Created on 28-03-2008 at 00:00 AM
At the age of 38 and with two decades as a pro already under his belt, Oliver Kahn is nearing the end of a long and successful sporting career. The three-time World Goalkeeper of the Year has made more than 500 Bundesliga appearances, half of them on opponents' home turf. Before each of his last 17 Bundesliga away trips, fcbayern.de presents Kahn's memories of previous visits to the ground in question, as the giant keeper recalls unusual incidents and oddball situations, but also moments of sporting drama and emotion. The eleventh visit is to Nuremberg.
Kahn's memories of 1. FC Nürnberg:
"I have almost entirely positive memories of playing in Nuremberg. I say almost entirely, because there's one match I really don't like being reminded of. Just over a year ago, we ran up the white flag and went down 3-0 without a fight. It was the first match after Ottmar Hitzfeld's return to Bayern and we were all hoping that the lack of belief which had characterised our performances up to that point would evaporate and we'd rediscover our confidence and will to win. Unfortunately, the exact opposite happened and we were given a real lesson by the home side. That's the only time I've lost in Nuremberg. With both Karlsruher SC and Bayern, I've nearly always come away from there with a win.
I'll never forget my very first match in Nuremberg. It was the 1988-9 season, I was just 19 years old at the time and in my second year as a pro with KSC. We were 2-1 up in the second half when I came on for our regular keeper Alexander Famulla. He had to go off with a deep cut behind his ear after a brutal foul by Nürnberg striker Sane, and I came on for my third-ever Bundesliga appearance. We made it 3-1 just a couple of minutes later, which was the final score. It was a very special game for me because it was my fist win in the Bundesliga. Incidentally, Nuremberg were coached at the time by Hermann Gerland, who's our reserve team boss these days.
I'm really looking forward to the game in Nuremberg. With TSV 1860 Munich stuck in the second division for a few years now, our meetings with FCN are our only competitive derbies, despite the fact there are some 150 kilometres between Munich and Nuremberg. It's always a special atmosphere, and even though it's my last visit there, I really hope 1. FCN avoid relegation, so we'll still have an all-Bavarian derby next season.“
Next stop: Frankfurt
(Oliver Kahn was unable to play in the away trips to Bochum, Dortmund and Berlin with injury and a club suspension – Ed.)