17th September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAR496I9BH37AD0WWBC7DGIAF2
  • Story Text: Former German international goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has his last training session with Bayern Munich before retiring from professional football.
    Former German international goalkeeper Oliver Kahn told reporters on Monday (September 1) that he was looking forward to winding down from his professional career after more than 30 years in the job.
    Although Kahn officially finished his career at German champions Bayern Munich three months ago, he is set to play his final game for the team on Tuesday (September 2) when they take on the German National side.
    Thirty-eight-year old Kahn told reporters that going into the final game of his career would be no easy task.
    "I think that now, when the pressure starts to disappear, this ongoing stress which I have had for many years at FC Bayern, then I think the emotions could rise. I can imagine that tomorrow will be very special for me, with the fans, the audience and and to walk into the Allianz Arena again," said Kahn.
    Throughout his career Kahn has played in 86 countries, 140 European cup games and 557 Bundesliga matches. He has won numerous major titles including European Champions with Germany in 1996 and the Champions League with Bayern in 2001.
    The former international star said he was looking forward to having some time to himself during retirement.
    "Firstly you want some peace. You want to be able to come down from it all, your body and soul and just regenerate yourself. You can feel that you need this after such a long time. And then new energies start to develop and new things which you want to do and I think it is really just a question of whether it will be quiet with me for a long time. I have lots of things to do," Kahn told the news conference.
    Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann praised Kahn and his successful career.
    "He has to be thankful for the motivation, which he always has, even if he is no longer a top athlete. This is why he was so successful and won things and has had such an unbelievably great career," Klinsmann told reporters in Munich.
    Also on Monday, Bayern were back in training after their 4-1 victory over Hertha Berlin on Sunday. With them was new arrival Massimo Oddo, the 32 year old from Milan who has replaced Marcell Jansen, recently sold to Hamburg SV.
    Many Bayern fans were not overly enthusiastic about Jansen's move to Hamburg and even a strengthening of the squad with Oddo hasn't change their minds.
    "I think it is a shame that (Marcell) Jansen has gone. But it was his own decision I wouldn't have let him go. But it was important the the Italians took him because (Christian) Lell just can't flank. That is his problem," said fan Harald Jadörfer.
    "Massimo is a world champion, that is ok. But still I would not have let Marcell Jahnsen go. I would have kept him because he is a young player and he has potential," said fellow Bayern fan Frank Bullardieck.
    Oddo will have the chance to prove himself in Bayern's next game, away to Koeln on September 13.
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