The German Football Association (DFB) executive committee has agreed to a Bayern Munich proposal for a jointly-staged farewell match for Oliver Kahn at the Allianz Arena. The meeting between Bayern and a Germany XI will take place on Tuesday 2 September 2008 at 8.45 pm.
Kahn, a runner-up at the 2002 World Cup and third at the 2006 event, will end his career after the 2007-8 season. The 38-year-old joined Bayern in 1994 and has made a total of 549 Bundesliga appearances. He earned the first of 86 Germany caps in a 2-1 win over Switzerland on 23 June 1995 in Berne.
Zwanziger praises Kahn
After playing in his country’s 3-1 win over Portugal in Stuttgart on 8 July 2006 in the 2006 World Cup third-place play-off, the man who captained Germany from 2002 to 2004 announced his retirement from international football. With Bayern, Kahn won the Champions League and World Club Cup in 2001, and the UEFA Cup in 1996. He has won the German championship seven times and the DFB Cup five times.
“Oliver Kahn is an outstanding sportsman and an exceptional person,” commented DFB President Dr. Theo Zwanziger. “The 2002 World Cup, where he was named best player of the tournament, is inextricably linked to his incomparable performances. He showed himself to be a wonderful sportsman at the 2006 World Cup, behaving with fairness and consideration in a difficult situation for him personally, and providing an important impulse to the team."
Rummenigge thanks DFB
“Furthermore,” Zwanziger continued, "he has only played for two clubs as a professional and has thus showed great loyalty, which is not always evident nowadays. We wish Oliver Kahn all the best for the time after his career, and hope he has a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable farewell match."
“We are delighted we are able to provide Oliver Kahn with the farewell this consummate professional deserves after 20 years in German football,” commented Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “He has performed with distinction for the DFB, FC Bayern Munich, Karlsruher SC, the Bundesliga and German football as a whole. Our thanks go to him, and to the DFB for making a major farewell evening to Oliver Kahn possible, by providing a DFB team to play Bayern Munich."
Kahn: Great evening of football in store
Commented Oliver Kahn: “It will not be an easy moment for me when I finally bring an end to 20 years as a professional footballer. However, I am thoroughly looking forward to the second of September 2008. It will be a wonderful evening of football, and it is a tremendous accolade to have the honour of Germany playing Bayern for my farewell. Even today, I would like to thank the DFB, the German Football League and Bayern Munich."
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