Toytown Germany

It's almost time for troubled German and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn to hang up his gloves and call it quits. Kahn, 35, is one of Germany's highest-profile stars and a Bayern stalwart since 1994. He was once undoubtedly the best keeper in the world - an intimidating monster of muscular authority who dominated opposition strikers as they bore down on his goal. Those days are sadly gone. One of his most remarkable performances was in the 2001 Champions League final, when he saved three penalties in the shoot-out to earn Bayern Munich victory over Valencia. After this success, Kahn, once considered the epitome of the German work ethic, found himself catapulted to superstar status. ...

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With his long, 70s-style hair and unfashionable clothing, Kahn had previously enjoyed a well-worn reputation for being somewhat awkward and slightly colourless off the field. He soon traded in his family estate for a Ferrari, however, slipped into some tasty attire and began styling his hair like a rock star.

Still high on the back of his club's Champions League victory, his fierce aggression and spectacular agility inspired the national side all the way to the 2002 World Cup final, where, despite losing, he was the first ever goalkeeper to win the Golden Ball award for the tournament's best player.

[img]http://www.toytowngermany.com/munich/ollie_kahn_bayern_munich_germany.jpg[/img]

Yet ever since his calamitous mistake in the final versus Brazil, it's arguably been downhill for the big glovesman. In the mother of all games he spilled a Rivaldo shot directly to Ronaldo's feet to set Brazil on their way to ultimate victory.

Granted, without his top-class performances, Germany would never have reached the final but unfortunately for goalkeepers, people - especially journalists and fans - only tend to remember their mistakes. They are the brutal, hard currency on which goalkeepers are ultimately judged.

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When one also adds his turbulent private life into the mix, it certainly hasn't been plain sailing for the one-time golden boy. Last year he suddenly ditched his heavily pregnant wife Simone - just days before she was due to give birth to their second child - to hook up with 22-year-old party girl/barmaid/tart Verena Kerth. Their on-off relationship (they met in chic Munich nightclub P1) still comes under heavy scrutiny from the gutter press. Last year the press christened them 'The Beckhams of Schwabing' after being spotted shopping in glitzy matching outfits.

[img]http://www.toytowngermany.com/munich/oliver_kahn_verena_kerth.jpg[/img]
Verena Kerth and Oliver Kahn

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Oliver Kahn, Katja Kessler, and Boris Becker

Also his bizarre on-field antics show no sign of abating. This season he has already stuck his finger up German striker Miroslav Klose's nose during the Bundesliga game against Werder Bremen. Kahn has a long history of manhandling, grabbing opponents by the neck, biting and attempting kung fu kicks. He has even roughed up his own 'team-mates' during games.

Kahn, who continues to be lovingly greeted with bananas by opposition fans, has even lost the captaincy of the national team to fellow Bayern star Michael Ballack.

Last season he made a hideous howler during a home Champions league game against Real Madrid, allowing a feeble Roberto Carlos mishit to squirm under his body - losing Bayern millions in potential revenue from future rounds as they slipped to eventual defeat.

His comical gaff in a crunch match last season against Bremen cost Bayern the game and any chance of Bundesliga honours. He was also left grasping thin air and beaten from 35 yards as Bayern miserably succumbed in the German Cup to 2nd-division Aachen.

Also his performances for an unsuccessful Germany side have been coming under attack with many wise judges calling for Arsenal's Jens Lehmann to take over between the posts. Even new national supremo Jürgen Klinsmann is keen for Kahn and Lehmann to fight for the spot for two years ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Bayern goalkeeping legend Sepp Maier was sacked from his position as Germany's keeper coach by Klinsmann for suggesting that Lehmann would never take Kahn's place in goal for the national team. His recent performances in a struggling Bayern team have certainly not been anywhere near his previously high standards of almost Teutonic perfection. Only last week he made a ricket in the last minute to gift Italian side Juventus victory in their Champions League clash in Munich's Olympic Stadium.

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Oliver Kahn is determined to end his playing career with Bayern and perhaps, one day, will take over as general manager. Maybe now the time is right. The end is surely nigh. Servus Olli.

This article was written by flogger

Good stuff. Some very valid points here (apart from Munich nightclub P1 being chic). Kahn is not finished yet but he can't match the form he showed in 2002.

I wouldn't describe somebody as 'wise' when calling for Lehmann to replace Kahn - he's just as useless.

Kahn and Lehmann are both losing their powers. They are making the same kind of mistakes that Seaman did towards the end of his career. Kahn's huge error against Juventus 2 weeks ago was another sign that he really is not at his best anymore.
Hildebrand is a good alternative but he still has unbelievable problems with set pieces and catching the ball. His reaction saves are outstanding though.

Hildebrand is a good kid, especially being from Stuttgart, but he needs more raw physical power to impress attackers.

kahn = shadow
lehmann = dracula,doesnt like crosses
hildebrand = midget

Kahn is shocking now, surviving purely on reputation, which is fast fading. Should hang up his gloves, get a job as a bouncer at P1. Blokes a prize t1t.

I think he is just overstressed.
Or he really broke on his success.

another mistake v kaiserslautern at the w-e.

why is it acceptable to subject olly kahn to monkey chants each and every week but not to black players??

Because the first is a joke (King Kahn etc.), the second is racist. To use a different example: singing 'He's got a pineapple on his head' to Jason Lee was fine, as it was just a joke about his stupid haircut. However, to make an equally insulting chat at him purely based on the colour of his skin is racist, even if its meant as a joke.

Kahn, Lehmann, Hildebrand: I'd pick any of them. They are all looking the same to me anyway.

Kahn is a bully and a has been. It is a shame that such people earn the right to hog newspaper space.

olli is still the best in germany! i love him and he of course will play in 2006!

It is a shame that people like Alois Brunt can avail a public forum for his awkward hostilities. Go oli for 2006

KAHN IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Both Lehmann and Hildebrand are a couple of jokers. I agree with the fact that Olli is not as fit as usual at the moment, but that's dued to his recent divorce and private life. His concentration capacity and work will will be determinant for winning the fourth world cup for Germany, at age 37, but Dino Zoff was even older when he won it for Italy. Don´t ever give up, Oliver: you'll always be number 1!!!!!!

And I agree with Oliverkahn. Lehmann really isn't any better, or just good enough to get within 10 meters of the post in 2006, let alone keep goal. Oliver Kahn has made some mistakes, true, but would it be safe to assume he's lost it all? Probably not. When it comes to raw skill, neither Lehmann or Hildy-boy can take the title.

That having been said, I do believe he will make a comeback

Oliver Kahn is vonderfull player.

OLLI IS THE BEST GOALKEEPER IN THE WORLD, LEHMAN IS GOOD BUT NO MORE