Kaiserslautern draw a Blank
Monday, January 17, 2005
Article summary
German UEFA Cup contenders TSV Alemannia Aachen have lost Stefan Blank to Bundesliga side 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
Article body
Defender Stefan Blank has left TSV Alemannia Aachen to join Bundesliga outfit 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
Calculated gamble
Blank decided to swap the chance of playing in the UEFA Cup for second division Aachen, who will take on Dutch league leaders AZ Alkmaar in the third round of the competition, for a return to the Bundesliga and he completed his €500,000 transfer today.
Third time lucky
Blank has signed a three-and-a-half-year-contract with Kaiserslautern and will hope to make a better impression in the top flight than he did during spells with VfB Stuttgart and Werder Bremen earlier in his career. Blank said: "Kaiserslautern have not only got a long tradition they have also got a side with huge prospects
'That's life'
"That's life," said Aachen's sporting director Jörg Schmadtke, reflecting on the player's departure. "Emil Noll has done well at left-back in the past and I don't see any problem in him replacing Stefan in the future." "