Germany to bid Kahn fond farewell

The German Football Association (DFB) and FC Bayern München will pay tribute to Oliver Kahn by staging a farewell match for the goalkeeper on 2 September to mark his retirement at the end of this season.

'Great night'
The game between the German national team and the Bundesliga champions will be held at the Fußball Arena München to commemorate an exceptional career for both club and country. "This will not be an easy moment for me, to really call it quits after 20 years, but I am looking forward to 2 September and it will be a great night," the 38-year-old said.

Key figure
Kahn has won seven Bundesliga titles and five German Cups with Bayern, whom he joined in the summer of 1994 from Karlsruher SC. He has played 549 Bundesliga games, more than any other goalkeeper, and was also part of the Bayern side which won the UEFA Champions League in 2001 and the UEFA Cup in 1996. Kahn, who now shares the Bayern goalkeeping duties with Michael Rensing, captained Germany from 2002 to 2004 and was a key figure for his country as they finished second and third at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups.

'Extraordinary'
"We are glad to be able to give Oliver the goodbye he deserves after 20 years as an outstanding professional," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. "He has done extraordinary things for the DFB, Bayern, Karlsruher SC and German football in general." DFB president Theo Zwanziger added: "Oliver Kahn is an outstanding footballer and an extraordinary man. The 2002 World Cup, when he was elected best player, will forever be remembered for his one-of-a-kind performances."