He is German, stands 6 feet 2 inches tall, is a retired elite athlete, and is celebrating his 46th birthday today, Monday, June 15, 2015. This man is Oliver Kahn —and to mark your upcoming football language study trip with LEC, our organization can’t resist telling you a little more about this soccer legend.
A promising start at Karlsruher FC
Oliver Kahn was born in Karlsruhe in 1969, a city you might have the chance to visit during a language trip to Germany with LEC. Loyal to his hometown, he took his first steps as a soccer player with Karlsruher FC … at the age of 6. He didn’t leave his youth team until 1994, when he joined one of the most exciting clubs in the history of soccer: Bayern Munich.
An incredible run with Bayern Munich
At Bayern Munich, this exceptional goalkeeper—whose praises you might hear sung during a soccer language camp—is right at home. With Bayern Munich, he has won—among other things:
- the Champions League in 2001
- the German Championship 8 times
- the German Cup six times
Most Valuable Player of the 2002 World Cup
But Oliver Kahn also played a pivotal role on the national stage. Selected as the goalkeeper for the German national team, he helped the team win the European Championship in 1996, finish third in the 2006 World Cup, and reach the final in 2002. The latter undoubtedly marks his greatest personal achievement: he was named the tournament’s best player, ahead of Brazilian striker Ronaldo!
Is the next generation set?
Oliver Kahn took the art of goalkeeping to new heights. Since then, young Manuel Neuer—Germany’s starting goalkeeper for the national team… and Bayern Munich’s first-choice goalkeeper—has been carrying the weight of that somewhat intimidating legacy. Well, well!