FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile

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.

© 2001-2006 FIFA, All Rights Reserved

UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile

A rock of strength in the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, Oliver Kahn is no longer Germany's first-choice goalkeeper but remains a massive presence at FC Bayern München.

Club
Drawn into the youth structure at Karlsruher SC in 1975 at the age of six, hard work and unshakeable self-belief helped Kahn work his way up into the first team in 1987 where his performances caught the attention of Bayern, who signed him in 1994. From then on honours flowed; eight Bundesliga titles to date, the UEFA Cup in 1996 and the 2001 UEFA Champions League as well as awards for being voted the world's best goalkeeper in 1999 and 2001. Kahn's three saves in the 2001 UEFA Champions League final penalty shoot-out proved decisive in Bayern's victory against Valencia CF. Now well into his 30s, he remains an imposing goalkeeper and is still Bayern's undisputed No1, helping the club to successive league and cup doubles in 2004/05 and 2005/06.

National team
Kahn made his international debut against Switzerland in June 1995 and at EURO '96™ and the 1998 World Cup he was Andreas Köpke's understudy but by UEFA EURO 2000™ he had taken over as Germany's No1. As captain in Korea/Japan, he conceded only one goal on the way to an unexpected final appearance. Kahn's continued excellence meant Germany conceded just four goals in the eight UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers, and only let in three in the finals but his nation failed to reach the quarter-finals. However, he subsequently lost the captaincy to Michael Ballack and was relegated to the bench for the 2006 World Cup finals behind Jens Lehmann.

Did you know?
In 2002/03, Kahn set a Bundesliga record of 737 minutes without conceding a goal, since surpassed by VfB Stuttgart's Timo Hildebrand.

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

UEFA EURO 2004™ player's profile

A rock of strength in Germany's 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign, Oliver Kahn was the first goalkeeper to be voted Player of the Tournament by the media and with good reason.

National team
Kahn was third-choice goalkeeper for the 1994 World Cup and made his international debut against Switzerland in June 1995. By the time of EURO '96™ and the 1998 World Cup he was second in line behind Andreas Köpke but by UEFA EURO 2000™ he had taken over as Germany's No1. As captain of his country in Korea/Japan, he conceded only one goal on the way to his national team's unexpected final appearance. Kahn's continued excellence meant Germany conceded just four goals in the eight UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers, and only let in three in the finals but his nation did not progress.

Club
Kahn began his career at Karlsruher SC in 1975 aged six. Hard work and an unshakeable self-belief propelled him into Karlsruher's first team in 1987 and his performances there captured the attention of FC Bayern München, who signed him in 1994.

1994: From then on honours flowed one after the other - Bundesliga titles, a UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League as well as awards for being voted the world's best goalkeeper in 1999 and 2001. Kahn's three saves in the 2001 Champions League final penalty shoot-out proved decisive in Bayern's victory against Valencia CF. On the crest of a World Cup wave, Kahn then appeared in all but one of Bayern's Bundesliga games as they cruised to the title and the German Cup.

2003/04: Struggled to recapture the form of recent years throughout the campaign as mistakes in the Champions League tie against Real Madrid CF and in the match against SV Werder Bremen cost Bayern dearly as the club failed to win a trophy. Missed only one game for his club all season.

Did you know?
In the 2002/03 season, Kahn set a Bundesliga record of 737 minutes without conceding a goal.

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

BBC's UEFA EURO 2004 player's profile

Germany skipper Oliver Kahn is arguably the most influential goalkeeper in world football.

His fierce aggression and spectacular agility inspired the side all the way to the final of the 2002 World Cup.

However, a high-profile mistake in that final defeat to Brazil and 18 months of lurid tabloid headlines have seen him lose his air of invincibility.

Despite a public war of words with understudy Jens Lehmann, Kahn is favourite to retain the gloves.

The Bayern Munich keeper has expressed his desire to remain between the sticks for his country until the World Cup in 2010, when he will be 40.

With Lehmann and young pretender Timo Hildebrand breathing down his neck, his performance in Portugal will go a long way to determining whether that dream will be fulfilled.

©bbc.co.uk 2004. All rights reserved.