Oliver Kahn (http://www.theinfostride.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=78091/index.html) requires little by way of introduction. The goalkeeper was one of the all-time greats, as illustrated by his enviable medal collection. Over the course of a distinguished career, he was a FIFA World Cup™ runner-up, a European champion, a UEFA Champions League and Intercontinental Cup winner, and serial holder of the German championship and cup.
Kahn collected a host of personal awards too: Best Player and Best Goalkeeper at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, World Goalkeeper of the Year in 1999, 2001 and 2002, and European Goalkeeper of the Year on four consecutive occasions from 1999 onwards.
Even now, four years after finally hanging up his gloves, the former Germany (http://www.theinfostride.com/associations/association=ger/index.html) skipper remains instantly recognisable and popular. After a professional career spanning 21 years and including 86 appearances for Germany (http://www.theinfostride.com/associations/association=ger/index.html), 49 of them as captain, Kahn retired from the game in May 2008. In a departure from the path favoured by many of his contemporaries, he chose to withdraw almost completely from the business of football, filling his time with totally unrelated pursuits such as studying for an MBA. However, the 42-year-old did not entirely sever his ties with the game, appearing from time to time as a TV co-commentator and scouting for goalkeeping talent in Japan.
FIFA.com spoke exclusively to the larger-than-life personality about his plans for the future, this summer's UEFA European Championship, and hot footballing topics in Germany (http://www.theinfostride.com/associations/association=ger/index.html), Europe and the world.
FIFA.com: You've given countless interviews in the past, and this isn’t the first time you've talked to FIFA.com either. You've answered almost every imaginable question, so let's start by asking whether there’s anything you've never been asked, or whether there’s something you're desperate to get off your chest?
Oliver Kahn (http://www.theinfostride.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=78091/index.html): [laughs] I'm not the kind of guy who feels the need to divulge information all the time, and who defines himself only as a public figure, so I'm delighted there are still plenty of things people don't know about me. Obviously, the world actually does know a lot about me, but I'd say that's normal after 20 years as a professional footballer. A lot of things are bound to come to light in that time.
fifa.com